1. Consider your Space
Whether you have a backyard, balcony or
sunny corner in your house there is always space to start growing your own herbs
or vegetables. But the size and location of this space will dictate what you
are able to grow. If you have a ledge by your sink, you might be only able to
grow herbs. If you have a small balcony in the city, you might be limited to
only a few varieties of produce.
2. Evaluate The Sun
Along with considering the space you have
for the garden you also need to evaluate how much sun that space receives during
the day. The ideal spot gets morning sun and maintain it 6-8 hours throughout
the day. This doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t grow anything if your spot
gets less light, but you might be limited to certain plants that require less
sunlight. Or you might have to set up artificial grow lights to supplement or replace
natural light.
3. Selecting Seeds
Deciding what you want to grow in your
garden can be overwhelming with all the choices and varieties you have. That
being said, If you won’t eat a crop, don’t grow it in your vegetable garden. This
golden rule will help you eliminate choices. Selecting seeds will also be
determined by the space and the amount of sun you have. For examples if you do
not have the vertical space for vining beans you might want to select a bush
bean variety instead. Or if you live in the desert, you might have difficulties
growing plants native to the rainforest.
4. Consider your Soil
Having the right soil will help greatly in
achieving a successful garden. Most garden crops prefer soil with a pH around 7
(neutral), although some like conditions that are slightly acidic (potatoes,
for instance) or slightly alkaline (brassicas). Balanced nutrient levels are
also important, as is the presence of organic matter. Most plants prefer deep,
well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Plant roots need good garden
soil to produce good vegetables and fruit.
5. Starting Seeds
Once you decide on what you are going to grow you need to think about how. If you decide to start seeds inside to later transfer outside, you might want to get a grow light, have a source of bottom heat and water from a tray allowing the wick up through the soil. If you decide to start seed via the direct sowing method, you will need less equipment. sow seeds right into the ground, water, and watch grow. Direct sowing is also very dependent upon the weather. So for cooler climates you will need to know when your last frost date is before starting to sow seeds. Some plants are easier to grow than others. If you are new to growing maybe choose easier seeds to begin with.
6. Budget
Another thing to consider is how much money
do you have to start. You can have a large backyard but a very limited budget. In
which, you might just till a small portion of it for growing, limited to what
is best to grow in that soil. Or you can have a small balcony but a larger
budget. If this is the case you can afford a balcony hydroponic system or a
vertical Greenstalk tiered planter.
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