The number of kitchens we cooked in on the road was somewhat absurd. Some belonged to Michelin-starred chefs while others were equipped by individuals with a clear propensity for take-out. Equally as diverse was the food we cooked in those kitchens. Some of it consisted of colorful fruits and veggies procured from local produce stands. But, as budget backpackers, most of it was highly processed and derived from the nearest convenient store. The ingredients were usually listed in a foreign language, but had they been in English, we’d still struggle with the pronunciation of the long list of chemicals. If someone told us during one of our Thai gas station chip-sampler-sessions that we’d be writing a blog about first time gardening tips, we probably would have dismissed the remark as “cute, but unlikely.”
We knew how to throw down in the kitchen, but knew just enough about gardening to do slightly better than that pizza box disaster from the land of CHAZ. As we returned home from our time abroad, the idea of gardening didn’t seem so far-fetched. Perhaps it was born out of boredom or an innate desire to correctly pronounce the foods we were consuming. Either way, we jumped head first into gardening. We bought heirloom seeds, grow lights, heating pads, seed starting trays, and soil. And in those rare moments when our TV was turned on, it was streaming some of YouTube’s most popular gardeners.
As rookies to the gardening scene, we’ve made our fair share of screw-ups, but we’ve also learned a lot of lessons along the way. If you’re interested in growing your own food hopefully you can learn from our mistakes. Here’s our list of gardening tips from our first year in the garden.
Using Correct Size Growing Bag/Pot
Sorry to say, but size does matter – at least when it comes to pot size. A pot too big is a waste of soil and space. A bag too small risks stunting the plant’s potential. Finding the perfect Goldilocks container sounds daunting, but don’t panic. Most seed packets are equipped with planting instructions. Some indicate whether or not the varietal is even good for container growing. A valuable resource to have on hand is Kevin Espiritu’s new book, “Grow Bag Gardening.” We love this book, which includes several charts listing different plants and the best bag/pot size needed for optimal growth.
Moisture Control When Using Grow Bags
Grow bags come with many benefits; The ability to stay moist is not one of them. Typically, grow bags are made of felt or some other non-woven material. However, DIY grow bags can be made of almost anything. Due to their material and the surface area exposed to air, grow bags lose water faster than traditional pots or in-ground planting. Hooking up a drip irrigation system would be the most efficient way to ensure your plants have the correct moisture levels. Otherwise, frequent hose watering is essential to keep your plants happy. It’s highly likely they will need to be watered daily, so make sure you check. This is one of the gardening tips we wish we had known about. Instead, we lost a few of our tomato plants early on due to moisture issues.
Benefits of Using Trellis Clips
Of all our gardening tips, trellis clips are the most simplistic but so useful! Trellis clips have been a game changer when it comes to time management and taming our unruly crops. Branches, vines and offshoots can get out of control quickly, especially during peak season. Cutting and tying bits of string can be potentially restrictive for your plants’ growth and time consuming for you, the gardener! Using trellis clips takes away the worry with one simple clip. These clips will adhere your plants to string, wire or mesh for support. For some of our plants, we put a clip around a rambunctious offshoot and then run a string from the the clip to our center support pole.
Aggressive Pruning
Those delicate little seedlings will turn into an untamed mess if they are not pruned. How aggressively you prune will depend on your particular goals. We grow in a somewhat small space. Most of our plants reside in grow bags as we only utilize a 4ftx12ft in-ground gardening area. To make the most of our space we prune more aggressively. This allows us to plant other crops with short root systems at the base of our tomato plants. Pruning also allows for better airflow which aids in photosynthesis, making for stronger and healthier plants.
Additionally, it allows for the regular inspection of each plant and the access to remove any dying leaves, branches and damaged fruit. It’s tough to start cutting back the branches you’ve grown from little seed babies. However, one of our best gardening tips is that you must do it anyway! A plant will continue to give damaged leaves, branches and fruits nutrients if not removed. That means less energy for your remaining healthy branches and fruit.
Secession Growing
You cannot underestimate the level of anticipation while waiting for your crops to come in. Once they do it seems like everything ripens all at once. A great way to combat just one short period of harvest is to secession plant your crops.
Choosing the right crops to plant this way is key. Plants such as lettuces, arugula, radish and beans are good choices. Certain plants, such as beans, will need to be ripped out and replanted as soon as they stop producing. Conversely, lettuces should be kept on rotation, never planting your bed all at once. The ideal spacing for your plants will depend on how frequently you harvest. One of the gardening tips we have heavily utilized is planting our secession crops below our long-haulers. For example, crops like radish and carrots are great to plant at the base of much taller plants, like tomatoes. They are also perfect for filling in gaps when you have some empty garden space.
Pest Control
The time will come when your plant is being mercilessly attacked by pests or has come down with a cold. For this, we keep a bottle of all-purpose organic spray on hand. Like most gardeners today we stay away from pesticides and do our best to keep it as natural as possible. However, sometimes being attentive, caring and passionate just doesn’t work. Whether it be homemade or store bought, it is a good idea to have something on hand when those uninvited dinner guests and fungal diseases inevitably show up.
Importance of Pollinators in the Garden
If you cant eat it, why grow it – right? Actually, that’s not entirely true. According to Green Peace, one out of every three bites you consume has been pollinated by honey bees. Even your meat consumption is benefited by pollinators. For example, cows eat the alfalfa that the bees helped pollinate. So save some space and don’t skip on the flower planting. When it comes to selecting your pants, its best to stay native. These plants are more attractive to your local pollinators because they have evolved together. Some good choices would be flowers such as butterfly weed, blazing star, and bee balm. For more information, head to this article on garden design.
Mulch/Hay for Moisture Control
Bare soil is unhappy soil! The battle against weeds is one that requires endurance, but having good ground cover does help keep them in check. Hay is an excellent choice in dryer climates but could become moldy when used in wet climates. It provides a layer of protection against the harsh sun. It is even multi-purpose, because over time the hay will break down into compost giving your plants a valuable source of nutrients. The only downside is that it doesn’t completely cover the soil, allowing for weeds to start reseeding under its covering.
Rainwater Collection
The world is getting hotter. Droughts are becoming more frequent. With that in mind, having a water collection tank doesn’t seem like a bad idea. We use a 55-gallon plastic drum that we picked up for free. We spent a few bucks on a hose spigot and caulked it to our barrel after drilling a small hole near the bottom. With just another few dollars for a flexible downspout we had a fully-functioning rain collector that can be used to hand water our plants. This can be time consuming so we mostly utilize this method for the areas of the yard we don’t feel like dragging the hose to.
An important tip to keep in mind : If you get a light-colored barrel that allows for light to pass through you will need to cover it. The easiest way to cover your barrel is with a dark spray paint. If this step is not taken algae will grow within the barrel and contaminate your water source.
Direct Soil Watering
Splash back in most scenarios is a bad thing and this applies to plants as well. When watering your plants you want to try to avoid watering over the top and concentrate the water just at the soil. Plants absorb very little water through their leaves and receive most of their nutrients and water through their roots. By minimizing water on the leaves, you are also minimizing your chance for disease and growth of fungi. In hot climates where water evaporates quickly, watering directly on the soil will result in less water use/waste.
Having a Designated Gardening Chest
Once you delve into the world of gardening, there is no turning back. It’s addictive! This means you’re likely to accumulate tools, soil, pots, seeds and whatever else your favorite gardening YouTuber recommends that week. We use an old dresser to keep all of our garden accessories organized. Hand tools, seed starting trays, extra grow bags and trellis clips are always nearby and easily accessible. It might be a French culinary term, but “mise en place” meaning “everything in its place” is applicable to more than just the kitchen!
Singing to Plant Seedlings
Research shows that plants that are sung to grow stronger and faster. So while our voices leave much to be desired, we always have a radio playing when we leave for work. According to a study done by the Royal Horticultural Society, a plant that is exposed to a female voice will grow the best. The plants in the study grew an average of one inch taller than the control plants which heard no noise. Thankfully all those hours vibing with Adele left us with hearty, healthy fruit. We were a bit concerned we might end up with scorned tomato plants seeking revenge as we begin rotating in our fall crops.
You had my fruit insiiiiiide of your hand
But you played me for the beeeeet
Final Thoughts
Between the effort of ongoing weeding, combating the slugs, and timing the planting of crops just right, gardening isn’t for the feint of heart. It is, however, a skill worth learning and honing. If we can get the hang of it, we know you can too. Ready to get started? Head over to our favorite seed company and be inspired!
Cheers,
Matt & Megan
