How Should I Start Gardening?

Have you decided why you want to start gardening?

Have you found a location to plant?

Have you planned your garden beds?

Have you purchased or procured basic garden tools?

Have you tested your soil?

There might be multiple reasons such as growing vegetables to eat, aesthetics or even as a therapeutic past-time. The reason will help you in deciding how much effort you want to use and what type of plants you will grow.

Choose a location to start your garden. Most fruits and vegetables need full sun, with a minimum of five hours of direct sunlight per day for fruiting. Greens, herbs and root veggies will grow in partial shade. Think about how you will access the garden for picking, watering and caring for your plants.

Once you know where you want your garden, decide on the type and size of garden beds. Raised beds are attractive and may make it easier to work in your garden, but they also dry out more quickly. In very dry areas, sunken beds can be used to gather available moisture. Beds should be 3 to 4 feet across – narrow enough that you can reach the center from either side. The goal is minimize walkways and maximize growing space. You only add fertilizer and soil amendments to the planting area, which saves time and money.

The right tools make working in your garden a pleasure instead of a chore. You don’t use a butter knife to chop up raw carrots, and you shouldn’t use dull or flimsy tools to work in your garden. Basic gardening equipment includes a garden hoe, rake, shovel and multiple types of hand tools. Good tools will save time and effort, and your back.

Before you start building your garden beds or planting, you need to know something about your garden soil. Is your soil acidic, alkaline or neutral pH? Do you have sand, clay, silt, rocks, or a mix of all four? Is there a risk of soil contamination from nearby structures, roadways or other sources? Does it have a good amount of basic nutrients? This will help in choosing the most suitable area for planting.

Most seed packets and transplant containers come with basic planting instructions. Once you've done the ground work, you just need to jump in and plant. Just give it a try and you can learn the rest as you go.