Gardening 101: A Comprehensive Guide To Getting Started

Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in North America. It’s easy to understand why so many are drawn to it – gardening allows you to get outside, exercise, and produce your own food. You can start a garden anywhere, but there are some things that need to be taken into account when you’re just getting started. In this blog post, we’ll cover everything from where to find seeds and what tools you’ll need all the way up through how much water your plants will require during different seasons. Let’s get started!

Choose What You Want To Grow

The first thing you’ll need to do is decide what you want to grow. Do some research on your climate and the types of plants that grow best in it.

What Should I Plant For Beginners?

If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few beginner-friendly plants:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Zucchini
• Summer squash
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Carrots

What Is The Best Vegetable To Plant?

The best vegetable to plant is the one that you will eat. If you are not sure what to grow, ask a friend or family member what they like to eat and go from there.

What vegetables should be planted together?

Some vegetables do well when planted together in the garden – for example, onions and carrots make a great team since they both like to grow in cool weather.

Here are some other pairs of vegetables that can be grown together:

• Lettuce and spinach
• Zucchini and cucumbers
• Beans and peas
• Beets and carrots
• Tomatoes and basil

What Do You Plant In A Vegetable Garden?

First, decide if you want an organic or conventional vegetable garden. Organic gardening uses organic fertilizer and avoids the use of pesticides. Conventional gardens can be much easier to plant because they don’t need as many tools, but you do have to take care not to eat any chemicals along with your vegetables.

The best place to plant a vegetable garden is in an area that gets full sun for at least six hours a day. If you don’t have a spot like this in your yard, consider using containers or raised beds.

How Deep Do You Plant Seeds In A Vegetable Garden?

The depth of planting seeds will vary depending on the type of seed – consult the package to see how deep to plant each type of seed. Generally, vegetables should be planted at least twice as deep as their size in order to flourish!

Choose The Right Soil For Your Garden

Not all soils are created equally – some are better suited for growing vegetables while others are better for flowers or trees. When you’re choosing a spot to garden, make sure to take into account the type of soil that’s present so that you can select plants that will thrive in that environment. If you’re not sure what kind of soil you have, take a sample to your local gardening store and they will be able to help you identify it.

What kind of soil is best for a vegetable garden?

If possible, purchase topsoil from a local gardening store – this will ensure that your plants have the best possible growing environment. If you can’t get topsoil, use a soil mixture designed for vegetables or make your own by mixing equal parts of sand, silt, and clay.

What Is The Best Way To Make My Own Soil Mixture?

If you want to make your own vegetable garden soil, mix equal parts of sand, silt, and clay. You can also add organic matter to the mix, such as compost or manure, to give your plants a boost.

Does A Raised Bed Garden Need A Bottom?

Raised beds don’t need a bottom because they are elevated above the ground. However, you shouldn’t allow the soil to touch the wood of your raised bed or it may rot and decay over time.

What Do I Put On The Bottom Of A Raised Bed Garden?

You can put any type of material on the bottom of a raised garden bed – this will help to drainage and keep the soil healthy. Some popular choices are compost, peat moss, or shredded bark.

How Deep Should A Raised Garden Bed Be?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question – the depth of your raised garden bed will depend on the type of plants you want to grow. However, most experts recommend at least 12 inches for a good mix of soil and air.

How Wide Should A Raised Garden Bed Be?

Again, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. However, a good rule of thumb is to make your raised garden bed at least twice as wide as the plants you want to grow in it.

How Do You Prepare The Ground For A Raised Garden Bed?

If you’re using a raised garden bed, the preparation process is a lot simpler than if you were planting directly in the ground. All you need to do is make sure that the area is level and free of any large rocks or roots. You can also add compost or soil mix to the bed before planting to give your plants a head start.

Why Raised Beds Are Bad?

There are a few reasons why raised beds can be bad for your garden:

1. They can be more expensive to build than traditional gardens.
2. They can be difficult to maintain, especially if the soil is not good quality.
3. If they are not built correctly, they can lead to drainage problems.

What Can I Grow In A Container?

Almost any type of vegetable can be grown in a container – just make sure that the pot has good drainage at the bottom. If you want to grow leafy vegetables, choose a smaller pot so that they have room to spread out their leaves and soak in sunlight.

Find Seeds/ Seedlings

Once you’ve decided on what to plant, the next step is finding seeds or seedlings. Seeds can be found at most garden stores, but if you’re looking for a specific variety or type of seed, it might be easier to order online. Seedlings can be bought from a local garden center, but often times it is cheaper to buy them from a hardware or home improvement store. Using seedlings has the added benefit of making your soil ready for planting without having to add any amendments first – all you have to do is separate the plant from its container and transplant it into your own pot!

It’s important that you only use seeds/seedlings that are labeled as “certified organic.” This way, you’ll know they haven’t been sprayed with harmful chemicals before planting.

What Is The Best Kind Of Seed To Plant??

There are two kinds of seeds – open pollinated and hybrid. Open-pollinated is the best choice for most people since it’s more adaptable to local conditions, produces better yields, and you can save your own seeds if something goes wrong with your crop or next year’s

The best kind of seed to plant is the one that you have access to. If possible, try and find a package labeled as “certified organic” so that you can be sure it isn’t treated with harmful chemicals before planting. This will also save you money in the long run since they won’t have been sprayed or coated with anything that could contaminate your soil or garden.

Planting

Once it comes time to actually plant your new seedling(s), there are some things worth keeping in mind:

First off, make sure not to bury too much of the stem when you put it in the ground. You want about half to be above ground.

Also, make sure you leave enough room for your plant’s root system – don’t bury it too close to another plant or a wall/fence where the roots will have nowhere else to go.

Here are some planting tips specific to certain types of vegetables:

• Tomatoes should only be planted in containers with at least an 18″ diameter so they have plenty of space for their roots.
• Peppers need soil that drains well, so don’t plant them in clay or heavily-amended soils. They also grow best when they are between 24″ and 36″ apart from one another.
• Zucchini plants should be at least three feet apart to give each vine enough space to spread out – they can quickly take over if you’re not careful!
• Broccoli plants need at least 20″ of space from other plants, and cauliflower needs a full 36″.
• Carrots should be planted with their tops just below the soil line – if they’re too deep, they’ll end up growing crooked. Also make sure not to plant them in clay or heavily-amended soils. They grow best when they’re spaced 12″ apart from one another.

What order should I plant my garden in?

The best way to figure out what order to plant your garden in is by thinking about what you want to harvest first. Some vegetables can be harvested while they’re still small (like lettuce or radishes), but others, like tomatoes or zucchini, need a lot of time to grow before they’re ready to eat.

Here’s a general guide for planting a vegetable garden:

– Start with fast-growing vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and radishes.

– Next, add in mid-season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant.

– Finally, plant the late-season vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and onions.

Remember to leave enough space in between plants for airflow and to make sure not to plant your vegetables too close together.

What Should I Add to My Garden Before Planting?

Adding compost to your garden is always a good idea because it will help make your soil more nutrient-rich and loosen up heavy clay soils.

It’s also important to add in some organic fertilizer at planting time, especially if you’re adding something like tomato plants that need lots of nutrients throughout the season. You can use either liquid or slow-release granular fertilizer, but make sure to follow the instructions on your particular brand.

You may also want to use some good old-fashioned mulch around plants once they are in the ground. Organic matter like grass clippings or leaves can help retain moisture and prevent soil erosion. You should aim for between two to three inches of organic material.

What Are The 4 Basic Things A Plant Needs To Grow?

A plant needs four things in order to grow:

1. Sunlight (including spring and summer sunlight since it’s not always available during the winter)
2. Water (not too much, but also not too little – many plants will die if they get either extreme)
3. Soil which contains nutrients for healthy growth, and;  
4. Air circulation around the plant to prevent disease.

Watering

How much you need to water your plants depends on a lot of factors, such as the type of plant, season, weather, etc. But a good rule of thumb is to water deeply but infrequently – this means watering until the top few inches of soil are wet, then waiting until the top dries out before watering again.

Again, all of these tips depend on your climate and what plants you’re growing – be sure to do your research so you know exactly how much water each one needs!

The main thing to keep in mind is that different seasons call for different watering schedules. In the summer, for example, vegetables will require more water than they will in the winter – let’s take a look at what each of these might entail:

In the Spring, water every other day.

Most seeds will germinate best if they’re planted on the cusp of springtime. Once they’ve sprouted, their root systems should be able to handle regular watering since most perennials need moisture throughout this time frame as well (to build up energy for blooming). To avoid overwatering, make sure not to water the plants directly – rather, water the soil around them.

In the summer, water every day.

This is when vegetables are actively growing and need the most water. The best time to water them is in the morning so they have a chance to dry off before nightfall. You can tell if a plant needs watering by giving it a quick pinch – if it bounces back, then it doesn’t need any more water; if it doesn’t, then it’s time to water!

In the Fall, water every other day.

Many plants start to slow down their growth in the Fall, so you can water them every other day without overdoing it. This is also a good time to start fertilizing plants since they’ll be getting ready for the winter.

In Winter, water every four days.

Since most plants aren’t growing much in the winter, you only need to water them every four days. This will help prevent them from getting too wet and developing diseases.

What Is The Best Way To Water A Vegetable Garden?

When you’re just starting out it is best to water your plants every day by hand. Once they are established and have grown bigger, only water them every other day. You will know they need watering if the leaves are wilting.

If you have an automatic irrigation system, it is best to water your plants twice a week for around 15 minutes each time. This will ensure that the soil gets wet enough to encourage healthy root growth without overwatering them.

Make sure not to let your plants dry out completely as this can have a negative impact on your plant’s growth!

Also, don’t water the plants themselves, water the soil around them! This will help prevent disease and encourage healthy root growth.

What Is The Best Time Of Day To Water Your Vegetables?

Try to water them first thing in the morning, as they will be able to dry off before nightfall. This is good for preventing diseases and avoiding overwatering. If you’re unable to water them in the morning, try watering them in the evening instead.

Weeding

Weeds aren’t just a nuisance — they can also steal the nutrients from your plants and slow their growth! Weeds will compete with your plants for water, sunlight, and nutrients, so it’s important to get rid of them regularly. The best way to do this is by hand – simply pull them out by the roots!

To keep them from sprouting up again, try covering the ground with mulch or compost. This will help ensure that any weeds that pop up don’t have a chance to grow.

Mulching

If you’re using mulch, make sure to keep it about an inch away from the base of the plants to avoid any contact with the stem or leaves. This will help prevent any diseases from spreading since mulch can harbor bacteria and fungi that feed on the plants you’re growing!

Pruning

Some types of vegetables require pruning; others don’t need it at all (see why here). If your plant needs pruning, make sure to do this early in its growth cycle so it has time to heal properly.

Pruning is also a good way to control the size of your plant – by trimming back the branches, you can encourage the growth of new, healthier ones.

Pollination

Some plants need help from bees or other insects in order to produce fruit or vegetables. If you’re growing plants that need pollination, make sure to plant them near others of the same species. This will encourage these insects to come to visit your plants!

If you want bees but don’t have enough space for multiple plants of the same kind, there are other options available – try building a bee hotel or adding some flowering plants like lavender and rosemary to your garden.

Fertilizing

In the Spring and Fall, you can fertilize plants with a liquid or granular fertilizer. Be careful not to overfertilize, though, as this can damage the plant’s roots!

If you’re using organic fertilizers (like compost), make sure it’s well-aged so that it doesn’t burn the plant’s roots.

You can also fertilize with compost tea, which is a good way to protect your plants from diseases since they’ll be getting vitamins and minerals straight from this nutrient-rich liquid!

Remember that organic fertilizers are not as potent as regular ones, so if you’re using any type of fertilizer (organic or otherwise), use half strength and apply every few weeks instead of once per month. This is especially important during hot summer months when plants can burn easily from over-application!

What Is Compost?

Compost is a mixture of decaying organic matter that can be used to improve soil quality. It’s an excellent source of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium – all of which are essential for plant growth!

You can make your own compost using kitchen scraps and yard waste, or you can buy it pre-made from a store. Just be sure to read the label carefully so that you know what’s in it!

There are also many different ways to use compost – you can add it to your garden bed, use it as mulch, or even mix it in with your soil when you’re planting!

Pest Control

One of the biggest challenges of gardening is dealing with pests – but there are ways to deal with them naturally, without using harmful chemicals!

Some common pests that can affect your plants include aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and caterpillars. To get rid of these pests, you can try:

• hosing down/ spraying with a strong stream of water
• using insecticidal soap or horticultural oil
• releasing beneficial insects like ladybugs or lacewings
• removing infected leaves or entire plants If the pest problem is really bad, you may need to resort to using chemical pesticides.

However, these should only be used as a last resort since they can be harmful to both you and the environment.

Harvesting

Once your plants are big enough, it’s time to start harvesting them! This is a great way to get fresh produce for your family and also teaches kids about where their food comes from.

Be sure to harvest fruits and vegetables at the correct time – for example, tomatoes should be harvested when they’re red and ripe, while broccoli is best harvested when the buds are still tight.

Storage

After harvesting your produce, you need to store it properly so it lasts as long as possible. For fruits and vegetables that won’t be eaten right away, try:

• Washing them and then storing in a sealed container in the fridge. Some produce, like onions and garlic, can be stored out on the counter so you don’t have to keep opening up the refrigerator!
• For herbs that are still fresh but not quite crisp enough for eating raw anymore (like basil or cilantro), chop them up into small pieces and place in an ice cube tray filled with water. Once the cubes are frozen, you can put them into a freezer-safe container or bag to keep for later.
• Before storing your produce outside of the fridge (like in bags on top of other groceries), make sure it’s completely dry first since any excess moisture will speed up spoilage and cause rot! If there is condensation inside of bags or containers, remove the crop and wait until it dries out completely before storing again.