The Gardening Basics

Even if you have never gardened before, even if you live in a studio apartment, you can still have a garden.To begin, ask yourself some basic questions, and then check out the relevant section of the guide to learn more.

What kind of space do you have? If you don't have any outdoor space, container gardening is the option for you. If you have any amount of outdoor space, bed gardening is the way to go. If you have no space at all, or you would like to supplement what you have, check out community gardening.

Once you have your space, look into how much sunlight your plants will recieve. Check the space during the day and observe the sunlight pattern. What time does the sun directly shine on that space, and for how long? Are there objects that cast a shadow over the area? Can they be removed? You need at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day to have successful planting, and if you get less than that, you should reevaluate your space, or look into options for plants that don't require much sunlight.

After sun, the next important element is water. Make sure there is a water source nearby, or that you have a plan to give your plants adequate water. If you are container gardening, think about how you will water your plans, and how they will drain, and keep this in mind when you shop for pots.

Another important aspect is timing. When do you want to start gardening? The answer with the most options is spring, but depending on climate, some plants grow earlier or later, or even take a full year to grow. Don't plant early spring plants too late in the summer, or you will lose them.

Now that you know where and how you will garden, think about what you want to grow. The options are flowers, herbs, vegetables and fruits. Before you invest in your garden, learn about the different options by clicking on these links, and see what each plant requires in terms of space, sunlight, water, and climate, and determine if they are the best plants for you.

When you are ready to buy seeds, you can visit a local garden center, search for an organic seed supplier near you, or buy online. Seeds of Change is an excellent online retailer.

container gardening
bed gardening
community gardening
compost