As the weather begins to warm up you’re probably starting to see garden supplies stocked in the stores, starter plants for sale, and your neighbors preparing their garden beds. If you’re anything like I was a few years ago, you might be curious how to start a garden but feel completely overwhelmed by the idea. In this post I am sharing 5 reasons why you should start a garden and my beginner garden tips to give you the confidence you need to get started.
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Reasons why you should start a garden:
1. It helps you feel zen
As soon as I step outside into my garden I instantly feel so relaxed and happy! I seriously check on it several times a day for this reason. I really think being around all of the growing plants puts off such a good energy that makes you feel so grounded. I think it’s important to intentionally take time to get away from all of our screens and spend time outside these days. Having a backyard garden helps ensure that you’re getting your daily dose of fresh air and vitamin D.
2. It gives you something to look forward to
When I started my first garden I had no idea what I was doing and not a single vegetable grew large enough for us to actually eat. Even though it wasn’t a super successful garden, every time I noticed a new sprout or any progress at all it made me so excited! If this is your first time gardening, don’t put any pressure on yourself and enjoy the process of learning how to grow your own food. My second year of gardening was much more successful and I feel much more prepared going into my third year of gardening. Lately I’ve been watching tons of YouTube videos from experienced gardeners and so many of them say that they still learn something new about gardening every day!
3. It’s a fun hobby to chat about
Gardeners are seriously the sweetest people ever! Since starting my garden I’ve randomly met so many other gardeners and everyone is always so happy to share their advice and offer encouragement. Anyone want to start a garden club?!
4. It saves you money
Although it can be a bit of an investment to start your garden, think about all of the money you will save not purchasing expensive produce from the grocery every week! Last year I ended up with way more vegetables we could eat. I gave a lot of it away, but this year I want to learn how to can things like salsa, spaghetti sauce, and soups!
5. Cute gardening accessories! I just couldn’t resist adding this part in…
Beginner Garden Tips:
1. Know your zone
Your garden zone is based on the climate where you live. You can figure out your garden zone by googling “garden zone + your zip code”. Knowing your garden zone will you decide which plants to choose, when to plant them, when to harvest them, etc. It’s important to pay attention specifically to your last frost date. I learned the hard way that you plants can get damaged if you plant them too early and the temperatures drop. If you see that there’s a frost warning, make sure to cover your plants with blankets! If you’re using raised garden beds, I found that a fitted bed sheet works really well for this. Certain plants, such as lettuce, can usually be planted prior to the last frost date, but you can look this up specifically by your garden zone.
2. Decide what you are going to plant
Make a list of veggies that you often buy from the grocery store. I highly recommend shopping for your plant starts at a local nursery rather than big box stores because you will save money and get way more plants! Plus it’s always nice to support small businesses. A lot of the plants that I purchased for my garden last year came in packs of 4 and I planted all of them. This year I’m only planning on actually planting one or two of each vegetable to try to avoid overcrowding my garden. If you are limited on space like me, I recommend splitting your plants with a friend.
3. Find a place to put your garden
The more sun the better! Try to place your garden in the sunniest place in your yard. Also make sure that a hose will reach your garden because you will need to water it often.
4. Choose what you are going to put your plants in
It’s recommended for beginners to plant their garden in raised beds or containers rather than directly in the ground. This is recommended because you have more control over the soil that you put your plants in, and the quality of your soil directly impacts the success of your garden. We built raised garden beds for the majority of our garden, but I also plan to plant a few things in containers as well.
5. Research how to support your growing plants
Certain plants need supports to rest on because their stems are not strong enough to stand on their own. We purchased these cages to put around our tomatoes and peppers, and trellises for our zucchini and cucumbers to climb onto.
I hope these beginner garden tips were helpful! Make sure to follow me on Instagram for garden updates & tips that I learn along the way!
Happy gardening!
Xo, Ciara
