12 Basic Gardening Tips

1. Whether you are new to gardening or new to gardening organically, you probably have an idea of what you hope to achieve in your garden.

2. In your mind’s eye, fix a vision of your gardening goals: abundant vegetables, sun-ripened fruits, colorful flowers, soothing shade. Decide where you want to go.

3. Water, sunlight, and healthy soil are all essential ingredients in a successful garden. Equally important is to begin modestly.

4. If you’re planning your very first garden, go easy on yourself and keep things simple.

5. Better to enjoy modest success in your first gardening season than to overcommit and wind up over whelmed before you’ve picked your first ripe tomato.

6. There are dozens of decisions to make at the outset of a new garden. Keeping even a few notes can help you stay on course when you’re tempted to forego planning and preparation.

7. Be patient. Learn from your mistakes. Take time to stop and smell the flowers

8. Start small but dream big. A large garden can be a lot of work, while a small one allows time for tending crops and getting the feel of the tasks that need to be done.

9. A space that’s 5 × 10 feet can be big enough for a first garden. Even if you’re feeling ambitious, start no more than three or four, 4 × 8-foot beds in your first season. But choose a site that has room for expansion.

10. Grow things you and your family like.

11. Start with the easy stuff. Some vegetables and flowers are easier to grow than others. Don’t try to grow oranges in Ohio or tulips in South Texas. Stick with the tried-and-true flowers and produce that thrive in your area, and choose disease-resistant varieties whenever possible.

12. Good crops for beginners include green beans, cucumbers, and leaf lettuce and easy-growing flowers such as morning glories, nasturtiums, and zinnias. (Martin, 2014)

References

Martin, D. L.  (2014). Rodale's basic organic  gardening: A beginner's guide to starting a healthy garden. Rodale.