Seeds offer an economical way to populate your garden. Each pack includes everything needed for growth into mature plants.
Once seedlings have formed cotyledon leaves, they must be transferred into larger containers—this process is known as “potting up.”
Once seedlings have been reported, it’s time to gradually introduce them to outdoor conditions (this process is known as hardening) so they can eventually be planted into their permanent gardens or containers.
Soil & Fertilizer
Soil is the basis of any garden, providing support and most nutrients for plants to flourish. It is comprised of weathered rock of various sizes (sand, silt, and clay), decomposing plant matter from decayed plant matter, organic material from decaying plant matter decay and microbiological residues, plus organic matter produced through decomposition processes in decaying vegetation. Soil serves its purpose as a container to store moisture and minerals required by growing plants. Soil is essential to healthy gardening.
Healthy soil contains various chemical elements essential for plant health, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. When these elements are balanced correctly, they help plants flourish, while over time, they pull essential elements out of the soil, requiring replenishment through fertilization.
Before adding fertilizer, have your soil tested. This inexpensive yet precise way of understanding what nutrients are already present will tell you which are available and the appropriate amounts to add; otherwise, you could end up adding too many or not enough, possibly damaging your plants.
Soil texture also plays an integral role in nutrient availability, from sandy soils with large particle sizes requiring frequent amendments with compost to silty soils with finer grains but higher erosion risk to clay’s small particles arranged in platelike structures, which hold onto nutrients effectively.
Many types of fertilizer exist – some natural and some synthetic. Organic varieties are better for the environment and soil health than processed varieties. However, your choice ultimately depends on what plants you’re growing, their requirements, and your budget. Options range from slow-release granular fertilizers to water-soluble varieties that offer quick nutrition boosts.
Water
Nurturing plants can be an immensely satisfying endeavor for novice gardeners, from witnessing their first seedling emerging from its peat pellet to tasting homegrown tomatoes straight from your plants – it all adds up to an educational and fulfilling gardening experience for kids (and adults!). Gardening also provides a fantastic way to learn about different botanical species – even an ordinary houseplant can teach newcomers about succulents that store water within their leaves and stems to survive dry environments.
As more people participate in gardening, more opportunities arise for learning and sharing experiences. Furthermore, gardening’s social component may be invaluable in combatting issues like mental illness and social isolation. According to one recent study conducted among participants participating in pre-COVID-19 pandemic gardening, education, enjoyment, family engagement, and self-sufficiency were primary motivators; post-pandemic motivations included stress reduction/relaxation as well as wanting to consume more fruits and vegetables.
Gardening can be physically demanding for anyone of any age or skill level, providing physical challenges to improve physical health and well-being. Just 30 minutes of gardening can burn as many calories as an hour of playing badminton or volleyball; it can cause coronary heart disease and other risks. Working in the garden provides a satisfying sense of accomplishment, which promotes an overall positive outlook on life; one study demonstrated this reduction by significantly lowering cortisol levels within your body, which may help those struggling with depression or anxiety by acting as therapy.
Light
Establishing new garden beds, cultivating vegetables for the first time, or adding simple green spaces indoors can offer novice gardeners many advantages. Feeling the earth in your hands as plants take root may trigger endorphins to release, helping lift your mood. Experiencing success by caring for a well-tended garden will bolster self-esteem.
Gardening can be an excellent physical activity. It burns calories as you walk behind the lawn mower or dig in the dirt, testing strength and flexibility as you bend to weed or tend plants. Beginning gardeners may want to start with hardy species that only need a little attention or watering, like cacti or succulents, as these hold water in their leaves and stems while withstanding various levels of sunlight exposure.
Gardening can be an endlessly rewarding journey of discovery, with new plant species to encounter, techniques to master, and tools to explore. Gardeners enjoy learning new skills while networking with like-minded gardeners—it’s no wonder this hobby remains so popular!
Gardening can provide children with an educational experience rich with ecological concepts, math skills (counting and probability), and scientific methods. Gardening also fosters problem-solving abilities. When blooms don’t appear, the butterfly or chrysalis dies. Parents can help their children think critically and analytically to address any failures and move the process along to resolve issues. It can be done alone or shared among family members for maximum satisfaction!
Temperature
Gardening can be enjoyable because it allows you to experience fresh produce and flowers while connecting with nature. Additionally, gardening can act as a stress reliever by helping you nurture plants with patience. And let’s face it: nothing beats eating homegrown vegetables or seeing gorgeous flower blooms!
However, novice gardeners must keep this process in perspective; even the most experienced gardeners learned along the way and still do! Don’t be intimidated by starting slow and being patient; “if at first, you don’t succeed – try again!”
Temperature is a physical property that measures the average kinetic energy of vibrating and colliding atoms within a substance, as measured with a thermometer. Its definition can vary between Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin scales.
A typical thermometer consists of a long, thin tube filled with liquid mercury or alcohol that expands when temperature rises and contracts when temperature decreases, moving along an indicator scale as temperatures fluctuate. Calibrated thermometers utilize reference points or thermometric substances that can easily replicated.
Noticing different temperatures has different impacts on materials. Higher temperatures tend to cause particles with more kinetic energy to vibrate more, increasing heat output from materials; on the other hand, lower temperatures cause particles with lower kinetic energy to move at slower rates, leading to less thermal energy emitted by materials; this is why colder temperatures can cause shrinking, hardening or freezing, due to having no kinetic energy at play.
Weeding
Garden chores should always remain an important priority when growing food for yourself—be it to save money or simply enjoy homegrown tomatoes! Vegetables, herbs, and flowers require constant attention to remain healthy and vibrant as part of their regular maintenance needs.
Weeds compete with crops for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Their long roots allow them to extract more moisture and nutrients from the soil than crops; their longer leaves shade enough sunlight that the crop wilts and eventually dies due to competition with weeds.
Keep weeds at bay by regularly working the soil and mulch around where you’re planting, using tools such as a garden hoe or hand weeder to pull them up by their roots before they seed next year. It is also helpful to have a hose nearby to water vegetables, herbs, or flowers when necessary – soaker hoses are incredibly convenient as they release water slowly into the ground where your crops need it most.
Mixing compost or organic matter such as peat moss before planting your new garden bed can reduce weeding costs in the future. When it’s time to plant, try “broadcast seeding.” This involves scraping away an inch of topsoil from your raised bed and scattering seeds across it before lightly covering the seeds with more soil—this technique works great for leafy greens, basil, and carrot crops!