Gardening newbies are faced with the great difficulty of how to set up their garden, in fact there are several aspects to consider: the "what to plant", the "where to plant", and the "when to plant". The rules are many and can lead to a lot of confusion, but if you read the passages in this article, you will find good and simple tips for arranging your garden successfully.
Steps
Step 1. First of all it is essential to choose the type of plants
Floral, ornamental or vegetable plants. They all follow well-defined rules, so as a first step, decide what you want to plant.
Step 2. Find a few neighbors who you think are good at gardening
It does not matter if you are friends, you will see that, if you ask for advice, the neighbors will be happy to show you their creations and give you valuable suggestions.
Step 3. On the internet you can find several sites that offer advice and answers on various plant species, when to plant them and how to combine them, or you can contact your local nursery or a trusted garden center
Step 4. Choose the variety you prefer
For example, watermelon and tomatoes are not only red, there is a kind of yellow color, so if you prefer, get them in this color. The same goes for beans and peas, there are bush or climbing varieties.
Step 5. Check the dimensions
Many plants, in fact, have a "dwarf" variant that takes up less space than the standard version.
Step 6. Think carefully about the location of the plants in the garden
Some plants need a lot of light, or a lot of sun, others less. This aspect is essential to decide what type of plant to buy and where to place it. For example, tomato plants and other leafy vegetables need sun to grow.
Step 7. Go to a nursery
Usually, you will find plenty of seeds or plants suitable for growing in your area here, as well as useful information on sowing and flowering periods. Garden centers generally sell for higher prices, but offer a better selection of plants, and practical solutions that may be right for you.
Step 8. Look around and read the specifics of the plants you would like to plant in the garden
Usually, the name of the variety, the climatic zone, and the required sun exposure are indicated.
Step 9. Choose some potted plants to start the adventure with, check that they are sian and that they are placed in pots that are not too small for their size
Very large plants in small pots may have atrophied roots if their stay in these pots has been particularly long. In these conditions, plants will hardly be able to grow, even once transplanted into the ground.
Step 10. You can choose to sow and start from scratch
On the seed sachets you will find all the necessary information: the sowing season, the space to leave between one seed and another, the depth to which to place the seeds, exposure to the sun, the type of soil and the drainage system.
Step 11. Start with a few plants, don't go home with the whole nursery in the bag
Step 12. Take a tour of the fertilizer department and see what is proposed to you to enrich the soil in your garden
If you have no way of getting specific advice for the type of soil you have, a generic fertilizer should be fine; in any case try to consult the labels and see for which types of plants it is recommended. Usually, a fertilizer based on organic compounds is more suitable for sandy or medium clayey soils, while a smaller quantity is required for soils particularly rich in clay; in any case, there are no contraindications even in case of a normal dosage. As a general consideration, it is good to be careful with fertilizers, because they can have unpleasant implications: for example, adding too much nitrogen to the soil to grow legumes (beans and peas), can favor an excessive growth of leaves with very small fruits, so wait to learn a little more on the subject, before dosing the fertilizers independently.
Step 13. Decide which area to dedicate to plants
Think of portions of ground that are not too beaten, such as corners with good exposure to light or along the edges, avoiding the central areas where you would risk mowing everything when you mow the lawn.
Step 14. With the help of a spade (if you prefer to use foot strength) or a shovel (if you prefer to use arm strength), you must first dig up a portion of the soil, then, once the soil has been firmened and broken the clods, put the earth back into the excavation
This preparation must be carried out for the whole part of the garden that you intend to cultivate. If you use a mechanical tool, such as a farm tiller, you will definitely do it sooner and get a better result.
Step 15. Take care to remove any roots, weeds, leaves, branches, and turf from the soil to make the earth crumbled
Step 16. Now add fertilizer (compost, composted soil conditioner, etc.)
) and mix it, using a rake, with the upper part of the soil (10-12 cm).
Step 17. Trace approximately one meter furrows in the tilled soil and, if you are using large plants, prepare a hole in the ground for each
Space the plants well, otherwise they risk growing too attached. The peat pots can be left in the ground as they are composed of biodegradable substances, the important thing is to create openings to allow the roots to slip into the ground: if, on the other hand, the containers are made of plastic, they must absolutely be removed before planting.
Step 18. Place the plant in the hole prepared earlier, making sure that the end of the stem rests slightly below ground level
Some plants may require a pruning of the branches or excess foliage in order not to make the nourishment work carried out by the roots too burdensome, especially during the rooting phase.
Step 19. Even for the seeds it is necessary to prepare grooves in the ground
To prepare it, you can use a double-handled shovel, a hoe or other agricultural tools that you have available: it loosens the soil and creates a fairly deep groove.
Step 20. Pour the seeds into the groove by spacing them as specified on the package
The most common seeds are placed at a depth of about 1.5 cm - if you keep the soil moist until sprouts appear, there should be no problem. When covering the seeds, be careful not to crush the soil too much, but at the same time, keep the seeds firmly on the ground.
Step 21. Water little but often, this applies to both plants and seeds:
depending on the soil, this type of watering may take a week or two. When the plants have taken root or the seeds have sprouted, reduce the frequency of watering and increase the amount of water, so as to reach the roots deeply and stimulate them to develop.
Step 22. Observe the plants and check their health
If you notice yellow or streaked leaves, you may need to help them with some fertilizer. If you are not an expert on the subject, orient yourself towards a soluble compound for which doses and frequency are indicated instead of having to figure out the quantities and proportions yourself. There are many brands of fertilizers, which can be purchased in stores dedicated to gardening or online: usually, they do not have excessive costs and on the instructions there are all the indications on how to use them. Evaluate the use of natural fertilizers that are excellent and do not chemically alter the composition of the soil: among the best known brands you can find Advanced Nutrients, Hesi, and Atami. For the well-being of your plants, nutrients and elements such as copper, zinc, and iron, contained in fertilizers, are essential.
Step 23. Keep an eye on the "invaders"
This category includes all those who, in one way or another, may be attracted to your crops: from wild rabbits to caterpillars. It is practically impossible to give a complete list of all eventualities, but if you notice that the leaves have been nibbled or have spots, you need to understand the cause and also quickly.
Step 24. Try to keep the soil as clean as possible by frequently removing weeds
Mulching may help, although it must be taken into account that, for some species, excessive moisture can cause disease.
Step 25. Consider wins and losses
There will be some species that will perform better than others, so consider this when choosing your crops or plants for the next year.
Advice
- To ward off insects, without resorting to chemicals, you can use some plants that perform an "insect-repellent" action such as garlic and calendula.
- Chat with neighbors who are good at gardening - they're a well of helpful advice you don't even find in books.
- If necessary, contact an agricultural department in your area for information.
- Before purchasing, always check the plant's characteristics on the tag: diseases, insects or parasites to which it is subject, the watering specifications of the species, and the dosage of fertilizers, if necessary.
