{"id":1122,"date":"2021-04-11T23:38:58","date_gmt":"2021-04-11T23:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emilyronehome.com\/?p=1122"},"modified":"2021-04-20T11:45:08","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T11:45:08","slug":"gardening-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emilyronehome.com\/?p=1122","title":{"rendered":"Gardening for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An ongoing post to document my first efforts at a backyard garden. I have a number of raised beds where I have planted herbs and vegetables in Memphis, TN. Read on to learn Gardening 101 with me as a beginner, writing to beginners!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience which may reward me in the event of a sale. Note that I only recommend tools and products I have personally used and loved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basic Terminology: Gardening for Beginners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Types of Plants<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Annual: plants that grow, flower, and make fruit in one year. Most vegetables are “annuals”. Often available in seed or plant form. Cannot tolerate freezing temps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biennial: plants that take two years to grow, bloom and seed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perennial: Plants that will live more than two years. Often only available in plant form. Hardy perennials can tolerate frost and freezing temps, may not thrive in tropical climates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of soil<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sand: runs through your fingers quickly, contains the largest particles. Drain and lose nutrients quickly. Plants will wilt if they lose too much water. Can be improved with compost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loam: Crumbles easily, but does not run through your fingers. Happy medium of particle sizes, the best type of soil for most garden plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clay: will form a sticky ball if picked up and rolled in your hand. The most dense soil type, does not drain well and roots have difficulty growing. Too much water retention will cause plants to wilt. Not recommended for most crops. Can be improved with compost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“An educated gardener is a successful gardener” <\/p>-bURPEE<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to prepare: Gardening for Beginners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beginner Gardening Considerations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First, select your area. Burpee<\/a><\/em> recommends choosing an area that is visible from the house so that you can see plants that may require attention, while also enjoying it from your windows. Make sure your planned garden area is nearby a water source to make watering easier. Don’t place the garden too close to large trees that may have root systems that extend out and under- they will steal water from your plants. Ensure your area has good soil. According to Burpee, good soil is rich soil high in organic matter (i.e. compost) that drains well while retaining some moisture. As we learned earlier, the best soil texture is “loam”. You can read more about soil and composting here<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Experience: Gardening for Beginners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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I have 5 raised beds that had been untouched and overgrown for at least a few years. In a couple weekends I was able to turn the beds that looked like the one on the left, to the one on the right. This tool set<\/a><\/em> is helpful, especially the cultivator hand rake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You want to make sure to break up all the roots beneath the soil and throw them out, including the weeds. I used the cultivator hand rake to break up everything in the soil. It’s important to “turn over” the soil as well, bringing the soil from underneath to the top. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We knew the previous home owner had composted and told us the soil in all the beds was nutrient rich. As I was tilling, I found lots of worms which is a good sign. Depending on your soil, you may need to look into how to add nutrients either by composting or through other routes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day 1: April 3, 2021<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After the raised beds were tilled and turned over, it was time to plan out my space. I had a few veggies and herbs in mind, and roughly spaced them out on paper to make sure everything would fit and work together. The only seeds I planned to use were green beans and onion bulbs, all of the other vegetables and herbs I planned to purchase as small plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I got to Lowe’s, the enormity of the plant options overwhelmed me! I saw so many veggies and herbs I wanted to plant that I decided to expand my initial plan for only 2-3 beds to using all five. The plants I ended up with were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-Chives -Cilantro -Parsley -Basil -Dill -Lavender (mosquito repellent)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-Rosemary -Kale -Broccoli -Catnip (mosquito repellent) -Cherry tomatoes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To plant, follow the directions on each plant or seed packet. For the seeds, I tilled a small row lengthwise down the bed, and laid the seeds every few inches, then covered them back up with dirt. For the plants, it’s important to maintain good spacing and make sure to dig deep enough to cover the plants existing root systems underground. But you don’t want to cover any leaves with dirt, make sure they stay above the surface. It’s important to push down and pack the dirt around the plant once it’s in the ground to ensure a snug fit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After you have sewed the seeds and re-planted the plants, give them all a good watering. According to Burpee, most garden plants need 1-2 inches of water every week. You can use a rain gauge to determine how much water you are getting naturally from rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, I’ve labeled where all my vegetables and herbs ended up. All of my beds get full sun for the most part (the pictures below were taken in the evening). <\/p>\n\n\n\n