Do you want to start your first garden or need help with problems you may be having? Here are a few steps I learned along the way to make gardening easy and fun.

Living most of my life in a farming area, I learned a very long time ago how much I loved gardening, which I learned from my dad and his mother. My dad really knew how to grow a great garden in a small plot behind the house. He would tell me his secrets he learned from his mom that I still use today and will pass a few along to you. 

Find the perfect place to start your garden

Doesn’t matter how large or small your garden is going to be, you need to have the right amount of space and sun. Gardens love the sun and this is key. Stay away from areas that are in the shade most of the day. Staying ahead of harvesting and pulling weeds will keep your garden healthy. Placing your garden where you can see it often will help to remind you to go out to visit your garden. 

Where is my garden? My 4′ x 12′ raised garden is on the south side of the home against the house. As you can see in the picture above, the homes are close together, so my garden plot is long and skinny. There is a little shade in the morning but the rest of the day is nice and sunny. I don’t have much yard at all and our HOA requires that gardens be up against the home or in the landscaping. I can check my garden every morning by looking out my bathroom window. I sure do miss my helper, Mr. Ernest T. Bass, the rescued boxer. 

Make sure water is close by

Besides the sun, water is so important in gardening. It never rains where you need it to, so plan your garden close to a water source. Either by a water faucet to run a hose or next to a well. 

Where is my water?  I have a faucet about 20 feet away from my garden and I run a hose from it with a hose timer and misting system connected. I set the timer to run on certain days for 15 minutes each day about 6 am. The misters keep the water at ground level and only in the area where water is needed. Placing misters only where you need water is a great way to save you money on your water bill. 

I used to water with the hose every day and that became such a chore and it took a lot of time out of my day. The timer and misters really helped make gardening life easier. 

I also have a rain barrel but that is mainly used for watering the flower pots. The small section of hose at the bottom of the barrel is where I slide the spout of my watering can into to fill it up. As you can see, the rain barrel is behind bushes so its not noticeable from the street.

To use raised garden beds or not

I’m asked often if I use raised beds or just plant in the ground. I’ve tried both ways with success. Before I moved to Florida, I used a small plot of ground in my backyard.

Advantages of raised beds are the dirt and water stays in one area, it’s easier to mow around and keep clean, and they make it easier to reach your veggies. If you have trouble bending over there are taller raised beds to use. Great for smaller areas, patios and porches. Using large pots is another way to garden in small areas.

Advantages of using a plot of land are you can grow so much more! If you have a large family, this would be ideal. If you already have really good dirt where you live and don’t have to amend it with top soil and manure, then this would be a great solution for you. 

Which system do I use? Since I live in a climate where it gets hot quickly, my soil is very sandy and controlling water meant raised gardening was my best solution. The picture above is showing how my raised beds have evolved over the years. I love the PVC Tomato Cage Mr. G made for me and my cucumber plant did not make it. 🙁

I use 3 – 4 x 4 raised beds which I filled with compost, Black Cow compost manure and top soil. I may have to add a bag of compost in each bed every year to replace the dirt which is used up by the growing process of the plants.

The copper tape around the raised beds is to help keep snails at bay. When a snail starts climbing up the sides and touches the copper tape, it will give them a little shock and they turn back. Snails are my biggest pest where I live.

Know your planting zone

No matter where you live, you have a planting zone which tells you when you should plant certain plants. There are some plants which like cooler weather and some which like it hot. Knowing the correct time to plant will make or break your garden.

What zone am I? My area is Zone 9a or 9b ish, which means my first frost date is November 15th and last frost date is March 15th. I live at the dividing area of where frost stops. It may frost at my home but 2 miles down the road there is none. I plant mainly from October through the end of April. The bugs, diseases, heat and snails are so bad during May through September that its not worth my time to deal with all of that. Plus I don’t use any kind of chemicals in my garden to keep the pests away. I do use a natural spray called Neem Oil when I do see creatures nibling on my veggies and flowers. 

Choose the right seeds and plants

It’s important to get the right seeds and plants for your growing conditions. Read the labels closely of each plant or seed packet to make sure they will grow well for your garden or planting zone. You don’t want to plant squash in a very small area or one small pepper plant in a 4 x 4 area. Doing your homework will save you money and many headaches down the road.

Choosing the right seeds is a personal preference and this is where trial and error comes in. 

Heirloom seeds or non-hybrid seeds, are seeds that have not been modified by man and will naturally pollinate. Their seeds can also be harvested for future use and some have been around for centuries.

Hybrid seeds have been genetically modified by man by crossing two plants together. They are made to produce larger yields, larger fruit, drought tolerant, etc. Seeds are also sterile and can’t be used again for future plants.

You do have to plan ahead if you are growing from seeds indoors under a grow light. You may have to start 6 weeks before the last frost in your zone. Buying plants already started from the store will give you a faster yield.

I learned a lot from the book Square Foot Gardening if you plan on using raised beds. It explains how to lay out your plants by size and if some plants compliment others. Marigolds are great to plant in any garden to help deter bugs.

What plants and seeds I use? I use a variety of plants and seeds and try new plants all the time. I exchange plants with neighbors and in our garden club. I do use more heirloom seeds because they seem to do much better in my garden. I have found that hybrid tomato seeds and plants don’t yield better tasting fruit. I also prefer to grow my plants from seeds planted directly in the ground. By doing this, I seem to get stronger plants. I rarely buy already grown plants from stores unless I have lost my plants due to weather. 

But most importantly…it’s FUN. 

A few of my favorite gardening tools

I have owned many garden tools over the years. Some were passed down from my dad and others were purchased by me. I have also learned that cheap garden tools will only cause heartache and a few choice words. Here is a list of items I use the most.

• Metal watering can – I love my metal watering can I found in a thrift store. Not sure how old it is, but it really is an heirloom to pass on.
• Rachet hand shears – My favorite gardening tool. Having the rachet system really helps your hand to not work so hard on cutting limbs.
• Garden tools – Heavy-duty garden tools will last for years if you just wash and dry them off before storage after each use.
• Garden gloves – These are the best gloves. The plastic on the bottom will keep your hands from getting wet and muddy. They wash up nicely too.
• Garden apron – I love this apron to help keep my clothes from getting really dirty and to hold all my tools. 
• Garden tote belt – If I plan on being out in the garden for a long time, my 5-gallon bucket tote belt is the perfect choice to carry all my tools at once. I can also throw my trimmings inside the bucket as I walk around.
• Garden clogs – I don’t like to have wet and muddy feet and these clogs wash up like a dream.
• Plant markers – Perfect to label all your plants and reusable.
• Folding garden cart – I love this cart especially when I garden away from home and throw it in the back of my car since it folds up so nicely. Great to carry bags of dirt and all the plants to your garden area.

Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth – Genesis 1:11

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