For some of us, gardening means rethinking the whole space, ordering heirloom seeds, and planning out primo planting areas in the sunniest parts of the yard. Did you know gardening can also look like adding a few pots in the kitchen or on the deck?
Wherever you are we have some tips on how to get growing!
Think about your space
Are you planting a few containers in the house or outside? Are you clearing out a 10 x 20 foot garden plot with lots of south-facing sun? Choose what’s right for you!
Sunday Tip:
Upcycle yogurt containers, milk jugs, or Sunday nutrient pouches into pots for your new plants. Add a few holes to the bottom for drainage and you’re good to go.
Love your soil
Everything you love about fresh fruits and vegetables comes directly from the soil they grow in. If you want beautiful plants and delicious food, make sure you have rich, healthy soil.
Sunday Tip:
For outdoor growing, add about 2" of compost to your planting area each year. Plants take in nutrients from the soil, so you need to help replace them.
Choose the right plants
Different stuff grows better in different climates. To discover what grows best in your area, start with the USDA hardiness zone map. Once you know your hardiness zone, check the zone number on any seed packet or plant tag to know if it will grow well in your garden.
Sunday Tip:
We started these tomatoes inside because Colorado has a shorter growing season and they need a head start. One of our favorite seed sources is High Mowing Organics. Your local garden center will have lots of seeds and plant starts too.
Time it right
If you’re planting indoors, you are good to go. Just make sure you have a window that gets full sun or use a grow light. If you’re planting outside, you will need to do a little research. In general, cool-season crops like peas, spinach, and carrots can go in the ground as soon as the soil is soft enough to work with. Warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and squash need to wait till the threat of frost has passed. Your seed packet will share all of this info as well as seed depth and spacing.
Sunday Tip:
A planting chart or calendar can be a helpful tool for planning when to start seeds and plant outside. Here’s a good one from High Mowing Organics. We'll transplant these tomatoes outside around Mother's Day.
Reap the benefits
Research shows that getting your hands dirty and growing plants has huge health benefits. From microbes in the soil that improve your mood, to plants’ amazing power to clean air and grow food, spending more time with plants can only help make your day better.
Sunday Tip:
You're already a grass grower, you can do this! Just in case, we always plant a little extra. Worst case we've got something to share with friends and neighbors.
