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Use organic soils, composts, fertilizers etc. since you will be eating what you harvest. Have fun but don't be discouraged if what you plant doesn't produce as much as you are hoping. It is a learning process!
Yes spring is just around the corner and we need to start preparing soon. I had great success last season using a raised garden. I am a carpenter and so I always have lumber on hand but anyone can dig up what you need for a raised garden. My garden was a very modest “8X10”. I did not want to spend a lot of time with it because of my busy life lately. I used 2X12 lumbers and screwed the ends together to form a box. Make sure the box is level and in the sunniest location in your yard. First I put sand and crushed stone about 2 inches deep spread evenly on the bottom. Next put 6 to 8 inches good clean top soil spread evenly over the sand and stone mixture. Last I spread “local” or you can use store bought Cow Manure 1 inch deep across the top. Now you can plant and the nice thing is because it is raised you get much less weeds and no boarder creeping. Have fun!
Consider a raised bed and bring in good soil, unless you have REALLY awesome soil, even then try a raised bed for protection from underground animals. If you live rurally, fence it in- your best defense against all the adoreable critters raiding your hard work. Pick off bugs daily. Squash are often your best growers, but don't plant too many or your garden will be over run by them (& you'll have too many to eat!)
My advice is less is more! Start simple. Raised beds are the best!
For areas with snow, I get big (clear) plastic storage boxes to use as mini-greenhouses to keep the winter vegies from getting plastered down for months. Then when the current storm is over, it's easy to shake the snow off and let the plants get some fresh air.
Start with a very small garden that won't be a burden for you as large gardens can be discouraging for first-time gardener. Then plant vegetables that you will love eating, are easy to grow as well as pest free for your area. Don't be shy to ask around about that.
It all starts with a good garden location & decent soil.Start small. Plant only what you LOVE! Enjoy your time spent in the garden!
Get a soil thermometer - they're inexpensive - and don't put seeds in the soil until it's at the right temp for that seed. Otherwise it won't germinate. Don't rush to get seeds in the ground, be patient, too early won't work.
Prep soil very well. Compost or breakup and fertilize with old vege and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, all mixed together and incorporate or mix well into soil. Go up to a couple feet deep if able as that is where roots will feed. Peat moss is an alternative.
Start with good soil, remember to check soil daily for moisture content (fingers work well), water when necessary, feed nutrients when needed and check for bugs daily. Enjoy your garden, have fun playing with the dirt and water and if something doesn't grow well don't worry. No garden is perfect.
Start small, maybe two to three veggies, herbs or a combination of both, that are easier to grow in the beginning. The following year, depending on your success, add an item that may be more challenging.
Don't take on too much the first year with a garden. Visit your county extension office and get the best advice on what will grow in your area before you even buy the first packet of seeds. Also check out the gardening advice on websites like almanac.com (the Old Farmer's Almanac) and seed companies like burpee.com (they've been in the business for over 130 years and feature a "Help with your Garden" section with videos, a growing calendar, and an "Ask an Expert" feature.
Half of the fun of gardening is planning, designing, and imagining how great your garden will turn out! First time gardeners should spend some time researching which crops grow best in their climate and how much space they will take to grow. I find the winter months the perfect time to do this. Not only are the seed catalogs beginning to be available at this time, but garden centers are generally less busy and more willing to help with suggestions and advice. Be sure to plant a variety of vegetables that can be harvested at different times in the growing season. If I'm not sure how successful I will be with a particular veggie, I will plant only a few to see what results I will have. I also keep a little notebook each year that details which plants I put in the garden and how well they did. That way, I have a reference for future gardening projects!
Buy some ladybugs or praying mantis to help keep garden pests to a minimum.
A garden journal is your best friend. Take notes, what worked and what didn't, then use them to get a head start on the next growing season.
Learn to compost! Have a goal to be pest free by making the right plant combinations. Including some things in pots! Only plant what grows well in your area.
Grow things you want to eat! The first year I gardened, I planted a ton of jalapeno peppers just because they were on sale at the garden store ... I don't even like jalapeno peppers!
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