These days, more and more people are
discovering the joys of playing in the dirt — or, as grown-ups prefer to call
it, “gardening.”
We put together some tips not only to help you
know your potatoes, but also so you can watch them grow. (Imagine the day you
finally wave goodbye as they drive to Potato College. So. Proud.)
Good for the world
Whether it’s the cost-effectiveness, the environmental
sustainability, or the sheer damn nutritiousness of
it all, food gardening is becoming the frozen aisle of the future.
Renewed interest in gardening may be due in
part to changing behaviors. Locavores are interested in having greater access
to healthy and local foods, knowing where their food comes from, and supporting
the environment and the local economy.
Good for your body and brain
Gardening doesn’t only boost the health of your
geraniums. The simple act of pruning a hedge can also provide significant
health benefits.
Growing a garden encourages people to engage in other behaviors and
activities that promote wellness. For example, gardeners consume more
fruits and vegetables than non-gardeners.
Home gardeners who choose to grow food organically reduce their
exposure to pesticides.
People end up potentially eating produce with a higher nutrient content.
Gardening also reduces stress and improves your mental health.
A study showed that gardening also counted as moderate-intensity
exercise and can help women live longer.
Rule umero uno: Relax and have fun. Gardening
is often a process of trial and error, and we promise that it’s not as
intimidating as it might seem!
Plants are like people, but better. Each type
of plant has a unique “personality” and likes different things (water,
sunlight, soil type, different hats, etc.). Some plants like it hot and sunny,
while others like it cooler or moister (or both).
It’s fun, but meeting the needs of your
seedlings can take a bit of experimentation (and internet research) to learn
what works best for a particular type of plant. That being said, virtually all
plants require a few basic ingredients:
Sun
Plants are pretty magical, as they harness
energy from the sun and, through photosynthesis, convert that energy into their
tissues.
(Try eating sunlight. We bet you can’t. Also we
bet you look foolish trying to eat sunlight. Plants win this round, okay?) Because plants need the sun to grow, many of
them, including most fruits and veggies, need a good amount of direct sun during
the day.
Have a shadier plot? Research which plants
prefer shady conditions if you have less light available. (Also, stop hatching
shady plots. You are not the supervillain you think.)
Water
Plants also need water. Just as a fresh
beverage keeps you from wilting in the sun, plants rely on there being a good
amount of water available nearby to stay proud and healthy. In many places, it
may be necessary to water your garden regularly in order to keep plants happy. Consider your water sources. If they’re not
close to your garden plot, it will be important to figure out a system for
transporting water to your garden. Water conundrum! Don’t forget, while you’re out
tilling the soil this summer, you need water too.
Nutrients and soil
You need to eat as healthy as possible to stay
at peak health, right? On a similar level, plants need nutrients, and lots of
them.
In larger farming operations, different
nutrients cycle through the soil as different plants grow. This is what they
mean by “fertile” soil — nutrient-rich bounties of growth for new plants.
You might need to add nutrients manually if
your garden isn’t already part of an annual crop rotation cycle (and if you’re
reading an article about gardening basics, that’s not altogether likely —
although if accomplished farmers are also tuned in, welcome!)
If you live in an urban environment, you might
also want to test the soil for lead, especially if you have little ones that
play in the garden and roll in the mud. This is less important in terms of growing veg,
although doesn’t help, according to research.
Growing season
The length of your growing season is
another handy piece of information. It’s the average amount of time per year
where the temperature stays above freezing during both day and night. Knowing about the growing season is
particularly useful for planting annual plants, including most garden
vegetables and many flowers, which live for only a single year.
If you want to plant melons, for example,
you’ll want to make sure that you can find a variety of melons that can grow
fully within the length of your growing season.
Location, location, location
Gardens come in all shapes and sizes, so
it’s just a matter of figuring out what will work for you and what’s within.
Community gardens provide another great alternative for
people with limited space to get their hands dirty — or for those who’d rather
not get their hands dirty alone. If you’re growing plants outdoors, try to
choose a spot that optimizes all those things that plants need — light, water,
nutrients, and good soil.
You can choose to grow plants directly in the
soil (which is an easy and affordable option), to build raised beds, or to grow
plants in containers. Raised beds (which
are basically large wooden boxes filled with soil) are often 6 to 24 inches off
the ground.
They can be very productive, but it will cost extra money for
the materials to build the beds. For smaller spaces or starter gardens,
containers are a fantastic way to go because they provide so much flexibility.
Watering is especially critical for containers because
they dry out faster than garden beds. Luckily, these gardens are often pretty small,
so watering only takes a few minutes. If you’re feeling cooped up in a small
apartment, here are some other ways to make your world feel more open.
The wonderful thing about gardening is that,
with so many potential plants and vegetables to grow, you can paint your green
patch pretty much any color you see fit.
If you’re to get the most from your garden,
have answers to the following before kicking things off:
What types of plants are
you most excited to grow? Many
people want to see their salad sprout from the ground. Others may be more
interested in giving their yards a makeover. Know your motive, and it’ll
guide the rest.
If you’re food gardening, what do you most like to cook and eat? There’s no reason to grow a 5-pound zucchini if you don’t love
the stuff. Grow things that are yummy to you. (And stop trying to grow
Sour Patch Kids. That’s not how they work.)
How much space and light do you have available for gardening
(whether at your place or at a community garden)? Know whether you’re gardening in the ground or in containers, how much
light the area receives each day, and whether the area offers any shade.
You can pretty much garden anywhere though.
How much time are you looking to spend gardening? Plants require care, so be realistic about how much time you’ll
be willing to spend weeding, watering, and so on. It’s generally a good
idea to start small and learn the ropes before taking on a huge
commitment. If you love it, you can scale up from there.
Now you can stop digging for answers and start
digging for real.
The ideal amount of water they need varies and
depends on a few factors. Hotter and drier air will pull moisture from plants
and soils more quickly, so more watering will be necessary as the temperatures
climb. The type of soil you have in your garden will
also affect how much water is available to plants. A good rule of (green) thumb
is that plants should guzzle up enough water to cover the ground with an inch
of water every week.
It’s also better for plants to get all the
water one or two times per week rather than a little bit each day. Think of it
as intermittent fasting for plants. An easy test to see if plants have enough water
available is to stick a finger in the soil and make sure it feels moist 2-3
inches below the soil.
When watering, it’s best to use a watering can
or sprinkler, as dumping a lot of water on the plants all at once can damage
them. If your area gets a lot of rain, however, this won’t become that regular
a chore.
The larger the scale of your gardening, the
more tools you’re likely to need. One of the major reasons people are
interested in gardening is its impact on bringing down food costs. Adding
unnecessary equipment costs to that may feel counterproductive. If you’re in this camp, start with the minimum
and add things as you go.
Container gardens are very easy to get
going. For these, you’ll need the following:
You might need heftier equipment for a larger garden, such
as a rototiller for preparing the soil, but this is by no means necessary if
you’d prefer gardening to be more of a workout.
Finally, it’s time to put some plants in the
ground. When purchasing plants, You’ll have the option
to purchase seeds or small, starter plants that you can transplant into
your garden. Many vegetables and flowers are easy to grow from seed, making
this the simpler (and more affordable) choice in many situations.
Buying plants, rather than seeds, is especially
useful when:
a plant is difficult to grow from seed
the growing season is particularly short
To combine the best of both worlds, lots of
seeds can be started inside in pots and later transplanted outdoors. The directions for planting will depend on
what’s being planted. The packaging of the seeds will usually tell you
everything you need to know. And the internet is always there, no matter how at
one with nature you feel.
You can plant seeds in rows or patterns that
use space more effectively. Just put seeds in the soil (how deep depends
on the plant) before covering them back up with dirt and water. If you’re using starter plants, dig a hole big
enough to fit whatever you’re transplanting so that the roots have lots of
growing room. Gently pack soil around the roots so that the
plant stays the same level above the ground as it did in the container. After
planting seeds or starters, be sure to give the soil a hearty watering.
Once your plants are flourishing, one of the
biggest challenges is keeping weeds, pests, and diseases out of the garden. To a certain extent, weeds are inevitable, and
that’s okay — so long as they don’t start choking out your plants. The best
course of action is to weed every week and keep them from getting out of
control.
In general, it’s easier to pull weeds out
of the ground when soils are wetter. Hoes are more effective for dry soil.
Covering the soil with mulch or straw can help reduce weeds while keeping the
moisture in. Garden pests (including bugs and meddlesome
critters) and diseases challenge even the most experienced of gardeners. But
you can fix many of these issues with a little planning. Many bugs and diseases that cause damage to
plants are more likely to occur when plants are stressed, so a good supply of
sun, water, and nutrients will reduce other gardening issues.
How many vegetables to plant in your garden to
feed your family
All amounts are based on fresh eating, so adjust accordingly
if you want to preserve any of your harvests or you have an extra long growing
season.
