Seventy degrees today…
Blizzard tomorrow.
And such is spring in Wyoming, so I can’t really complain. (OK, fine. I might complain a little bit.)
Thankfully, the kids and I were able to spend some time outside re-filling the raised beds with fresh soil this week, so I suppose that will appease me (a little) as I’m huddled by the fire again with my hot cocoa.
After gardening for at least a decade and making EVERY mistake in the book (literally), I was thinking this past week about the things that every newbie gardener needs to know in order to avoid some of the biggest disasters, and I decided to compile them into this video. Enjoy!
3 Things Every Beginner Gardener NEEDS to Know
1.Know Your Zone & Frost Dates!
Click here to see the USDA Plant Hardiness Map. It’ll help you know what to plant when, and save you a lot of heartache!
2. Test Your Soil
Here’s the post where I talk about how we went about testing our soil and the interesting results we got. And here are some tips for improving & amending your soil.
3. Direct Sow? Or Not?
Some seeds do best when stuck directly in the soil after the last frost date (think beans, squash, corn, peas) while other almost always require starting the seeds indoors first (tomatoes, peppers, brassicas).
When it makes sense, I love starting seeds indoors as it saves me a ton of cash. Here are all the posts I’ve created on starting seeds:
- Our DIY Indoor Seed Starting Set-Up
- The Ultimate Seed Starting Guide
- Where to Buy Heirloom Seeds
- How to Test Seeds for Viability
- How Much to Plant for Your Family
BONUS TIP: Plant What You LIKE to Eat!
It may seem obvious, but it’s easy to be tempted by the more “exotic” seeds or seedlings in the spring and end up with a bunch of vegetables your family really isn’t that excited about eating. (Been there, done that.) For your first year or two, stick with the basics and grow things you and your family will happily chow down. For tons of recipes and tips for turning your homegrown food into delicious meals, grab a copy of The Prairie Homestead Cookbook!
Yep, totally, agree with the list. But I would add that once the beginning gardener has internalized those, I’d recommend they figure out which of the plants they are growing are heavy feeders (i.e. need lots of fertilizer) and make sure they invest in a good quality organic plant food.
This is my first year really gardening ( I have always helped with our garden in the past, but now I am in charge) and I learned the hard way about heavy feeders. My poor heirloom tomatoes are in sad shape because I failed to feed them early or often enough.
I have them on a regimen now, and they should be fine in the long run, but it is going to be awhile before they are truly flourishing.
Hi Jill! That is a great, super helpful video for new gardeners. I completely agree with those 3 things, especially knowing when and what you can plant. I think it’s very important to know what plants are best to direct sow and which ones are better to be transplanted. What I have found after years of gardening is that even local garden centers and nurseries will sell plants that do not actually grow well in our area. So it is super important to do research prior and know what you can and can’t plant. Unfortunately you cannot always assume that what is sold locally will grow well in your area.
Great tips! Preparing the garden is an exciting time of year. I would add to your list: compost and/or organic matter will help with most soul problems so make sure you keep adding more throughout the season.
Hello, Liz! Great tips! Covers almost everything that needs to be known by gardeners and beginners alike. It makes me even more excited to work on my garden especially this Spring season. 🙂
Thank you for the useful article. I am going to refresh my garden and your tips for the beginner are just in time. I want to plan only what we like to eat. I think it will be great for everyone in my family and for our health too. My mother loves gardening, therefore I hope she’ll help me to do everything right 🙂
Water is important, and how you will get it to the garden.
Hi Jill, I just want so say thank you as this post has convinced me to take up gardening as a hobby. The aim is to reduce the amount both fruit and vegetables I have to buy from the the store.
Yay!! Oh my goodness, we’re so glad to hear this! Happy gardening! 🙂
My previous comment was too long! Here’s part 2.
As far as Frost Dates: you are very right in knowing these! Even so, the frost dates don’t tell all. In my cool summers, many things are grown at cooler than optimal temperatures, and therefore take longer to mature than the dates listed on the packet. That doesn’t mean that things can’t be grown–I just know I can’t dilly dally around and must plant things as soon as possible. Most things are started indoors (even beans, started in soil blocks). Because my climate is prone to snow or freezing outside the parameters, I am always ready to throw a quick cover on anything tender.
As you mentioned, some things are iffy and not worth the bother. However, I sometimes offer up some space for something I really want, because every year is different. What doesn’t grow one year may grow in another. I just don’t get too disappointed if a thing or two don’t make it.
About choosing what to grow: In some areas like mine where some things do not grow well, we’ve learned to cook & eat what DOES grow well, and have learned to give up on a few things that don’t.
I’m in the Colorado Rockies at 9,000 feet.