Essential Garden Tips: 3 KEY Elements of Starting a New Garden

When starting a new garden there are a million things you may be thinking about. While they may be important, or at least important to you, there are 3 key elements that are absolutely the most important things to consider when starting a new garden. I’m beginning the challenge to starting a brand new vegetable garden from scratch and these are the three elements that I’m giving the most amount of thought to for the new garden.

The Plants You Want to Grow

Understanding the types of plants you want to grow or are able to grow is crucial when starting a new garden. Each plant has specific needs and requirements that must be met in order for it to thrive. For example the garden I am working on right now is for our vegetable garden. I’m planning tomatoes, peppers, onions, tomatillos, and other plants that like love a lot of sunshine.

Space – the Final Frontier

Yes, I enjoy Star Trek so forgive the pun but space really is the final frontier on your garden. Some plants, such as large trees or sprawling vines, require a significant amount of space to grow properly. Vines can grow vertically but then will shade out other plants and need to be planned accordingly. Tomato plants need about 4 SQFT at minimum if they are indeterminate and trellised or staked but by researching tomato varieties you can find some great compact determinate varieties suitable for smaller spaces. If you have limited space, you may need to choose smaller, more compact plants or consider container gardening. You can grow a lot of produce in containers so don’t rule out gardening if you don’t have much room to grow!

How Much Care Do the Plants Need?

Another very important gardening tip is that you must consider your own gardening skills and experience. Some plants require more care and attention than others, and may not be suitable for beginners. If you’re new to gardening, it’s a good idea to start with plants that are relatively easy to grow and maintain. This will give you the opportunity to learn and develop your gardening skills before taking on more challenging plants.

Related to this is time or is it thyme? How much time do you actually have to garden? This should always be a consideration because if you plan too big you may get frustrated with the maintenance needs and not have enough time.

Consider Your Garden’s Climate

One very important consideration is the climate and growing conditions in your area. Certain plants are better suited to specific climates, while others may struggle to survive. We live in Tennessee and are fortunate to have a very long growing season. That allows us to grow plants that gardeners in more northern climates may not have as much success with. Our tomato plants can be put in the ground shortly after the last frost date which is usually the middle to the end of April. Long day onions can be grown here as well whereas up north shorter day onions are a better option. Peppers also take a while to develop and tend to be a later in the season plant to harvest. Starting peppers indoors in pots can help speed them along and eventually help with an earlier harvest.

I highly recommend that you research the climate in your region and identify plants that are well-adapted to those conditions before you begin planning your new garden. A little planning will help to ensure that you don’t waste time and money on plants that are not suitable for your garden’s climate.

The Soil Conditions

The soil your plants grow in is paramount to their success. Remember Organic Matter Matters! Proper soil conditions provide the necessary nutrients and support for healthy plant growth. Your local agricultural extension can help you to test the soil and figure out exactly what amendments your soil needs. You can also use the soil test to determine the pH level of your soil which is very helpful if you are growing a plant like blueberries that has certain needs to live it’s “best life”.

Lasagna Gardening

I do have a confession though, I’ve never actually had a garden tested. I use raised beds and generally will mix my own materials for the soil. My philosophy is to garden organically with amendments that help to improve the soil and break down over time. As long as I continue to add organic inputs to the garden the garden continues to flourish. Lasagna Gardening is one technique I have used extensively. By layering with grass clippings, leaves, compost and cardboard to help build a really good organic soil. There are many more materials you can use for lasagna gardening, those are just a few!

Raised Beds

Another option to consider is raised beds. Raised beds offer several advantages for gardeners, including improved drainage and (my favorite) better control over soil quality. By building raised beds, you can create a customized growing environment that meets the specific needs of your plants. This is particularly beneficial if you have poor soil conditions or limited space. Raised Bed work EXTREMELY well when used with lasagna gardening to fill them up. See more on raised bed gardening here: Raised Bed Gardening

The Amount of Sunlight

The amount of sunlight your plants need will vary depending on what you want to grow. Understanding the sunlight requirements of your plants is crucial for their growth and overall health.

Full Sun

Some plants thrive in full sun, requiring at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. These sun-loving plants include tomatoes, peppers, and sunflowers. They need ample sunlight to produce abundant fruits, flowers, and foliage. If you have a sunny spot in your garden, these plants will thrive and reward you with a bountiful harvest.

Shade

On the other hand, there are plants that prefer partial shade or full shade. Take Hostas for instance. Hostas and other shade loving plants are more sensitive to direct sunlight and can suffer from sunburn or heat stress if exposed to too much sun. Look for plant varieties that fit the area and microclimate for your garden.

Garden Orientation

It’s important to consider the orientation of your garden and the available sunlight throughout the day. Observe how the sun moves across your garden and identify areas that receive different levels of sunlight. This will help you determine the best location for each type of plant.

If you have limited sunlight in your garden, don’t worry. There are still plenty of plants that can thrive in shady conditions. Shade-tolerant vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and kale can be grown successfully with just a few hours of sunlight each day. There are also shade-loving flowers like astilbe, begonias, and impatiens that can add color and beauty to your shady garden. For shady area foliage I am a huge fan of coleus.

Obviously there is a lot to consider when starting a new garden. Just remember the 3 Essential garden elements: Sun, Soil, and Plants and you will be just fine!