What does the beginning gardener need to know first? What tools do they need? This article will give some answers to these questions and help the beginning gardener on their way.
Some people are motivated by the desire to grow their own food. This allows you to know exactly what has been done to your vegetable and fruits, whether pesticides or herbicides were used and so on. There is nothing more satisfying than to go out in your yard and pick some ears of corn and put them right away into a pot of boiling water. This is the ultimate in taste and freshness. Other gardeners are looking for the satisfactions that come from growing beautiful flowers, and gathering big bouquets to grace your living room or give to others. Whichever motivates the reader, their goal can be achieved only with some good knowledge and hard work.
When you sit down to draw up a plan for your vegetable garden, you will want to take into account the height of different plants. If the sun comes in from a southern angle, you will want to plant tall crops such as corn or okra on the northern side, so they won’t shade out the shorter plants.
To find out the composition of your soil, the smartest thing to do is to take a sample to the nearest agricultural co-op extension office. They will analyze your soil and give you advice on what you should add to improve the PH balance. Lime, for instance, will reduce acidity. This service is usually free or at very low cost. Tell them what plants you are planning to grow, as this will affect their advice. Humus from composted leaves is always a help to enrich the soil.
You have to begin with the soil, clay or sand, which you already have. From there you can make improvements, but cannot alter the basic components. This may affect which plants will grow well in your yard. Again, it is best to ask the experts for advice. You can get lots of information from the Internet, but your local agricultural office will know your area best.
Making your own compost is the preferred way to go. But even if you compost your table scraps and your autumn leaves, you may not have as much compost as you need to fertilize your garden. Some towns put out piles of composted leaves every spring for local residents to take, so check to see if that is an option. There is always the alternative of buying composted manure from a local farm. This provides a particularly rich fertilizer. But be sure the manure has aged for a year or more. Otherwise it may “burn” your plants.
This is just a bare beginning guide to get you on your way. But knowing your soil and the kind of crops it will produce best is the first step, and then plan your garden accordingly. Whether you want to grow vegetables or flowers or both, your knowledge and hard work will be well rewarded.
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