This will show you how to get started gardening and be successful. This guide includes basic ideas but what you ultimately choose will depend on what you want to grow in your garden and what plant hardiness zone you are gardening in.
I have enjoyed gardening for over twenty years. When I began, I focused on vegetable gardening. As I learned more, I added in herbs, flowers and eventually fruit trees. These tips will work well for vegetable, herb, and flower gardening. I find that vegetable gardening is the easiest type of gardening to master but start where you will find the most enjoyment.
Plants and Seeds
The exact types of plants and seeds you choose will depend on what your family likes to eat. It makes no sense to plant things that no one will eat.
Plants that are easy to start from seeds are:
Lettuce and greens like arugula
Zucchini and summer squash
Pumpkins and winter squash
Radishes
Green beans
Cucumbers
Vegetables that I generally start from plants because they require a longer growing season are:
Sweet peppers and hot peppers
Tomatoes including cherry tomatoes
Broccoli and cauliflower
Cabbage and Brussels sprouts
Garden Bed
Next, you will need to decide what type of garden bed you want to work with. Your basic choices are:
Standard garden plot
Raised bed
Containers
A standard garden plot is a space in the ground that has had the top layer of sod (grass) removed. It needs to be hoed or tilled to break up the soil and remove rocks. Seeds are planted directly in the ground.
A raised bed is a section of dirt that is raised above the ground and contained in a large area by a frame of wood, stone or brick. Because the dirt is above ground, the soil is not compacted and the roots of the plants can grow more easily. I find that a raised bed gardening kit is the easiest way to start.
Container gardening is ideal for people with very limited space. Each individual plant is planted in a large pot and can be moved based on where it will receive the best light. Because there is less dirt in a container than in a standard garden plot or raised bed, a container garden must be watered much more frequently than another type of garden. An automatic watering system can be helpful.
Source of Water
You will need to make sure that your garden receives enough water. Depending on where you live and your climate, this may happen on its own when it rains. However, if it doesn't rain, you need to provide the water yourself.
These options will work for you depending on the size and type of garden you have.
Garden hose
A drip irrigation system may be necessary for large gardens.
Olla - An olla is an unglazed clay pot that is buried in the ground filled with water.
A watering can will work for small gardens.
Basic Gardening Tools
In order to plant, weed and cultivate your garden, there are basic gardening tools I recommend.
A garden hoe or fork will allow you to turn over the soil and prevent the weeds from growing.
A garden shovel will be necessary to dig holes for plants you are planting.
Gardening gloves will protect your hands from blisters and keep your hands clean.
Tomato cages provide needed support for your tomato plants so they don't topple over.
A kneeling cushion will give you a soft place to kneel while gardening. If you have problems bending, a gardening stool may be helpful.
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