I cannot emphasize enough for the beginning gardener (who wants to be a MASTER Gardener) the need to keep good written records and notes. I suggest you purchase a nice binder with pockets, dividers, etc. For each plant that you buy or seed you plant in your Veggie garden, put a new divider in. On this divider write the correct scientific name, if this is a new plant for you. Keep notes as you consult gardeners, books, classes, online sites, and the nursery you buy the plant from. Treat each plant as an investment of time, love, resources and labor. Write down the care instructions, the pruning times, when the flowers are full, when you harvest it. Identify your plants, get to know them well, care for them properly. Record when they bloom, what they were fed.
A good gardener goes into his or her garden each day and does regular daily tasks of deadheading, weeding, supporting the plants if the wind blows them over, feeding and watering as necessary. I often think too much emphasis is placed on just watering and feeding and not enough on grooming and removing disease and dead branches, looking for pests. Remove the dead, care for the healthy, encourage new growth and you'll have a magnificent beautifully groomed garden that will reward you with hours and years of enjoyment. When you have a problem with a plant do the research and record the results. If you start with find healthy plants or seed from the current year's crop, and then care for them like you would want to be cared for, they will give you good food, enjoyable exercise and a beautiful yard.
Start a new binder every year or add a new sheet to each planting record. In ten years you will be teaching the class and writing the articles.
Comments
These are some good Ideas on how to start being a more dedicated gardener. what are some good things that some one who is a beginner might need to now. I am not exactly a beginner but some times I forget some of the basics of when to plant different vegetables at what time spacing and things like that, that will help a beginner or rusty gardener.
Thanks
Hey Stephen, I love gardening and, for me it is like therapy. I usually have a pretty green thumb, but have nevr thought of keeping track, by taking notes, but I can see that it is a valuable exercise. If you have some photos of your gardens, I would love to see them. Have a great day! clo
ok so let say thats a little to much and i just want to plant a simlar veggie garden what would you recommend for idaho as the three easiest plants to start with?
Try a community garden! You can get a lot of support working with others and you can have a lot of fun and experiment with things that may be too large for your yard. Meridian has a new garden (The Meridian Food Bank Cooperative Garden) on Fairview between Locust Grove and Eagle Rd. Check us out on Facebook! Come out and work with us on April 28th!
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