Gardening Tips from a Novice
With planting season right around the corner or already having begun in some areas, I thought I'd share what I've learned from gardening
Let me be frank: though I love to grow vegetables and have done so for the past four seasons, I am far from an expert. There are plenty of more knowledgeable individuals on the Steemit platform, people with a wealth of information about the methods for growing various veggies.
This site is overflowing with homesteaders, individuals whose literal livelihood is dependent upon their ability to produce enough food to last the entire year. While I have dreams of one day reaching the point where I produce most of my food, I am far away from that becoming a reality.
We still live in the city, and though we have a decent sized yard, we mostly garden for the joy of connecting with our food and learning a thing or two in the process. With that in mind, allow me to share some of the things I have learned over the course of my time gardening.
1. Grow what you eat!
Starting out as a gardener, it can be tempting to grow everything under the sun (literally). You may think it's a great idea to grow a ton of squash and radish, and then come harvest time realize that you barely eat these crops in your normal diet, or at least cannot possibly use the amount that you've decided to grow.
Sure, maybe the fact that you've grown an excessive amount of swiss chard will inspire you to concoct a brilliant recipe to utilize your massive bounty, but more likely will be the scenario where the crop just sits there, growing, staring you in the face and daring you to actually use it.
Really think about the things you enjoy eating and focus on those crops. Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, onions, potatoes, etc. are all solid choices.
2. Consider your space and the crops that may take up all of it
If you've got a simple 10 by 10 plot, I'd advise against growing too many vine plants that will inevitably overtake your garden. Things like squash and watermelon LOVE to spread themselves all over your garden, potentially ruining your nearby plantings in the process.
If you do want to grow squash, grow just one, and do it on the edge of your plot so you can guide it away from the rest of your garden. It's also a great idea to read the seed package or note attached to a transplant for advice on spacing and times to plant. You have some wiggle room within this suggested spacing, but if you're just starting out it's best not to get too ambitious.
3. Enjoy the experiment, failures and all
Here's the thing: unless you've lucked into planting in the best soil in the world with the finest seeds and the most perfect weather you could ask for, you're most likely going to lose a plant or two or have ones that simply don't produce much. We live in Colorado where extreme weather is a common occurrence. Intense hail has destroyed a few of our crops before, and it's entirely possible that it can snow past memorial day.
Failure, as with any activity, is a necessary component of the learning process. Things won't go perfectly the first time, or the second, or the fifth! Enjoy the process and avoid being a perfectionist and you'll appreciate your garden for what it is.
The act of caring for and nourishing life that will eventually nourish you is one of the most rewarding activities imaginable and is something every human should take part in at some point in their life. Think of the joy that you receive from cooking a meal from scratch and then imagine the satisfaction you'll receive when you also grew the ingredients!
Anyone, regardless of experience, can grow a decent garden. The best place to start is right where you are.
All uncredited pictures from pixabay.com or my personal account
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I wish you a successful planting season
Looks like you're picking up some nice pointers here on steemit. Good luck!