How do I begin my first garden?
I’ll be a home owner very soon and I need some guidance on ways to grow a successful garden. Such as when to start planting. How often do you water it. Anything. My grandmother was a gardener but she passed away before I could get any real information from her. And she was the only one in my family to actually do it. Help please and thank you all!!
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Congratulations! What zone are you in Donna? You can find out here:
https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
What do you want to grow? Herbs, fruit and vegetables? Flower garden? Trees? Shrubs?
Hi Donna, this gives you a basic overview for both flowers and veggies. I also recommend YouTube there are some great videos there once you settle on what you want to grow. https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/garden-care/ten-steps-to-beginning-a-garden/
Contact you local Extension agency. See if there is a gardening club near by. A higher end local nursery generally has papers they will give you with tips and advice. Internet search for "gardening in (your zipcode)" will produce some helps too.
Call or visit your local nursery to get more information for your area and project . Lots of free ideas and help.
Another great resource is any local community garden or even seed exchange go online to find them the people involved in these are usually so great about helping(info., wisdom,knowledge),sharing (seeds,resources for manure/fertilizer,hard to find/expensive to buy plant starts). You are in excellent growing area/zones for growing everything. Naomi has provided excellent resources. Many garden herbs you can start from the seeds you buy in stores Cilantro is Coriander seeds,Fennel,Celery and many more organic is even better, many veggies you can grow from waste you are tossing out potatoes,celery,onions. So much knowledge has been lost since your Grandmothers generation of gardening & farming. I'm so glad you are seeking out how to learn and grow your own. Mixing plants; Herbs,Veggies,Fruit trees,Annuals & Perennials will assure you have living garden,bringing in the Bugs,Birds,Bees,Butterflies,Hummingbirds in to your space so it all works in tandom.Adding Lady bugs, Praying Mantis,Green Lacewing,Pirate bugs all provide essential beneficial pest control needing no pesticides. Earthworms & Nematodes in soil provide great soil conditioning. Most plants suffer,get sick, die from over watering so water when they are dry. Old gardening rule "Don't plant til after Mother's Day" no frost, no more ground freeze,long sunny warm days. Gardening is a great passion to share with kids too.Heck even my dogs & cats love to be out in the yard/garden all day with me.The first time you eat something fresh & sweet like sunripened warm tomatoes or ripe strawberries from your garden you will never want store bought again. You should consider a few chickens even just 2(they lay an egg a day & provide great fertilizer) they become pets & you have never tasted eggs soo sweet & good.Also eat alot of unwanted bugs.
Thank you to everyone I cannot wait to start!!!
Hi Donna - This is the ultimate and super easy step-by-step guide to determine your plant hardiness zone, your frost dates, and also when to start planting indoors and outdoors. Plus lots of great resources. Hope this helps and happy gardening! Hugs, Holly
https://pinkfortitude.com/sow-and-plant-seeds/