Darren Wogman Gets Gardening - Preach to the converted! CrossPost from BBC 'Know your Plot'

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 Crosspost from BBC Whether you’re starting on your first garden or just want to tend a few pots on a patio or balcony, gardening can be daunting if you’ve never done it before. But don’t worry – our Gardening for Beginners series will give you everything you need to get started. We’ll explain everything you need to know about the basics of gardening, including the different plant types, how to plant and how to look after your plants. We’ll also explain the basics of seed sowing, give advice on what to do when things go wrong, and even explain those tricky Latin names (which aren’t as complicated as you might think). Gardening for beginners – 10 tips In this first part of the series, we’ll show you how to assess your outside space. Every garden is unique, with its own set of conditions, and if you can get to know these well, you’re well on your way to becoming a good gardener. Although its tempting to rush out to the garden centre and buy lots of plants that catch your
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Darren Wogman gets Gardening - Top 10 Gardening Tips for Beginners

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 Gardening Tips for Beginners

Wondering How-to Start A Garden? Find Your Confidence With These Expert Gardening Tips for Beginners. 

Never Gardened Before? No Problem. Make Your Grow-You-Own Dreams A Reality With These 10 Easy-To-Follow Tips.

1. Start it right.

Starting a garden is just like finding a house, it's all about location location location. Mark out your growing areas in a part of your garden where you'll see it regularly (out of sight, out of mind definitely applies to gardening!). That way, you'll be much more likely to spend time in it and enjoy using it.

2. Follow the sun.

Misjudging sunlight is a common pitfall when you're first learning to garden. Pay attention to how sunlight moves through your garden before choosing a spot for to plant. Most edible botany, including many vegetables, herbs, and fruits, need at least 6 hours of sun in order to really thrive and produce well.

3. Stay close to water.

One of the best gardening tips you'll ever get is to plan your new garden near a water source. Make sure you can run a hose to your garden, so you don't have to lug a watering can to it each time your plants get thirsty. The best way to tell if plants need watering is to push a finger an inch down into the soil (that's about one knuckle deep). If it's dry, it's time to water.

 

4. Start with great soil.

When starting a garden, one of the top pieces of advice is to invest in soil that is nutrient-rich and well-drained. Achieve this just-right blend by mixing 3 inches of good quality compost into the top 6 to 8 inches of existing soil if you're planning to plant in the ground. If you're planting in a raised bed, make sure you have the right balance, because any plants and root only have what you put in the bed to grow with. Make sure it is aerated and nutrient rich - heavy clay soils won't suit.


5. Consider containers.

When space is at a premium, look to containers. You can grow many plants in pots, including vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruit trees, berries, and shrubs. When gardening in containers, use a pot that's large enough for the plant it's hosting, and fill it with good quality compost that retains water well, this will help protect against over- and under-watering, while ensuring good root growth, to support the rest of the plant.

 


6. Choose the right plants.

It's important to select plants that match your growing conditions. This means putting sun-loving plants into a sunny spot, choosing heat-tolerant plants in warm climates, and giving ground-gobbling vines like pumpkins and melons ample elbow room (or a trellis to climb). Do your homework and pick varieties that will grow well where you live and in the space you have. And to get a step-up on success when growing veggies and herbs, start with vigorous young plants or plugs instead of trying to grow from seed, especially if you're after fruit-bearing species.

 

Grafted plants are also a good option to consider.

7. Discover your zone.

Knowing your "hardiness zone" can help you choose the best plants. Simply put, it describes the coldest place a plant can grow. The higher the zone number, the warmer the climate. So if a plant is "hardy to zone 4" and you garden in zone 5, that plant will survive in your yard. If, however, you're in zone 3, it's too cold to grow that particular plant. Find out your hardiness zone.

8. Learn your frost dates.

Planting too early (or late) in the season can spell disaster for your garden. You need to know the last average spring frost date for your area so you don't accidentally kill plants by putting them out prematurely. It's also good to know your first average fall frost date so that you get your plants harvested or moved indoors before late-season cold damages them. Discover the average first and last frost dates for your area.

9. Add some mulch.

Apply a layer of mulch that's 2 to 3 inches deep around each plant. This will help reduce weeds by blocking out the sun, and reduce moisture loss through evaporation, so you have to water less. For a polished look, put down a layer of rich mulch. Or, you can put down straw, shredded leaves, pine straw, or some other locally available material.

 


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