6 Important Steps for Starting a Successful Garden

1. One of the most pertinent factors to having a successful garden is selecting the perfect spot. You should only start a garden on land that you own or have permission from the landowner to use. It would be a grave disappointment to make a wonderful garden and then be advised you can longer access it. Start paying attention to how much sun the areas you are thinking about choosing receive in one day. For a vegetable garden, you need a minimum of 3 hours of direct sunlight, which will still not produce much. Ideally, you need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight that isn't blocked by trees, fences, or buildings. It is recommended that you start a garden journal as soon as possible to start making notes about EVERYTHING! Pay attention to which areas get the most sun and if some areas get less to no sun. When trying to pick that perfect location you should also consider steps 2 through 4 first.

2. It is crucial to know how much space you have available or need when planning your garden. Starting with a good plan will help determine the size garden you should start with. One should start with a small garden plot if planning on doing it for fun, to pass the time, or to get a basic understanding of how a garden works. Potentially even starting in containers instead of in the ground. In the case of self-sustainment, a medium to large garden would be necessary to achieve those needs. Other seasoned gardeners suggest 200 square feet of garden per person to have year-long sustainability. So for a family of four an 800 square foot garden would be about perfect. With this in mind knowing if your family may be expanding in the future will help in planning your first year's garden. A garden is not just a one-year commitment and could potentially feed your family effectively for years and years to come if planned correctly.

3. Become familiar with your soil early. If there is any green plant matter on top of the soil it will need to be turned under. If it is a very rocky area you won't be able to turn the soil or dig the ground. There are some old homegrown ways to check your soil or products you can buy online or at your local garden store. Checking the pH level of your soil is paramount. Soil with a pH too high or low could result in plant nutrition deficiencies. You can buy a soil pH test kit from Amazon.

There is a way to test at home as well with baking soda and vinegar. Place two tablespoons of soil in a bowl and add ½ cup vinegar. If the mixture fizzes, you have alkaline soil. Place two tablespoons of dirt in a bowl and moisten it with distilled water. Add ½ cup baking soda. If this mixture fizzes, you have acidic soil. If the soil does not react to either test, then it has a neutral pH. Once you have figured out your soil pH, you can change or adjust it. Acidic or sour soil is counteracted by applying finely ground limestone, and alkaline or sweet soil can be treated with ground sulfur. You may find that you do not have adequate soil and that raised beds and hauling in the dirt will give you the best outcome.

4. Stay close to a water source. As a good rule of thumb, the average garden will need about 1 inch of water a week. Either from rain or watering. In dry climates, the need could be double that; in extreme heat, you should add about ½ inch per week for every 10 degrees that average temperature is up. Seasoned gardeners have found that about 0.623 gallons per square foot of garden achieve 1 inch of water a week. The previously stated family of 4 during a dry spell would need 500 gallons of water a week to have a fully sustainable garden. Having access to that much water could become a concern to some. If you are beginning to think about rainwater collection to help alleviate some of that excess please be sure to research if your state or area allows for rainwater collection. Many states have laws and rules about this for the safety of people and the environment.

5. Knowing what zone you live in is necessary to know what plants you can grow

successfully.

Knowing what zone you are in gives you a timeline of when to start your seeds indoors and when to transplant and if you should start your seeds outdoors. In some zones, it is mild year-round, meaning multiple harvests in one season. While others, timing is everything, and starting indoors in February to get plants strong enough to put in the ground after the last frost is necessary. Again having a Garden Journal will help you remember when to start seeds and when to transplant. Along with keeping track of frost dates to be more accurate in your timing the following year. Knowing your zone can help you choose which plants will do well in your area and which will not.

6. Now that you have selected the perfect garden plot the next most important thing is acquiring good quality seeds. Burpee Seeds is a trusted company that I have used for years. You can purchase online or in many big box stores. There are many seed exchange groups locally you may have an organization like this near you. Ask at your local garden centers or home hardware stores.