While Isaac and I have had a raised garden in our backyard for a few years, this was the first year I truly committed to taking care of it. In the past I’d be gung-ho for the first week of gardening, and then let either life, pregnancy, or the summer the heat (or all of the above) cause me to get lazy and stop caring for it.
But this summer I was determined to give it the ole college try. It ended up being so fulfilling and fun! I thought I’d share a few things I learned in my first year of gardening for other amateur gardeners out there.
1. Check the spacing distance the tag/seed package
This is not just a suggestion. If the eggplant says to plant 24-36 inches apart that probably means it’s going to grow to be pretty big. And the same with tomato and pepper plants as well! I always underestimate how big a plant will grow to be. When you’re looking at a little plant start it’s hard to imagine it growing to be 3+ feet tall. BUT they probably will, and if you planted them too closely together, they will get crowded and possibly hinder the growth of other plants growing around them.
2. Use a shade!
If you live somewhere hot like Texas, getting a shade is a game changer for the hot summer months! Not only does it prevent vegetables like peppers and tomatoes from getting sun scalded, but it also helps the plants push through the heat and hopefully yield a fall harvest as well.
3. Get plants suited for your soil and growing zones
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s something very important to remember! Just because I want to grow raspberries doesn’t mean I will be able to do so. Do some research, figure out what plants will thrive in your zone and soil, and plant accordingly. For Texas, I love the book Lone Star Gardening by Neil Sperry. It’s chock full of info and really helped me figure out what I wanted to plant this year and when to plant.
4. Growing from seeds is an art form
It seems simple… Plant a seed, water it, and out pops a plant. For some plants, it IS that simple. But for others it takes a lot more care and dedication. This year pretty much every vegetable seed I planted didn’t grow past a sprout. While it was frustrating, I did learn a lot and have a newfound respect for nurseries. Next year I may just stick to buying plants at a local nursery to avoid the headache and wasted time spent caring for seeds that didn’t grow.
5. Plant things that bring you joy!
I’ve always wanted to grow zinnias, so this year I asked Isaac to build me a little flower bed by the kitchen window. I just sprinkled the seeds all over, and y’all… Those flowers ended up being HUGE and the most beautiful things ever. I had fresh zinnias on my table every day. We saw butterflies, a variety of bees, moths and wasps enjoying their nectar. And it was just so happy to see all their pretty colors, shapes and sizes. I found so much joy in those flowers, and it was one of the reasons I began truly enjoying gardening.
6. There are good bugs and bad bugs
This summer I met the bane of my existence: the dreaded Squash Vine Borer Moth. That rascal lays eggs on cucurbits (squash, zucchini, pumpkins, etc). The larvae hatches and burrows into the plant, and then proceeds to destroy it from the inside out. I lost so many plants to them, and was constantly stressed looking for eggs, pulling out larvae and killing any moths I saw. So I decided to just give up and pull my squash plant to end the torture.
I learned about squash bugs, leaf footed bugs, aphids, wheel bugs and hornworms. We also saw butterflies using their proboscis to drink nectar, listened to the buzzing of the bees and got excited when a ladybug graced the garden. It was the summer of bugs, but man I sure learned a ton!
7. Gardening can (and should be) fun!
My motto for any hobby is that I’ll do it until it is no longer fun. The last thing you want to do it begin to hate something that you used to enjoy! Plant things that you can’t buy (or are expensive) at the grocery store. Try new things. Share with your friends and neighbors. Include the kids in pruning, planting and watering. And enjoy the beautiful plants and bugs the Lord has given us!
Plus there’s something so satisfying about eating the (literal) fruits of your labor.
Do you have any more tips? I’d love for you to share them in the comments below!
SHARE THIS POST