Why It's a Great Idea to Start a Garden Right Now
It's Fresh
Having your own source of fresh produce can be healthier, save you money and be really rewarding. There's also no mystery about potential contamination or chemicals.
It's Healthy
It's good for you. Gardening has both physical and mental health benefits. It'll get you outside for a bit of Vitamin D and help with any stir-crazy feelings. Gardening can help relieve stress, make you feel more productive and provide some exercise.
Kids Love It
If you have kids home from school right now, gardening is the perfect activity. You can use your garden to teach your kids about taking care of others. You can also demonstrate for them the concept of philanthropy by planting a little extra to make sure you're able to donate the extra vegetables to neighbors in need.
There Is a MASSIVE Gardening Community
New hobbies can connect you to new communities. You can connect with other gardeners in your area - online for now, of course - to learn about local soil and seasonality. You can also donate and share your produce with your current community of friends, neighbors and family.
What You Need to Know Before You Start
Start Small
It can be easy to go crazy and try to build the perfect Pinterest garden, but if you're new to home gardening, it's best to keep your first try simple. You'll also want to think about how much time and money you're able to invest in the garden once the stay-at-home mandates lift. Consider what you'll be able to maintain once you go back to your normal routine. For instance:
- Resist the urge to jump in and convert your entire gardening space during your first season.
- Let the garden and area grow with you as your knowledge expands. For instance, you may start off thinking you want to grow food crops, and after doing research, you realize you would instead prefer to grow flowers.
Plan Your Space
Before you buy seeds or start building garden boxes, consider where your garden can live. Consider the year-round sun exposure and the reach of your water source. You don't want to be in a situation where you are forced to lug buckets of water across your yard. Find an area that can easily be reached by a hose. If you live in an apartment, you might use balcony or terrace space, or consider plants that thrive indoors.
Consider Your Region
Where you live will impact some of the things you can plant and when they'll thrive. For some states, it's the perfect time to start planting for a summer harvest. In other areas, the soil is still frozen in the Spring and you'll want to consider cold-weather options. Check out the Old Farmer's Almanac for all your regional garden planning.
Easy Projects for Beginners
Start with Scraps
Did you know you can start growing food with the produce you already have in your kitchen? All you need is water and small plastic containers. For instance, cut off the butt or end of a bunch of celery or head of romaine lettuce and place it in a shallow container with an inch of water. Within a week, you'll see new growth. Be sure to change the water once or twice a day. This method works best with sprout and root veggies like celery, potatoes, lettuce, leeks or green onion.
Consider Herbs
Like succulents, herbs are hard to kill. It's a great starter plant with low up-front investment (in money and labor). Herbs like cilantro, mint, parsley, rosemary and basil may have slightly varying needs, but are pretty adaptable. You can plant them in a pot on your windowsill, or in the backyard. And if you use a starter plant, rather than seeds, you'll be able to harvest in no time.
Don't Forget The Flowers
Food isn't the only thing you can garden. Flowers can brighten your landscape and spirits. Flower beds can also be a fun beginner gardening project because they add a little pizazz to your landscape, whether that be a balcony or front porch. Try planting flowers that attract pollinators: Calendula, marigolds, and sunflowers are great for this.