I started gardening about six years ago. I had no idea what I was doing. I was bored and I wanted to try something new. We had this tiny patch of dirt that we didn't know what to do with in our backyard so we decided that I would attempt to garden.
I think the first year I planted some tomatoes and cucumbers. With limited knowledge I watched the cucumbers grow out of control. I learned the hard way that cucumbers are vines and they need a place to grow. I also learned that tomatoes grow tall and get heavy and need strong stakes. That was year one.
I took what I learned the first year and set out the second year to do better. The second year was better but I still had some learning to do. Each year I would build my knowledge base and keep going. Now, six years later I consider myself a decent vegetable gardener.
Here are some general tips to vegetable gardening:
- For me it was all about experimenting. I would buy packets of seeds dig holes in the ground plant the seeds and see what happens. At the end of the season I would take note of what worked and what didn't work. I would note what we liked to eat and what we didn't like. I would also note if we had enough of what we liked or too much. So true tip number 1: Start a journal. write down what you are growing, where you planted seeds, what you liked, did you have enough?
- Raised beds are the way to go. If you plant about normal ground level you will have better drainage and your plants will thrive. My beds this year are about 6 inches above ground level, we shall see how this goes. In my old house they were 12 inches or more.
- Growing tomatoes? Buy cages. Stakes are fine but are more time consuming. I have collapsable triangle shaped tomato cages. Once your plants start to grow just put the cage around the plant and it will provide the support you need. Stakes require that you tie the plant to it as it grows, cages don't need any kind of ties.
- Have a trellis for vines or give them lots of space to spread. I personally like the trellis. It looks prettier when it grows and it keeps the vegetables cleaner. A trellis won't work for heavy fruits like melons or pumpkins.
- Weed block is your friend. If you are starting from scratch at the bottom of your bed place weed block. It's not 100% proof but it will help significantly. If you already have a bed and don't have weed block you can still put it in: You can remove about 3 inches of soil lay the block down then replace the soil. Don't want to spend money? Newspaper works too. Works best about 3inches from the surface. Put the paper down (2 to 3 layers thick) spray with water then cover with soil. (my plan for this year is to put the weed block at the bottom of the bed and the newspaper towards the top--I really hate weeding)
- When watering your plants be sure to water at the roots (and never during the hottest period of the day) and not water the tops of the plants.
- To stimulate plant growth prune the bottom branches. If you cut of lower branches your plants will grow taller and stronger.
- If you are transplanting (moving plants from a pot to the ground or one pot to another) be sure to loosen the roots before putting them in their new home. Squeeze the roots and shake them out. This will help them spread and take root in their new home. Also plant deep, meaning that you plant deeper then they were in their previous spot go down the stem 1-2 inches or more. Again, this is all in an effort to strengthen your plant.
Well that's what I have for now. As I think of new things I will be sure to update this post. As of today I have tiny sprouts that my kids started from seeds that are just waiting to be put into their new home. Between too many rainy days and other family events coming up I haven't had the time to put the finishing touches on my garden, so no transplanting just yet.
I have only one book recommendation. It's called:
Carrots love Tomatoes
. This was a huge help for me. I started gardening in an urban environment and needed to know how to maximize my space. The book goes into great detail about plants work together well and what doesn't. It also encourages you to plant things closer together than you might think is possible.
Gardening should be fun, can be relaxing and is most definitely rewarding. Let it be one big experiment. Try not to over think what you are doing and let conventional wisdom flow out the window.
