Anyone can garden. You do not need to be an expert or have land of your own to plant a garden. In this little guide, I want to inspire you to think outside the box. I will share some ideas for those who do not have a yard then go into further detail for those who want to expand their skills with a plot, greenhouse or raised beds. I want to inspire you to start a garden this year, even if it is on your windowsill.
This is not a definitive guide to growing anything. I’m definitely no expert. I will share what plants grow best in which kinds of containers, but for more information on each plant, I highly recommend finding in depth books on your growing zone. Learning how much water or how much light is needed depends on the plants and your location. Certain plants like tropical fruits or potatoes require specific zones or growing conditions that not everyone has access too. The best advice I can give is to learn what zone you live in and which plants grow best in that zone (and when to plant them).
The plants I suggest here can be grown just about everywhere. Your zone may offer more variety. Please know that there are so many more possibilities than I can share in this little blog post.
This is a starter guide for anyone looking to begin. Once you dive in and begin your own garden, I hope you will continue to learn about new plants and gardening skills to make your gardens flourish.
When I moved into our rental cottage the other year I was determined to start my own garden. Year one I started it too late because we moved in at the end of June and by then most gardens were already in the ground. By mid-summer a fungus took over my raised garden beds. I got a few herbs and tomatoes, but nothing substantial until the following year. Most of my herbs died by autumn. I learned a lot of lessons and started a small greenhouse the next spring. If you have a yard you can make your own garden by tilling a patch of land, setting up raised beds or by utilizing pots and containers.
If you only have a balcony, you can garden using containers, pots and even hanging trellises and baskets. Even those with no space at all can garden in their windowsills or reserve a plot in a local community garden. You could even start a community garden of your own or ask a family member if you can make a little garden in their space and share the crops with them. There are so many ways to garden, so I do not want you to feel like you can’t because of where you live. Let’s get started today.
It starts With Soil
Something all gardeners should know is that many brands of plant food and fertilizer is toxic. The best thing you can do is plant with soil, manure and compost. Sometimes a mix of all three. If you are gardening in your yard, a soil test may tell you all sorts of things you need to know to strengthen your growing potential and of any possible contaminations. If soil is not good for growing, you may need to bring some in or add manure to create an environment for your garden to grow. Unfortunately, you cannot just grow anywhere there is dirt. Good soil is the key to growing a garden. If you compost at home, this may be a great opportunity to use your own compost in your garden.
If accessible, choose organic options and avoid adding plant food to your plants. Plant foods are toxic to humans and pets (and animals) and are often made with fertilizers which can burn plants if overused and cause all kinds of environmental damage. The water run off alone poisons your local environment and also attracts pests. The soil you use is the most important element. So please, do your best to go natural in every way you can. You can often find soil, manure and sometimes compost at local gardening centers and farms for delivery or in bags.
Manure adds nutrients and organic matter to your garden. One thing to be aware of is that fresh manure can contain bacteria that can make people sick. If you do use manure, make sure to wear gloves and mix it with soil.
You can make your own compost with vegetable scraps, orange peels, eggshells, and tea leaves amongst other compostable materials. Why eggshells? Eggshells can help control soil acidity, prevent pests and are a natural source of calcium, which is great for growing healthier plants. Healthy soil makes for healthy plants, whether they’re in containers or in the ground.
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Managing garden pests
It happens to the best of us. Pests can destroy a crop. As tempting as it sounds, most pest repellants are not good for us or the environment. There are natural ways to limit pests and protect your garden, whether you’re planting flowers, herbs or vegetables. You can find organic and safe sprays as a last resort. Mint essential oil mixed with water is a great natural repellant for many bugs.
Planting a variety in a single space does limit the number of pests attracted to a garden. Marigolds are a proven repellent for any garden. I like to plant them amongst my garden beds and around my vegetable plants.
There are also numerous nets, cloches and pop-up screens you can put over certain plants to protect them. I have a pop-up screen for my lettuce and for my strawberry patch, although this year I was not fast enough putting it in place. I found a turkey nesting in my patch just the other day!
I find cloches particularly useful to protect my smaller vegetable plants from bunnies and animals that like to munch on my garden. Fencing can keep deer and other larger animals from entering your space, but let it be known that if a black bear wants to get in, there is nothing much you can do to stop it. They will rip down a fence with a swipe of a big paw.
Planting Seeds Vs. Grown Plants
Planting seeds vs. buying plants, that is the question I get asked about a lot. In colder climates (like New England or further north), I cannot plant seeds outdoors until after the frost is over, which means I have to plant inside a few months before the plants can typically be planted out of doors. I personally prefer seeds because they are far more affordable, but if you cannot grow your own based on your space and climate, buying plants from a nursery or garden center may be your best choice. However, buying plants vs. seeds is always far more expensive.
If you can grow from seeds, this is the way. That being said, I do have trouble with seeds sometimes. For some reason, growing lettuce and tomatoes from seeds has alluded me. I can never seem to get them to grow, But green beans and pepper plants take off.
You can find seeds at local shops, online, and even at local libraries who have seed libraries. Seed packets often come with more than you can plant in a season. If you store them properly, your seeds can last an extra year or you can share them with someone else. Seeds can often be collected from certain plants from the grocery store or your garden to use next year.
In some cases, there are certain plant varieties that I cannot find as seeds or affordable as seeds (lemon verbena, I’m looking at you) and I will buy the plants instead. Some gardeners feel very strongly about buying plants instead of seeds, but I understand that there are numerous reasons why people might buy plants that have already started growing. When I moved in early summer and started a garden very late for the season, using already-started plants made my garden possible.
As a new gardener, growing plants from seeds takes a lot of time and attention. I understand how intimidating it can be for someone without the experience. I’m still learning more each year. I encourage you to give it a go anyway. Just remember to water them often, especially if you are using small seed planters or paper/cardboard planters that dry up quickly. Terracotta pots hold water for longer and evaporate less quickly. If you can plant in terracotta pots instead of paper pots, you will find that your seedlings need to be watered less often. If you’re using a green house, be careful not to let them get moldy. Too much water and humidity can make new plants grow mold.
Small Garden Spaces
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Start With A Window
Let’s start small. Do you have a window ledge? You can start an herb garden. Mid-late February is a perfect time to plant some herbs in pots. Great herbs for this include lemon balm, thyme, sage, mint, cilantro, and basil. In my experience, thyme is the heartiest of the herbs and has always grown well without much fuss. Make sure to research each plant’s watering and light requirements. Without a greenhouse, a window is a perfect place to start tomatoes and other veggies. Create a watering schedule and move plants to spaces with more or less sun as needed. If you do not get enough window light, you can use a grow light.
Potted Plants On Porches And Balconies
If you do not have a yard, a porch or balcony is perfectly adequate to grow not only herbs, but fruits and vegetables too. I love growing flowers on balconies. When we lived in a small apartment in Maryland we had numerous herbs and flowers in pots.
Tomatoes, strawberries and herbs can all be grown in hanging planters or pots. You can also plant green beans in pots. Small citrus trees and berry bushes can also do well in pots, and can even last the winter months if you take them in and care for them. If you do move your plants indoors you will want a cooler room with window light as most indoor heating can kill a plant. I learned this the hard way. I thought cold was bad (too much is), but it turns out plants need to winter just like we do.
For beginners, I suggest keeping it simple with a couple tomato varieties and strawberries then adding more later. Tomatoes and strawberries often grow in abundance and are simple to manage, as long as they get enough sunlight. Tomatoes grow rapidly and will often need large deep pots. Adding a few flowering plants for beauty is another way to enjoy your garden space. Hibiscus flowers have large vibrant blooms and their vines will happily intertwine on a porch railing. Begonias, marigolds and petunias also grow well in pots. Marigolds also repel most pests.
Plotting In A Community Garden
If you do not have a yard of your own and wish to make a plot in the dirt, take a look into your community garden spaces. In some cases you can rent a private plot in a community garden or if you rent a space, you will share your crops with others in the garden or community. It is a great way to gain knowledge through experimenting with plants and learning from other local gardeners.
Do you have a family member or friend who has land, but no time to garden? Perhaps you can share one on their property in exchange for some of your crops.
Starting With An Indoor Greenhouse
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If you live in a colder climate and cannot plant seeds outdoors due to frost or snow, an indoor greenhouse is an affordable option. It keeps your plants in a humid space and provides extra shelving space if you have limited space for plants. In my case, a greenhouse also protects my little seedlings from my curious cats. I bought my indoor greenhouse for under $30 at Ocean State Job Lot, but you can find them at most garden centers and online. They are reusable and are also a safe space to keep your potted herbs in over the winter months.
A gust of wind can send your mini greenhouse sailing, so I encourage you to keep it indoors in an area that gets sunlight. I used to think I had to keep it in a warm place like my dining room, but I found it often overheated and because so humid that some of my plants became moldy. Opening the door for a portion of the day kept my plants from wilting when it got too hot and kept the greenhouse from becoming too humid on very sunny days. I also transitioned into using terracotta pots over cardboard to prevent mold growth.
If you do not have enough sunlight for your greenhouse, waterproof grow lights will be necessary. If you plan to continue gardening, this is worth the investment. The plastic covers often rip but can be repaired with waterproof Gorilla Glue repair tape. If all goes well, you may find yourself moving up to a larger outdoor greenhouse.
Setting Up An Outdoor Greenhouse
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An outdoor greenhouse is perfect for mid-late spring. As your seedlings get bigger you can move them into an outdoor green house and also use the space year long for herbs, tomatoes and other potted plants. An outdoor green house is larger and will give you more space for growing. If you do not have a porch, an outdoor greenhouse gives you that extra spot just for your plants. And in autumn you can move some of your plants inside to prolong the growing season.
Nice greenhouses cost a pretty penny, and I do not recommend them unless you’re sure you’re in it for the long hall. For beginner gardeners looking to explore greenhouse growing or for people who are renting property and cannot build a greenhouse on their land, a 5 x 7′ “pop-up” greenhouse is a great starter greenhouse choice. I found mine at Ocean State Job Lot for $76 (and $30 off with a coupon), but they can also be found online and at most garden supply centers.
There are a couple downsides to these inexpensive greenhouses; they cannot be used in early spring or in winter because they will not be warm enough and you will need to store them during the winter months. These affordable starter greenhouses are also prone to tears and blowing around on a windy day.
The thing about these affordable options is that they’re not very strong. A gust of wind can cause havoc or make them topple over. You will need to secure it to the ground using sandbags or stakes. In my case, we built a wooden platform and secured it with steel pipe straps. Strong summer storms shook it up and broke some potted plants. Before a storm you want to ensure all plants and shelves are taken down and put on the ground and that the door is sealed. Rips in the seams or cover can be repaired with waterproof Gorilla Glue repair tape.
They also get extremely hot on warm days and can overheat your plants. As they do not have windows, I solved this problem by opening the doorway on warm or hot days for airflow, but make sure to close the door on a windy day so it does not catch the wind like a sail. I also positioned the greenhouse where it was in shade for part of the day. Your plants will cook in there if you are not careful and they require daily attention.
Despite all the problems, a starter greenhouse like this is helpful for seeds and a great learning environment if you plan on continuing your gardening journey.
Getting Started With Raised Beds
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As a renter, raised beds were a great opportunity for me to start a garden on my landlord’s property without digging up a whole patch. They might be a great solution for you too if you wish to start small or make gardening more accessible. Raised beds come in various heights, which can require more soil, but can also make gardening more accessible for people who have difficulty leaning over a garden, especially if you build or buy tall beds. You can make your own or buy them as a kit. My four 4×4′ garden beds are not very tall as I was on a budget, but they were a great way for me to get started. You will want to make sure that your raised beds are in full sun for a majority of the day.
When you have your raised beds put together and filled with the appropriate soil and manure, you will want to plan out the spacing of your garden. If you plant too densely, some plants may suffocate the others and prevent sunlight from coming in, which can make gardens develop bacteria and fungus. I learned this the hard way when one of my garden beds became extra damp and grew a mushroom-like white fungus throughout. Give your plants some space by following recommended guidelines for plants and seeds, knowing that your plants need room to grow and expand, but also don’t be afraid to experiment with plants.
Raised beds allow you to expand your garden plants including lettuce, kale, broccoli, squash, cucumbers and zucchini. One of my garden beds is dedicated to strawberries, which grow back each year. As always, I recommend starting with a couple tomato varieties as they are easy to grow and bare an abundance of fruits, which you can use for meals, salads, soups, and sauces. You can freeze or can your extra tomatoes for the winter months. In my experience, tomatoes are the perfect plant for a beginner garden. Green beans and peppers are also great as starter plants.
Care for your raised beds by keeping your plants watered but know that raised beds tend to hold too much water and can drown plants if you’re not cautious. You will need to check the soil for mold or fungus and weed as needed.
Getting Started With A garden Plot
A garden plot is a better solution than raised beds when it comes to affordability and space. It is cheaper to use the ground you have than to build or buy raised beds and you can make the plot any size you desire for a cut flower garden or vegetables and fruits. Plants like cucumbers, squash, zucchini, pumpkins, potatoes, garlic, onions, carrots, corn and eggplant grow better with more space than in a raised bed. Most of these plants need space to expand sideways or into the soil so a plot gives them room to grow.
To find a plot for your garden, you will need to watch the space at various times of day to ensure that it is in sun for a majority of the day. You can place stakes in the ground and mark your space by tying twine to outline your plot. Pay attention to how much water gathers here and how much sun the spot gets before tilling.
To make a garden plot, you will need to till your soil. Tilling is the process of turning over topsoil to prepare the ground for planting. Tilling removes weeds before they go to seed. You can use a hand tiller (this takes work) or rent a tilling machine. They are smaller and easy to manage for small plots. For a larger plot you will need a plow, which can be pulled by farm animals or a tractor. Thankfully I happen to have a cousin with a tractor and a tiller. (I owe you Cousin Brian!) My landlord gave us permission to till a patch this spring so I’m on a new gardening journey this year and just getting started.
As a kid my Great Uncle Roy would come over with his tiller and a small tractor in the back of a truck and till my mom’s garden and my aunt’s next door each springtime. I would sit outside and excitedly watch him work my mom’s plot and create rows for planting. It was not big, maybe 12 x 10′ but it had plenty of space for squash, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes of all sizes and green beans. One year we even grew pumpkins.
If you’re going to till a patch, I suggest starting small and making it bigger the following spring if you wish to expand. A 10 x 10,’ 10 x 12′ or 12 x 12′ is a perfect starter garden patch. Till your land and test your soil. Add manure and compost as needed. Remove large rocks. You may wish to make rows in the soil for planting. Make sure to follow planting guidelines for all of your plants or seeds and measure out enough space for your plants to grow without them competing for resources.
When your plot is ready you will want to find a way to protect it from animal visitors. There are so many garden fencing options to choose from. The most cost effective is by putting stakes into the ground and attaching a roll of steel wire garden fencing around the edges. This will not protect your plants from birds, but most deer and smaller animals cannot get inside. If you have black bears though, nothing will keep them out of your garden. (Talking from experience.)
As for weeds, this is my conundrum. I’m still figuring out how to keep out the weeds to save me hours of time. I just ordered some compostable garden paper and I’m going to give that a try.
Cloches or tunnel cloches are helpful when protecting plants like lettuce, kale, spinach or strawberry plants. If you have many birds you may find these cloches or garden nets to be helpful. Perhaps you’ll make a scarecrow or place a fake hawk or owl on a post. Your garden will need to be watered and weeded. Happy planting!
Watering Tips For Your Garden
If you’re new to gardening, you may be wondering how or when to water your plants. A general rule is that you want the soil to be damp, but not waterlogged or too dry. If you’re getting a lot of rain, you will want to hold off on watering until the soil is starting to feel dry.
The best times of day to water are early morning and dusk because the sun will evaporate the water quickly. During the day you want to avoid getting water on the leaves as it acts like a magnifying class with the sun and can create burns in the plants. If you are using a sprinkler, make sure to only use it in early morning or the evening.
The best way to water a garden is to water it infrequently, but deeply to encourage the roots to go deeper into the soil. You will want to water your plants at the base. For this reason, I prefer to use a watering can.
To water your garden, you can use a hose, a watering can or a sprinkler. The size and location of your garden may impact how you water it. On hot summer days you will need to water almost daily while on milder days you may find that you’re watering every other day or even less. If you are going away you can use a drip system to water the plants slowly while you’re out.
