Tips and Tricks for Starting Your Garden This May

So, you want a garden this year, but you have no clue where to start.

Don’t worry, we get it! Gardening can be overwhelming for even the most experienced gardeners so we’ve put together our best tips, tricks, and tools to help you get started with your garden today.

The first thing any gardener needs to do is figure out what hardiness zone they live in. A hardiness map is used to figure out what type of plants will thrive in any location. The map represents an average of the minimum winter temperatures for each area list over some time. You can find more information on your zone here.

We've compiled the following list of tips and tools to help you get started once you've figured out your hardiness zone.

1. Track what you plant and where. We recommend using a waterproof notebook like this because it’ll be safe with you in the garden for years! Tracking what you plant and where will not only help you stay on track for harvesting but will help you with tip number 2.

2. Rotate where you plant veggies every two years. This will help reduce your need for pest control and will stop nutrient depletion in your soil.

3. Gather tools and store them well. To get started you definitely don’t need to get every gardening tool you can find, a few basic garden hand tools will work just fine. We’ve linked all of our go-to garden tools below.

   1. Transplanter
   2. Hand Weeder
   3. Trowel
   4. Cultivator
   5. Pruning Shears
   You can also create your own sharpening storage using mineral oil and sand in a bucket to store your tools in like the image to the left.  An idea we got from Courtenay at https://www.creeklinehouse.com/ You can find mineral oil here
   

4. Water your garden in the morning before the hottest part of the day which is between about noon and 3:00. Find the perfect garden hose here.

5. Mulching will maintain moisture in the soil. You can typically find a local farm that sells mulch.

6. Lastly, a stand-up weeder like this one although not necessary will make your life a lot easier, and your back will thank you.

Now, for the fun part, what to plant! Obviously, as we said before it comes down to your zone, but we’ve compiled a short list of easy veggies that can be grown in many areas. Here are some of our suggestions for your May garden:

CELERY

Easy to grow when soil is kept moist and will be ready for harvest in 11 to 18 weeks

POTATOES

We recommend using rotten compost for the best results, but if you don’t compost moist soil will work great too. Potatoes typically take 15 to 20 weeks for harvesting.

CARROTS

These are by far the easiest vegetable to produce, soil temp can be anywhere between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and they will thrive. Keep the soil moist, and plant seeds 6 to 10 inches apart.

BRUSSEL SPROUTS

These should be planted in cooler areas because when brussels sprouts get too hot they burst open. They should be planted about two feet apart.

LETTUCE

Lettuce is another easy plant. They are shallow rooted, so they will need to be watered frequently. Especially in hot, dry climates.

CUCUMBERS

Cucumbers are easiest to grow in a trellis because it makes them easier to harvest. They are pretty low maintenance and just need moist soil. They are ready for harvest typically in 8 weeks.

We hope all of these tips, tricks, and tools help your new garden thrive. Happy growing!