Gardening Tips

Growing your own produce can be a lot of fun and can also be very rewarding. Gardening can give you the chance to spend time outside, get a bit dirty and obtain nutritious and tasty produce. If you are thinking about starting your own garden or already have one, here are some tips that will make your garden grow.

• Plant at the right time. If you wait too long, your crops may not get enough sun to mature and produce fruits. Likewise, if you don’t wait long enough, the last frost of the cold season could kill everything in your garden.


• Rotate your crops from year to year. If you plant the same type of vegetable in the same area every season, the soil may become depleted of the nutrients that that plant uses. Instead, try to plan out your garden so that different crops are planted in a different spot each year to maximize available nutrients.


• Use new seeds. Most seed packets are printed with a best buy date. Older seeds may have a lower germination percentage that may decrease as the seeds age.


• Germinate seedlings indoors if you have trouble getting them to start outdoors. A Ziploc baggie with a damp paper towel works great for most seedlings.


• Ward off pests to prevent them from enjoying your garden instead of you. Construct a high fence or run an electric wire around the perimeter of your garden if you live in an area with deer or other potential herbivores as they can strip off all foliage in your garden in minutes. Smaller pests such as aphids or slugs can also cause substantial damage. Put down garden safe slug bait around your plants or spray with a food safe insect spray to deter aphids and other similar insects.


• Don’t forget to protect yourself! While outside in the sun, be sure to wear sunscreen or long shirts and pants and a hat. If you garden at night, you may want to apply some insect repellant to ward off any pesky mosquitoes. Investing in a good pair of gloves and a kneeling pad will help protect your hands and knees as well. 


• If you don’t have the space or the time for your own garden, consider using a community garden. Several areas offer a communal space where you can have your own small garden patch or work with others on a larger patch. This is also a great place to trade tips, produce and stories.