Starting a Garden
My Above Ground Garden
When is the best time to start a garden?
Depending on where you live, starting a garden may have several seasons to begin growing different types of plants. Spring is usually the season most people start their gardens but winter is also a great time to start thinking about what you want to grow and how to begin; again, depending where you live.
What to Plant Now? Calendars are available from websites like Urban Farmer. These calendars provide you a list of plants that do well in certain months. If you choose to grow flowers, do you want annuals, which you must replant each year but give color most of the summer? Or would you prefer perennials, which have a shorter bloom time but come back year after year? Just one bit of advice: Start small… not all are born with a green thumb!
There are a few common ingredients you’ll need to consider when starting your garden, no matter where you live or what you’d like to plant in order to have a recipe for success. Follow these 3 guidelines to make sure your garden is bloom-tastic.
Before Starting Your Garden: Choose the Right Area
Some plants do better in full sunlight while others need more shade. Check plant tags or ask the staff at your local garden center to find out how much sun a plant requires. This will give you a better idea of what plants you can plant in different areas around your home. If you have an area in mind of where you’d like to start your garden, take note of the sunlight exposure throughout the day to ensure you plant the right plants in that area.
Provide Protection Against ALL Elements
Not all gardens need to be planted in the ground. Maybe you live in an apartment without a yard or have a small yard at your home. Planters are a great option for adding a little green to your living space. They also elevate your plants from the ground to protect them from the elements. In my case, flying soccer balls from two teenagers bouncing in our front yard! If you are looking for an inexpensive way to start your garden, consider moving boxes! During the colder months when you may face a freeze warning, there are steps you can take to protect them. A blanket or tarp laid over the plants may be enough to help them survive a frost. Or if you’re gardening in containers, you can bring the plants inside or move them into a garage, shed, or other sheltered areas.
Consider Your Crop
Many cool-season veggies, like broccoli and lettuce, can tolerate light frosts, so it’s fine to sow the seeds a couple of weeks before the last frost. Pea and carrot seeds can be sown as soon as the ground can be dug up as the grounds are typically hard. But warmer season crops like cucumbers and melons require warm soil and higher temperatures to thrive, and a frost can easily kill them. Tomatoes are one of the many plants that thrive in the warming of temperatures around the beginning of Spring. Seed packets purchased from the store will provide guidance on optimal planting times.
Watching your garden grow is very rewarding. Take a sense of pride in your hard work while enjoying your blooms.
I’d love to hear about your tips, so don’t forget to comment below!
Cheers!