Get Your Garden Growing

By Dianne Venetta for GalTime.com

Get your garden growing!
Get your garden growing!

You're ready to get out there and garden, but not sure where to begin?

Well then, you've come to the right place! Follow along as we work step-by-step to get your garden good, green and growing strong.


You Are What You Eat

First on the list is food: choose a list of delectable vegetables you would love to eat. Think positive here and focus on what you like to eat, NOT what you think you can grow. If in doubt, slap that positive attitude cap back on your head and start over-this step is important!


Veggies
Veggies

While a variety and color of vegetables may add to your garden's appearance, they'll ruin the affect when left withering on the vine (because no one cared enough to harvest them).


Related: Rotate those Crops for a Great Garden

It happens. You're in the garden, short on time, what are you going to harvest? Your favorites, that's what.

Human nature, 101.

So choose your seeds wisely.


Select a Spot

Now, you must select a spot for this wonderful new adventure of yours, and believe me when I say adventure. Gardening is nothing, if it isn't filled with wonder and delight and, yes, excitement. You'll come face to face with more wildlife than you knew existed-most of it harmless. To you, anyway. Your plants are a different story.

But I digress (happens often when gardening). Depending on where you live, you'll need a sunny spot for your garden. I say "depending on where you live," because despite conventional wisdom, I've learned from experience that a little "shade" break during the afternoon in a hot sunny climate tends to do more good than harm.


Related: Create Your Own Outdoor Oasis


Why? Because too much sun can deplete your soil of moisture, burn your plant's leaves, and generally stress the entire system. Sure you watered it for an hour this morning, but in places like Florida and Texas where the sun shines hot and the clouds float dry…? Come three o'clock your plants forgot what water is let alone recall their daily dose!


In-Ground or Above

Next, you'll want to decide "in ground" or "above ground." Raised beds in landscape planters can ease the pain in your back, but they require construction. In ground gardens require a bit of construction as well (think: "weed-tearing" and "row-building"). And don't forget the dirt. Planters need to be filled with the stuff while in ground gardens come fully supplied. (Chalk another one up for the plus column!)

However, plants are like kids and like their beds soft. So if your existing soil is dense-rip it apart with that hoe and add some drainable organic mix! Also-if you opted for raised beds, aim for 8-12 inches deep. Carrots like to dig deep.


Related: Closing Your Garden with Cover Crops


"Hold the carrot stick-no one told me vegetables were fussy! I may have to reconsider this gardening thing. I mean, I don't have the time or the tolerance for fussy."

Don't worry. Mother Nature will keep her veggie children in line so long as YOU cooperate. Give them a soft bed, tilled loose and deep, ensuring their roots have plenty of space to spread out and spread deep. And give 'em the good stuff. Nutrient-rich organic compost is best. And mulch. Once you have sprouts, mulch will go a long way to easing your watering duty. Speaking of watering, make sure you have a water source nearby.

With a healthy start on the growing season, your plants will supply you with an endless stream of gorgeous, good-sized, deliciously healthy produce-that you will eat!

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