My parents are master gardeners. Growing up, organically grown and composted vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs were an integral part of summer. We even had chickens and goats for a period of time.
Despite that, I learned next to nothing from them. I tried to make a garden several years ago to no avail. It's not that plants perish in my wake, but I promise you, I knew zilch about the business of growing my own food. But given an increasing global awareness about self-reliance, it seemed beyond high time to drive a stake into the heart of gardening. With generous help from my friend Will Myrick, I created my first garden.
Novice to novice, here's a basic how to.
1. Buy seeds or seedlings. Keep in mind where you are in the season. Seeds are considerably cheaper, but they're not as dependable as seedlings for beginners. Seedlings provide a jumpstart. Also consider how much room you have to make a garden, because you'll need to accommodate not just for the plants but also for space in between. Fortunately, I had Will's skill on my side, so we managed to eyeball the ratio.
2. Pick a place to plot. Whether it's a raised bed or in the ground, it must get about six to eight hours of direct sunlight. The only other advice I can give about that is to use Feng Shui, even in your yard, roof top (for raised beds), or wherever you create your garden. You can use your senses to choose the right spot. Also, plant according to where the sun rises in your yard. Research the sunlight movement, as this will help you determine where the sunlight and shade will hit your yard at different times of the day and year.
3. Till the ground. First, use a shovel to remove the layer of grass. We used a power tiller. Will was the muscle behind the machine, which he pushed in neat rows like a hard-core lawn mower, until the desired plot size was attained. You can do the whole thing manually with a shovel, too. It will take much longer but you can do it. Churn at least 6 inches to 7 inches deep.
4. De-Weed. This is where the fun begins if you don't get the grass out prior to tilling (which we didn't)—if you like getting dirty, that is. You will have to get in there and pick out as many weeds and clumps of grass as you can. The pros say this is good for composting, so I recommend you look into that. In our case, we simply threw it all off to the side.
5. Add fertilizer. What kind you add, if any at all, depends on the condition of the soil. Even if the soil is dark brown and rich, you might want to add something. We bought two bags of manure and humus fertilizer, and shoveled it in with the loosened soil to give it extra oomph, ensuring growth.
6. Make rows. Use a shovel, or just get in there and use your hands to create the shape of your garden. We did both. You want the rows (mounds the length or width of the garden) to be about 12 inches thick, with about a 12-inch space between each. Also, plant according to where the sun rises in your yard.
7. Plant. Well, hallelujah! It's finally time to put the babies in the ground. Dig holes at least 3 inches deep, and at least a foot apart. Be sure to keep track of where everything is. We went to a local school-supply store and found multi-shaped labels. We made sections, keeping the herbs clustered together, for example. We also planted marigolds throughout the rows; they act as a natural insect repellent, among other uses.
8. Water. Give the garden its first shower when the sun isn't shining straight down on it. It's important to conserve water, so if you can get away with watering every other day, that's best. Water for about 15 minutes, before or after the garden is out of direct sun. A rain dance every now and then comes in handy, too.
Optional:
9. Border. If you want to make a border, consider re-using materials, like trashed objects. We used old (albeit likely asbestos-filled) roof panels that had been sitting on the side of the house.
10. Accoutrements. Dressing up a garden is a fun way to add whimsy and show your creativity. We added a little boy donning a feather headdress to oversee the growth operations. And what garden would be complete without a bit of magic? In our case, magic was found in a tiny lantern discarded in a nearby alley.
11. Map & Grow Chart. If you haven't made labels, this is a great way to keep track of where things are and when you can expect your edibles to mature and meet your mouth.
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