10 Tips for New Gardeners

by Alden Smith

There is nothing more satisfying than having your own garden.  The pleasures of watching things grow - whether flowers or vegetables - is a good source of relaxation and can bring fresh food to your table.  Whether you are planning a garden in the country, are a city dweller that still wants to grow things, or just want an exciting hobby that brings the satisfaction of growing things, there are a few things you need to know.  This article focuses on the top 10 things a new gardener needs to know to be successful.

1. Newcomers to the gardening hobby need to know a few basic things to be successful.  Look at the plot where you wish to grow your garden.  Determine the hours of sunlight it receives.  For example, if planning on growing tomatoes, they need a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day.  Will your garden be in the shade most of the day?  Determine this before beginning to plan.           
2. Plan your garden so that each different plant gets its own special needs met.  If at all possible, lay out the garden so that the rows face the east.  This way, taller plants such as corn will not shade out lower growing plants such as green beans or peas.  All plants receive the same hours of sunlight each day.  If you like to do this, make a sketch of how you think your garden should look.
3. Know your earth.  Is it sandy, loam, or clay?  Each type of soil has special needs to grow plants, and loamy soil is the optimum condition. Check the PH balance of your soil.  It is not only easy to do, but fun besides.  Soil is classified in three categories - sweet, sour, and bitter.  Ideally, soil that is in correct PH balance is considered sweet.  If too acidic, it is considered to be sour.  If too alkaline, it is considered bitter.  Although plants will grow in soil not correctly balanced, you never achieve optimum results by not checking and adjusting the PH balance of your soil.
4. Prepare the garden plot in the fall.  Have a neighbor plow your garden plot, or use a rototiller to do it yourself.  This allows the winter frost to break up soil clumps into a good soil base during winter months.  By doing this, in the spring all you will need to do is rake over the plot, removing stones and any possible clumps of sod, or just use a rototiller to prep the soil for planting.
5. You may wish to start your plants yourself during late winter.  This is fun to do, and a good chance for children to learn how plants grow.  Many stores sell seed packets, and starting instructions will be on the label.  Most stores generally begin to display seed packets around the first of February.
6. If you choose to buy your plants from a nursery, look for plants that are green and fresh looking, have buds forming on them, and are not tall and spindly.  This is a time when smaller is better.  Plants that are large have had a diet high in nitrogen, and will be shocked more than smaller plants when transplanting to the garden.  Avoid plants that show any sign of disease. 
7. Time your visit to the nursery in accordance to actual planting time of the crop you are planning on growing.  it is a good idea to "harden" plants when brought home from the nursery.  Remember, plants growing in a nursery do so under optimal conditions.  Begin the process by moving the new plants outside into a sheltered area and let them adjust for an hour or two during the day.  Increase the time outside as the plants show signs of adjusting to the new temperatures and wind.  Hardening off can be done in about two weeks time, and you will be rewarded by plants that take the transition well from plant flats to the earth.  Allow yourself enough time before planting season to accomplish this.
8. Know when and how to fertilize.  Each vegetable plant has its own unique needs.  Depending on the fertility of you soil, you can fertilize transplanted vegetable 3 to 4 weeks after transplanting.  With vine crops, such as squash and cucumbers, fertilize when they begin to spread, and then again when they bloom.  Plan on using a good balanced fertilizer such as
   5-10-10 and figure 2 pounds of fertilizer to each 25 foot row.  Sprinkle the fertilizer 6 to 8 inches from the plant's stem, and work it loosely in to the soil.
9. Stagger plantings of fast growing vegetable such as radishes, lettuce, and other quick growing vegetables so that there is always a fresh supply during the months of harvest.  Don't make the mistake of planting just one small row of radishes, and then running out quickly.  You can plant these vegetables about every 2 weeks to insure a long lasting supply.
10. As plants die off at the end of the growing season, remove the debris and put it on a compost pile.  Leaving the dead plants in the garden only attracts bacteria, mold and insects, and can cause damage to late season plants.  Remember, building a good compost pile gives you great fertilizer for the upcoming years of gardening, and is more friendly to the environment.  Plans for building a useful compost pile are readily available at hardware stores and on the internet.

Following these easy guidelines will help you realize a fascinating hobby, will feed the family fresh veggies during the summer months, and help cut back on food costs.  Gardening, whether flower or vegetable, is a very relaxing and enjoyable hobby.  Plan your garden today!

Alden Smith is an award winning author and regular contributor to DoItYourself.com. He writes on a variety of subjects, and excels in research.