Starting a Garden: The Basics

Preparing a garden can be exciting and overwhelming. By following a few basic guidelines, you can create a Garden that could be producing fresh Vegetables in as little as a month or two. So where do we start now? Well, we'll start with :

 1) LOCATION- Choose a location for the garden that gets at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Be  conscious of surrounding trees or structures that may cast a shadow on the garden during the day. And make sure to choose an area that is level and free from rocks.

2) LAY OUT YOUR DESIGN- Decide on the shape that you want. Square or Rectangle is best, particularly if this is your first garden.This allows for straight rows that are easy to cultivate and plant throughout the seasons.Figure out if you want a Raised Garden Bed, or if you want to plant directly into the ground. (Note: Having a raised bed is a better way of controlling the soil which is very important.) Having  raised bed helps with better soil drainage and soil temperature. Raised Garden  beds warm up faster in the Spring,and stay warmer in the Winter. Decide what you want to plant and where.


3) PREPARE THE SOIL- Clean the area of debris. Till the soil until fine and crumbly. Rake the surface of the garden  until smooth and free of debris. You can add garden soil ,composted material and fertilizer to the new garden bed.

4) PLANT SEEDS- Make sure the seeds are sown in straight rows. I achieve this by laying a long stake flat on the soft soil to make a slight imprint (about an inch or two deep.) Remove the stake, and plant the seeds into the small trench. Here are some easy beginner vegetables to start with: Lettuce, Tomatoes, Radishes,Carrots,Beets,Peas, Spinach,Peppers,Onions and green Beans. Make sure to soak your seeds the night before, so that they germinate faster. Some seeds you should start inside 6-8 weeks before your sowing season begins.

5) WATER,WATER,WATER- After planting your seeds or planting transplants, you'll want to water well for the next two weeks to well establish the roots. Mulching with Hay or Pine straw will help to retain moisture and protect the roots. You can also mulch with composted materials.

Wall built for Climbing Vegetables. 

6)PLANT PLANTS TO ATTRACT- Plant flowers around your garden to attract Bees, Butterflies, and other insects that are good for your Garden.


Note: This post is very concise and lists the steps of Beginner Gardening in short detail. For more details on Gardening refer to The Abundant Harvest Guide @growingagreenerworld.com