Start Small as a New Gardener

Whenever people think about becoming a gardener, they start watching videos from experts and see huge gardening beds filled with thriving plants and bountiful harvests.

But these individuals have been doing this for quite a while, perfecting their green thumb and learning what it takes to succeed.

It would be nice if you could simply listen to some instructions, follow them exactly as prescribed and then be able to proclaim you’re a successful gardener.

But unfortunately, there are too many variables in the gardening world for there to be a cookie cutter routine that works for everyone.

Consider Climate Conditions

You have varying climates from one city to the next. Insects and pests of other sorts aren’t all the same, either. Humidity and rain conditions can affect quality of a harvest. Even the way your soil is compiled will differ from someone one state over.

Tools Needed As A New Gardener

Because of this, you want to take your time learning the ins and outs of gardening on your plot of land or in your containers before you start investing huge amounts of money, time and effort.

Getting started with gardening can definitely cost more than just buying produce at the store. You need fertilizer, seeds, watering tools, and much more. But once you’re able to use them successfully every season, you will recoup your money.

Start Small As A New Gardener

The last thing you want to do is plant a half-acre of vegetables if you’ve never grown anything before. You might end up with an entire garden spoiled from poor irrigation or lack of pollination.

Begin With Vegetables You Enjoy

It’s best to begin with vegetables that you know you’ll enjoy growing. Then begin with a small amount of plants to nurture to fruition. Start with one or two containers or a small 4×4 plot of a gardening bed outdoors.

You can scale up over time. If you’re capable of handling the routine and working out issues that arise with your plants in a small area, then you’ll easily be able to care for and address any problems with a larger area.

Calculate What You Can Handle As A New Gardener

As a gardener, you’re almost like a parent to these seedlings. You have to take care of all of their needs; nutrients, protection from pests and more.

You’ll have a much easier (and enjoyable) time knowing you aren’t overwhelmed with an enormous workload than if you did just enough to enjoy and learn from a smaller area.

This will also help you discover how much produce your family actually needs and uses during a growing season. Many people overestimate and then end up with spoiling produce they can’t use up in time.