Have you ever passed a beautiful garden on the way to the market or work and thought, hey, that looks great?! Ever looked at your bare front lawn or the empty space in front of your porch and thought that you wanted it to transform into a beautiful garden with colorful blooming flowers all around? Ever feel jealous of friends telling you the tomatoes you just ate were from their vegetable garden? I bet you have, I know I have! Can you do it then? Can I do it? Yes, we can. But hold it, don’t hurry…
When and how to plant a garden?
It is essential, especially for beginners, to have an understanding of when and how to plant a garden, or how you can put together the soil, the layout, the area, the tools and the best way to test soil regarding preferred growing environment. I’m seeking to remain focused and not get carried away with planting my new garden as this is a vital step as I want my garden to be perfect. So, guys believe it or not, I am stuck at the first stage researching the layout of my garden and soil preparation. I want it to be successful and not run into problems in the middle of the procedure, which is why I wish to invest as much time as possible getting it right the first time.
When I was growing up I watched my grandparents work on their farm. My grandmother had a special gift for gardening. She would plant something and nurture it with love and care and it always grew. As far back as I can remember it was she, who had introduced me to organic gardening. She would use kitchen waste like tea leaves, fruit and vegetable peals, etc. to make compost for the garden. She used to take great care to ensure that the soil was always moist and healthy for the garden and attended to it at regular intervals.
When I first started my garden I made some major mistakes for example, I planted the mint without a proper boundary in place and you know what guys, I am still paying for that mistake! Though the mint plant has shallow roots, some grew into the cracks in the concrete wall and it was difficult to pull them out. I can still find some roots which I missed during the last time I planted my garden. I would never plant without a boundary again! So, here are some basic steps one should follow if you wish to achieve the perfect garden.
Points to consider while learning how to plant a garden:
Soil research
In order to ensure healthy growth of plants, it is essential to incorporate a good variety organic humus, for example compost, processed manure or maybe something like peat moss.
Garden Tools
A pair of good gloves and quality weeding tools are recommended for digging rather than using chemicals. Chemicals tend to spoil the nutrients of your soil. They sometimes also kill the earthworms etc. needed for soil fertility.
Plants or seeds
Seeds will take time to germinate however plants will get you on the field right away. Also seeds require more nutrients and attention. A healthy sapling has a better chance of growing into a healthy plant.
Soil testing
In order to ensure proper healthy plant growth it is essential to check the soil quality. The soil should be ideal for the plants and can be ensured by soil testing carried out by soil test kits available in the market. Soil should have all the essential nutritious and minerals like phosphorous, potash and nitrogen required for proper plant growth.
Phosphorous is essential for seed development and genetics, the deficiency of which can lead to stunted growth and seed infertility. Phosphorous also increases plant vitality, vegetable development, resistance to diseases and prepares the plant for harsh winter months.
Potash provides strength and augments protein synthesis apart from improving plant color and development of the roots. Nitrogen is fundamental for leaf growth without which the leaves will become yellow. But, be careful with nitrogen as excess of it is bad for the plant as that would make the plant susceptible to disease, hinder flowering and lead to low fruit quality.
Excess of nitrogen will also lead to over growth of foliage. PH balance of the soil also needs to be tested as that affects the nutrient absorption capacity of the plant. The plants can then be selected according to the PH of the tested soil and unsuited plants can be avoided.
Garden layout
Tall plants such as corn, beans and peas should be grown on the northern area of the garden. This would ensure that these trees do not create their shadows on the rest of the garden. Medium sized plants like squash and tomatoes should be planted in the middle and low rise plants like onion and lettuce should be planted at the southern end. The location of the garden should be such that it receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily and the direction of the rows should run from north to south for superior sun coverage and air flow.
Conclusion
The above are only some model suggestions and tips for answering some basic questions like when and how to plant a garden. There is a lot more to home gardening. Lots of other factors contribute to the success of a healthy and vibrant garden like choosing the right vegetables and plants for your garden depending on the soil, local climate, water availability and space available for your garden. Happy Gardening!
The following video will give you some interesting ideas about how you can transform your vacant plot into a beautiful looking landscaped outdoor yard:
