As part of our seed library, we will be bringing you gardening tips and tricks throughout the growing season. We hope you have a successful season and that your garden thrives. There is so much advice out there on the best way to get your garden started. From container gardens to companion planting, organic gardening to hydroponic gardening, there is always something. Finding what works best for you and your family is a bit of an experiment. Here are some ideas to try and some follow up resources for you.
Organic Gardening
Organic gardening is centered around the health of your soil. Plants get everything they need to grow from the soil they are planted in and when organic matter is included in your garden, your plants tend to grow heartily. Soil health is incredibly important in organic gardening. When you feed your soil, your soil will feed you. Compost that includes household scraps, grass clippings and dead leaves will help your soil maintain all of its nutrients.
Organic gardening also uses natural means in controlling pests and diseases. Floating row covers will prevent moths from landing on plants and keep their larvae from munching on your leaves. Foil collars at the base of plants will keep cutter worms out of your produce. These are just some of the tactics you can use to keep your organic garden healthy. The most important tip we can give you is to be vigilant. Keep an eye on your garden and take care of any problems that appear quickly.
For further reading try:
Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening: A Beginners Guide to Starting a Healthy Garden by Deborah L. Martin
The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control: A Complete Guide to Maintaining a Healthy Garden and Yard the Earth Friendly Way
Online resources:
Companion Gardening
Companion gardening is a way to encourage your plants to help one another. Some plants will keep certain pests away from other plants. For example, basil planted near tomatoes will keep flies and mosquitos away and radishes will keep the cucumber beetle away from your cucumbers. In general, marigolds should be planted throughout the garden since they deter a myriad of pests both above the soil and below. Planting your garden with this method takes a little bit of planning but it will help you maintain itself. Take note of vegetables that do not like being near each other. In many cases, one or both plants will not thrive.
For further reading:
Companion Planting: The Beginner’s Guide to Companion Gardening by M. Grande
Carrots Love Tomatoes by Louise Riotte
Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden by Jessica Walliser
Online resources:
Container Gardening
Container gardening is very similar to other gardens but in pots and tables. Container gardening is great if you have a balcony or porch but no ground space for a garden. You do need to consider the space you have your garden in. Some vegetables like tomatoes need a lot of sun and won’t do as well in shady windows or porches. Container gardening can also help support the other garden types discussed in this article.
You will want to gather pots and get potting soil. It is important to get the right kind of soil. Top soil is not good for pots if it is the soil being used. Many potting soil brands will include fertilizer or organic matter to feed your plants. Other things to consider is the type of pots that you use. Clay and terracotta pots are very decorative but plastic pots hold in the moisture better. If your containers are outside they will get rain but will still need to be watered during dry weather. Large pots will give your plants room for roots to develop. Plants like lettuce can have multiple plants in one large pot but larger plants like tomatoes or squash can only have one plant per large pot.
For reading try:
McGee & Stuckey’s Bountiful Container: Create Container Gardens of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers by Maggie Stuckey and Rose Marie Nichols McGee
The Balcony Gardener: Creative Ideas for Small Spaces by Isabelle Palmer
Online resources:
The Raised Bed Garden
This type of garden is higher off the ground. This allows you to manage weeds easier and depending on how high the bed is, you will not have to get on the ground or your knees. Raised beds are great for areas that have clay soils that hold too much water or sandy soils that are too dry. Using a raised bed will allow you to have better control over some of the most important factors in gardening, moisture control and the nutrients in your soil. How tall your beds are is a matter of personal preference. Some beds are 6-12 inches from the ground and others are up to 3 feet off the ground. Some things you should take into consideration when designing your garden are how much sun the area gets, how much of a yield you want, and what your abilities to work on it long term look like. If you want a garden that will age with you, you might want to consider one that is taller or of table height. Raised beds work well with other garden techniques like square foot gardening or companion gardening.
For further reading:
Raised Bed Gardening for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know by Tammy Wylie
All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew
Online resources:
No matter which type of garden you choose to plant, choosing the plants and seeds to grow is important. We have some seeds for your garden. Visit our seed library and we will bring the seeds to you!
