By Debra Ma
News Editor
With spring breezing in, now is the perfect time to start a garden. If you have never tried it before, starting a garden may seem daunting, but don’t worry. Here are some tips to help you with your horticultural endeavors.
The first thing you need to do is buy a pot
Larger pots are better choices as they give whatever you choose to plant more root space. The pot should have drainage holes and a saucer to catch water that runs out of them. If you are leaving your pot indoors, put it in an area with ample sunlight. When starting plants by seeds, you can use smaller containers about the size of a bathroom cup. It’s a better choice if you are short on space and want to start a bunch of different plants by seed and still save room. Still keep in mind that you’ll need drainage holes.
*You can easily start seeds in small containers. Just be sure to transplant the saplings when they grow to a reasonable size.
Next you need to pick out some soil
If you are growing in a container, you should use potting soil; there is no need to worry too much about brand. You’ll use quite a bit of soil to fill your pot, but you can save some by putting empty soda bottles at the bottom of the pot and pouring soil on top of that. Make sure not to pack the pot too tightly or water will have a hard time flowing through it. But you can also use some soil from your backyard, but it may not have enough nutrients for starting plants from seed.
Now you’re ready to plant some seeds
Lettuce grows really well in pots, as do baby carrots, along with most herbs and dwarf tomatoes. However, if you do plant tomatoes, or anything with branches and fruit, you’ll have to use stakes to make sure the branches don’t droop too far.
Make sure you water your plants every day. The best time to do so is in the morning, when the heat doesn’t cause the water to evaporate as quickly. If you don’t have time in the morning, late afternoon is a another good time to water them.
And that’s really all you need to get started. You can get all of these materials at Home Depot, or any similar store.
Things to keep in mind
Allot enough room for your plant to grow. Do some quick research to find out how tall your plant will get. The rule of thumb is that the roots will need as much room below as they do above the soil.
Keep with it. Don’t forget to water your plant. If you aren’t sure if it needs water or not, feel the soil. If it’s damp, it’s good, and if it’s dry, give it a quick water.
*Herbs are great to grow together in pots. They don’t need as much room as other plants like flowers or tomatoes.