New Gardeners

The Beginning Gardener

Every gardener started somewhere. Some started as children, but the majority waited until they were adults that had a piece of ground to tend. Those first few garden attempts met with limited success dependant on what you started with.

It is not so long ago, however, that learning to produce vegetables in the garden was imperative to eating. In those past generations children learnt to garden alongside their parents and were given garden responsibilities along the way. Today supermarkets give us the bulk of food and thus the need for a garden to survive has disappeared. Smaller urban plots, not to mention a heavy 21st century schedules, would indicate that gardening should have disappeared entirely, yet gardening persists as the number one recreational hobby.

New gardeners today though, need to learn how to garden from sources other than parents. Start by looking at what your neighbors are growing. This is a good sign as to what will grow and a good gardener will always be willing to share and nurture those who have less experience.

Go to local nurseries to see what they sell. I should emphasis that big box stores, rather than local nurseries are less reliable in their expertise and are likely to sell items that are not necessarily suited to your climate. A good local nursery will have some knowledgeable people to refer to, as well as a group of perhaps less knowledgeable help. Look at what the nursery sells, and ask questions as to how to plant or what type of soil the plant needs. The tag on the plant will give indications of full sun (needs 6 hours minimum of good sun); part sun (needs 2-4 hours of sun) and shade (will do well without any sun at all). The tag will also tell you how high the plant will get and how wide it will get. Sometimes this will take more than one season to achieve this size, so do not be disheartened it your perennial stays small for the first year.

Another excellent source of information is the local library or community center, particularly if they have people who give presentations on gardening. Take advantage of these presentations as they are generally free or minimum cost to attend and will not only put you in touch with other local gardeners, but will be a terrific source of contagious enthusiasm.

Finally, but not at all least, is the local Extension Educator, and the Master Gardener program graduates, that can answer your questions and be a veritable mine of information on all aspects of regional gardening, garden clubs and associations and other resources.

So a new gardener is not alone. Maybe you did not learn at the knee of your parents, but there is indeed a support network for gardeners. Whether you new to gardening in general; in a new area; or interested in a new species/type of gardening – there is someone who will be willing to help you along the way.