Things You'll Need:
- An idea as to where you want to start your garden.
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Step 1
Make sure the area where you are going to start your garden gets at least 8 hours of sunlight. In the spring it may seem as though the area you have chosen gets allot of sun, but by summer when the trees are in full bloom this may not be so.
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Step 2
Have your soil tested. At your local extension office you can get a soil test kit for a nominal fee. When you get your results back the extension office can help you read and understand the report.
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Step 3
Unless you are doing raised bed gardens make sure to plant your seed or seedlings as recommended on the seed package or plant stick. Seedlings are small but grow quit large. Thin out your seedlings. If you plant too close together your actual yield will be much smaller than if planted as recommended.
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Step 4
Buy plants and seeds from a reputable dealer. Burpee Seed Company is well known for their delivery of exceptionable seeds. If you buy plants that are sickly chances are they will die when transplanted or you will spend more time than it is worth to nurse them back to health and only receive a small yield or no yield for your efforts.
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Step 5
Choose plants that will grow well in the climate that you live in. If you contact your local extension agency or a reputable nursery they will be able to help you with choosing which varieties will grow best for your area.
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Step 6
It is important to water your plants properly. Do not water after the sun goes down as this will cause root rot and fungus. Make sure if it is very hot to water the root systems and not the leaves as they will burn. Water consistently. Press your finger in the soil to see if it is damp. If the soil is not damp then your plants need watering.
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Step 7
Use good compost for your garden before planting and this will reduce the need for fertilizer. Most recycling centers have excellent compost that you can buy at a reasonable fee by the yard or even get for free. If you use too much fertilizer your plants may shoot up fast, but may not be able to support any fruit. Cow manure is also excellent for gardens. The best source is a local farmer. The bags of manure you buy at a local nursery may contain other components such as sticks and stones that you do not need.
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Step 8
When planting figure out how much you can actually care for or will be able to eat. Any excess you can freeze, can, give away to family and neighbors or donate to a local food kitchen or food pantry.
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Step 9
Make sure to trim any dead or damaged leaves on your plants to encourage new growth. Pull any weeds to allow more room for your growing plants.
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Step 10
Start a compost heap away from your gardening area. Never put any animal products in the compost heap. Any trimmings from plants, grass trimmings and leaves can go on the heap. Turn it with a pitch fork at least once a week. Put some worms on the compost heap. They help to decay the trimmings quicker and their elimination is very healthy for your plants. This compost can be used the following year for your garden.
Comments
hopekee said
on 10/31/2008 Great article, thanks for sharing!