Gardens are coming back in style with little time to spare. If you’ve been longing to earn a green thumb, and aren’t sure where to start, here are some tips that could help.
Plan Ahead
If you wanted watermelon this summer, and it’s heading into late May- you’re unfortunately too late to start growing it. Watermelons can take up to three months to grow, which means a fully ripe one by August should get planted by late April.
Some plants need a lot of time to grow, while others can seemingly spring up out of nothing. Plan your garden by seasons, including late fall bulbs, so that it will always have something growing and starting.
Consider What Each Plant Needs
Tomato plants grow better if you plant them with some Epsom salt in the soil, while other plants could easily die or get damaged by salt. If you’re in Southern Arizona, you wouldn’t want to try and grow a plant that needs a ton of water, just like if you’re looking at Indianapolis houses for sale, you shouldn’t expect to see a saguaro cactus in the yard.
Organize By Light Exposure
No house is facing East on all sides. Some sides of your home get a few hours of sunlight a day, while others may get none in a whole season. When deciding the layout of your garden, consider which parts of your house get the most sunlight and which get none. You can plan your garden to go with this, and allow all of your plants to thrive.
Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
If you’ve never gardened before, don’t give yourself a hard time and pick a ton of plants with complicated care schedules. Be realistic with what you’re capable of, and plan around your schedule. If you need help, and you don’t live alone, you can enlist the help of your kids or partner. Working together on growing a garden can be a great bonding experience for everyone involved.
Keep It Well Maintained
You don’t have to be in your yard every day with a hose and some gardening shears- make sure you can take care of the plants. Set up a schedule for yourself so that you know when you need to do what, but also check in on your plants and give them any extra attention needed. Pay attention to any sudden changes in your plants, or any weather you might need to plan around for them.
Don’t Let Vegetables Rot On The Vine.
A common pitfall for new gardeners is that they let their fruits and vegetables either sit too long on the vine or pluck them far too early. Although nobody new to gardening is perfect at it, you should be careful about wasting things. By letting tomatoes sit too long on the vine, you might attract insects that could wipe out the rest of your crop. Keep an eye on when things are looking ripe, and if you’re not sure, you can always find a hand guide online.
Dianna Ranere