So You Want To Start A Garden.

Whether it’s been a long time coming or the recent outbreak has inspired you to take action, now is a great time to plant your first garden.

People are scared. They don’t know if the grocery stores are going to have the items they need on the shelves. For the first time in a long time, many people are truly worried about food security.

If there is one silver lining to come out of this challenging time, it is this.

People are being inspired to become more self sufficient.

More than ever, people are realizing that having complete dependence on a government or industrial food system is just not wise. Things can happen and they DO HAPPEN. Just turn on the news.

Here’s the thing. You CAN grow at least some of your own food, even with ZERO EXPIRIENCE.

Let’s Start A Garden!

I’m going to help you get started on your first garden and help you reach your first harvest, we can do it together! I think a lot of gardening guides and how-tos assume you already have a garden or at least know a fair bit about gardening, but for those of you who are absolute beginners and want to start from scratch, I will help you to navigate the basics, understand the lingo and the different important elements to consider when starting your first garden.

Keep in mind I am writing from the perspective of a PNW gardener, but a lot of this information will apply in any part of the country, you just might consider asking your local gardening community for specific advice for your area.

If you have never grown a garden before and want to start one now, I will help you get that started step by step and answer any questions you have, just leave them in the comments below.

The most important thing to remember right now is that we are in this together, we are not alone. We need to help each other out when we can. If you have a special skill or a way of helping someone, consider offering your help. The world needs acts of kindness right now.

Starting A Garden

Today we are going to talk about an entry level gardening idea, CONTAINERS. Anyone anywhere can start a container garden.

Container gardening is an excellent option for people lacking space for an in ground garden, for people who aren’t physically able to manage a big garden, or for someone who would just like to get their garden feet wet for now. I’ve been gardening for over a decade and I still have plenty of veggies growing in containers.

Pros-Container gardening is an easy and cost effective way to grow food. They are easy to keep weeded and you can put them anywhere that gets some sun-a porch, balcony, lawn, etc. You can even move them around if you change your mind or find that the spot you chose isn’t getting enough sunlight.

Cons-There aren’t really any cons to container gardening. Something to consider is that containers tend to dry out faster than in ground garden beds, so it’s important to make sure they are adequately watered. You will also have to amend the soil every year (that means to add nutrients back to the soil) because they aren’t in the ground and able to take up their own nutrients.

What You Need

MEDIUM TO LARGE CONTAINERS-these can be made out of wood, plastic, metal, etc. The best option would be to build one yourself with scrap material, but buying them is also an option. You will need to drill some holes in the bottom of your container if they are not already there. If your container is lacking drainage, the water will pool at the bottom and can make your plant’s roots water logged. They don’t like that. Don’t worry, it’s very easy. If you have a power drill you can easily drill some holes in the bottom. If you don’t have a drill, you can use a hot poker or a knife, just please be careful. Better yet, just buy a container with drainage holes and you can avoid that altogether.

Here’s another great option that I tried for the first time last year and they worked out great. These are garden grow bags. Because they are permeable, you do not need to drill any holes, just fill the bag with soil and begin planting! They come in different sizes, I have the largest size, but any size would be just fine.

Here are a couple other suggestions for containers that you can order online. In case it may not be considered “essential” to go to the store to shop for containers right now.

SOIL-Soil is arguably THE most important element in gardening. It is the medium in which your plants grow and it is also where they take up their nutrients and access their water. Starting with good quality soil is the key to successful gardening.

One thing to consider about soil in container gardening is that it can tend to compact and be too hard and dense for plants to thrive. Because of this, you will need to get soil that is marked as a “raised bed mix” or something similar. This soil is light and fluffy, water will pass through easily and it will not get compacted in your container. Any garden center, hardware store gardening section or most big box stores will have this kind of soil. I would always opt for an “organic” label. Although I think it’s silly that we would have to specify that soil is organic, I like the reassurance there won’t be anything funky added to it.

PLEASE-do not use garden soil or soil you dig up from your yard. You might grow something, but long term you just aren’t going to see the success you will by using the proper soil for your growing space. There is a time and a place for garden soil, we will get to that in another post, but for now we are talking about containers and the raised bed soil is the way to go.

However, I would suggest mixing in some compost into this soil mix, because in my area I find raised bed soil alone will dry out too fast. I know, I’m full of contradictions.

When you go to pick up your raised bed soil, also grab a bag of compost-this can be aged chicken manure, steer grow, or a mixed bag of compost. The great thing is the raised bed mix and compost come in plastic bags, so it will be easy to buy just the amount you need, transport back to your house and use.

Putting It Together

Once you get home, you will open up your grow bags, or get out the containers you chose, making sure they have drainage holes if needed. The amount and size of drainage holes isn’t complicated, you just want enough that water can get through but the soil will stay in. So, not too big and not too small.

Now, you are going to fill your container 3/4 full, alternating raised bed soil and compost, mixing it together as you go. There is no secret formula for the ratio you want here, you could do 50/50 or lean heavier on the raised bed mix. I find that when I get the rasied bed soil in the large bricks and the compost in the regular size bags, that ratio works out well.

After you are done, go ahead and water your soil now. If it came to you dry, it is really lacking the moisture it needs to support a plant. It will shrink down a bit so watering it now will let you know if you need to add more soil and will prevent your seeds or plants from shifting around or washing away. You will know you watered it enough when you reach your hands down into the soil and mix it around and there aren’t big dry patches.

Ok, so now you have your containers filled with soil and compost. What are you going to put into it? You have two options.

1. Seeds.

2. Transplants.

Seeds are generally cheaper because you get enough seeds to start many plants. You will have more variety to choose from when purchasing seeds. If you are interested in growing a specific or unique variety, you will have better luck finding it in seeds than in transplants. Seeds can be saved for years in proper conditions.

Transplants, or starts, are plants that are still small and ready to move to the garden. It gives you a head start to growing because you don’t have to wait for the seeds to germinate-that means it has moved from seed to a sprout-and the plant has already started to grow and develop. . You can pick up a transplant from a farmers market or garden center, plant it in your garden that day and be weeks ahead than if you sowed seeds. Sow means to “plant” the seeds into soil. You would say “sow seeds” and “plant transplants/starts”. I don’t know why it works that way, I didn’t make the rules. Just letting you know.

Another choice you have to make is what vegetable or fruit you are going to plant. Some plants thrive better when planted in a particular season or time of year. In this post, we are going to talk about spring crops, because it is early spring right now and I want people to be able to hit the ground running.

In my area, good spring crops that grow well in containers are radishes, carrots, lettuce, peas, kale, beets, potatoes and strawberries. I’m probably forgetting some things, but this will get you started. These are things that I have planted in my own garden in the spring.

Sowing Seeds

If you are sowing seeds, the rule of thumb is to plant the seed as deep in the soil as the seed is wide. If it is a very small seed, like a carrot, it will only be covered just barely with soil. If you are planting, say, a pumpkin seed which is much larger, it will go deeper into the ground and be covered with soil completely.

Take note of the seed spacing suggestions on the back of your seed packet. It will tell you if your seeds should be placed an inch apart, 6 inches apart, or however much space they need to develop properly. Following these suggestions will save you time later when you don’t have to thin out your heavily planted containers and it will help you grow large healthy plants. If your plants are spaced too closely together, they may end up competing for water, nutrients and space, then end up much smaller than you anticipated.

After you sow your seeds in your container press down on your soil with flat hands with enough pressure that it firms up a bit and smooths out, then lightly water them in. Think of it like tucking in your seed babies for the night. You will want to keep the soil moist, but not drenched, so the seeds are able to germinate. Just keep an eye on it, poke your finger in if you must, but don’t overthink it too much. If it looks visibly dry, then it’s dry. Don’t let it get dry. Then end.

Not really the end, I’m going to keep going.

Transplants

If you are planting a transplant, this is what you should do. Use your hands or a garden tool to create a hole about the size of the container the plant is coming in. Sometimes I actually use the container to create a hole in the soil. Remove the plant from the pot. If the roots have wrapped around the inside of the pot and its hard to get out or if it looks like there is nothing but roots, gently, and I mean gently, scratch around the bottom and sides to break up the roots just a bit. This will encourage the plant to send its roots down and out as it grows. You want to plant it at about the same soil line as it is in the pot, meaning the top of the soil in the transplant pot should be at about the same level as your container soil. Some veggies will benefit from going slightly higher or lower, but as a general rule of thumb, keep it about the same. Water it in the same as the seeds, keeping it well watered but not drenched for a few days. After the transplant gets adjusted to it’s new home, water normally.

Success!!

There, you did it! You planted your first seeds or transplants into your container. You are now a gardener, my friend.

Remember to keep your plants watered. How much you water will depend on your soil and the weather, but a good rule of “thumb” is to stick your finger in the soil and if it’s moist, it’s good to go. If it feels dry, give it some water.

I used to make the mistake of watering a little bit very often, but now I lean more towards a heavy water less frequently. That makes sure the water goes deep and the roots grow down and spread out to get to the water. If water is always available towards the surface, the roots will not have to go far for water and it will create a weaker plant.

Anyways, that’s where I’m going to leave you today. I hope you are inspired to get started on your first container garden.

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments section below.

I will be talking about raised beds in the next post, so stay tuned for that if you are interested. You can always add your email to the subscribe button so you receive an email every time I put out a new post. Share with your friends on facebook who might be interested in starting their first garden.

Until next time!

-Kristin