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Great hobby!It’s my love and profession.I encourage all those interested to help make the world a more beautiful place and use gardening as a means of therapy.you need to start with the basics.1.come up with a plan.what do you want?a.a simple basic vegetable garden,with tomatoes,Cukes, beans,and radishes?it’s a great way to get to know the plant world.2. Did you want flowers? Start with basic annuals, marigolds, cosmos,impatience for the shade.3. Have the soil already done for you .farfard has a wonderful complete mix that will help your basic plants( and others thrive.)4.make sure your planting area has at least 6 hours of sun.take a day and observe.5.tools for gardening should include shovel,hoe,hard rake,claw,spring rake,and pic axe to soften and loosen up the area to be first gardened.always ware in the morning with a deep ,thorough watering.and never after 4 as you can propagate mold and fungus by evenings cool temps.california goes up and down the coast, alot of different zoning,you are so going to be more specific on what you can plant.venus fly traps primarily for inside use.surprisingly,your more apt to find them at food sores and chain nurseries.need any more help?april is when i start going nuts with my business.e-mail me before then.happy to help aspiring gardeners

GardenersCardiff answers:

1. Helpful tips for growing flowers.-The care for the plat is on the tag. It varies for all flowers.
2. Were to get cheap seeds-You can get them any where for a 1.00 something to 3.99 at any builder/Home Depot store, for example.
3. How much should i pay for a rose bush ?-It really does depend, you know that saying, “You get what you pay for.” That goes especially for rose bushes. Just avoid buy any cheap ones under $8.00 those turn out to be most likely misfits.

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All the basic s are available here i hope this of some help for you
http://www.gardenadvice.com/

HOW TO CHOOSE A POT AND PLANTER – There are signs all around us that spring will soon be here. The song birds are returning, buds are starting to appear on the trees, and the sales ads at all the garden centers and home improvement stores are filled with pictures of lush, healthy plants in pots and planters.. >> more

GARDENING USING TREES AND SHRUBS WITH SCENT IN MIND – Trees can affect the character of a garden and all gardens, however small, should have at least one. They make such a strong outline against the background and the sky. >> more

STRAW BALE CULTURE TECHNIQUE – Straw bale culture is a form of soilless cultivation or hydroponics. The technique is quite effective at growing healthy plants and can grow tomatoes, peppers or even cucumbers to list a few. Root vegetables like turnips or carrots are not ideal for straw culture. >> more

SECRETS OF A GREAT GARDEN REVEALED – The real secret to a great garden is so obvious that many people look right past it: great plants. Master gardeners know that not all plants are created equal. Put the right plant in the right place and an outstanding garden can be as easy as sunshine, water and a dash of plant food now and then. >> more

INVITE SPRING EARLY – GROW IN YOUR BASEMENT – Early Spring is the time to get ready to grow your own seedlings! It’s not really difficult, and can extend your growing season by many weeks… More

FIVE MUST-HAVE INGREDIENTS FOR THE ORGANIC GARDENER’S TOOLKIT
For anyone contemplating the switch to organic gardening, here are a few ingredients that should be in every gardener’s toolkit. >> more

10 FREE GARDENING PRODUCTS One of the pleasurable spin-offs in organic gardening is finding alternative ways of coming up with the same, if not better, end result….more

FALL PREP WORK MAKES FOR A GREEN SPRING – Although it’s tough to admit, summer is drawing to a close and backyard activities will soon be slowing down; but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take care of your lawn just as you would if spring were right around the corner. As a matter of fact, there are several things you can do now to get your lawn ready for winter and, ultimately, the following spring. >> more

TEST YOUR WEED IQ – Test your knowledge with this basic weed IQ test to see if this year’s gardening will be an up-hill battle or a walk in the park. >> more

SUMMER PRUNING: PINCH AN INCH – Summer pruning, pinching, isn’t recommended for trees that are growing slowly since it will further slow down growth. It is most desirable with trees that naturally have a tendency to get much tall than we want them to be… More

PREPARE FOR SEED STARTING – How do you satisfy the gardening itch in the middle of winter? Easily! Start plants from seed. Now is a great time to get a jumpstart on the gardening season. >> more

GARDENING TIPS & TECHNIQUES – Simple ideas to help your garden grow. >> more

PLANT DIAGNOSIS – Plant diagnosis, how to tell what your plant may be suffering from. Plus indoor gardening, insects, bulbs, toxic plants, herbs, aromatherapy, seed collecting, weeds, greenhouses, and much more. >> more

HORTICULTURE DEFINITIONS – Some simple horticulture definitions to get you started in understanding the language of gardeners. >> more

COMPOSTING – Composting is easy. You don’t need any special knowledge or equipment, and it takes only a little extra effort to collect your wastes and establish an active compost pile. Once you’ve got it going, it just about takes care of itself. >> more

WILDFLOWER SEEDS – TEN REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD PLANT – Ever since that time more and more plants have been introduced from around the world with very mixed results. Although many of the imports are now prized garden specimens, others are regarded as invasive weeds whose cultivation is actively discouraged eg Japanese Knotweed. The benefits of growing wildflowers are many, but here are just a few..
Http://www.pioneerthinking.com/garden-basics.html

GardenersCardiff answers:

Hollywood actor Joe Morgan shared several gardening tips in the following article – http://www.rosebudmag.com/hydroponic-tips-ideas/joe-rogan-plants-growers-hydroponics

5 Great Plants for School Gardens are:

Radishes

Radishes are fast. Some varieties are ready to eat just three weeks after the seeds are sown, making them a satisfying first plant for beginners. Radishes are also easy to harvest, and kids will have fun pulling the whole plant out of the ground while learning about root systems. Like all of the plants on this list, they are easy to eat raw. Their sharp flavor can be toned down by grating them into a slaw or pairing them with a dipping sauce.

Rainbow Chard

Many greens and lettuce varieties work well in school gardens because they are less frost-sensitive and can be planted in the spring and fall. Rainbow chard is an especially nice choice because a single seed pack will yield a neon display in shades of yellow, pink, green and orange. It is also very hearty and will continue to produce through the summer and fall if it is harvested regularly. The seeds are relatively large, making them easy for small fingers to handle. Mature leaves usually taste best sautéed, but small, young leaves are good in a salad.

Peas

There are two basic types of peas, those that we shell (English peas) and those we eat whole, pod and all (sugar snap peas). Fast-growing, fun to harvest, easy to eat, and tasty, peas are always a big hit. Most varieties like to climb, so they might need more infrastructure than your other plants, but they aren’t difficult to care for and do well in cool, spring weather. Peas are a great example of a delicious and nourishing seed; use them to discuss the lifecycle of plants and all their edible parts.

Cherry or grape tomatoes

Tomatoes can be tricky since they usually ripen during the heat of summer when school is not in session. A truly successful tomato crop will require summer volunteers who can keep the plants alive until kids return in August or September. If that’s possible, however, tomatoes will continue to bear fruit until the first frost. Why grape or cherry tomatoes? Because they’re easier to grow, bear more individual fruit (which means more students can participate in the harvest) and are fun to eat. Of this list they are the only fruit, which completes the lesson about the different edible parts of plants.

Herbs

If you are short on resources (space, time, money or water) herbs might be the way to go. Some herbs, like mint, are so easy they verge on weed status, elbowing their way into other garden beds and taking over. Basil, parsley and oregano are other good bets, and sage, rosemary and even lavender grow well in drier climates. Herbs are also great for engaging all five senses, and harvesting even a small amount can flavor a dish for a whole classroom.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Gardens come in different varieties like the plants you find in them. There are several gardening tips that can be used for all type of gardens.

1.Mulching protects your garden topsoil from being blown away. It also provides nutrients as it decomposes and improves the appearance of your gardens. Mulching has other benefits and is one of the most recommended gardening tips by gardeners and farmers alike.

2.Healthy plants are more disease resistant. Plants are like people, a person with a strong immune system can combat diseases. A healthy plant does the same.

3. Pests can be eradicated by cleaning the plant with a watery solution of soap. Just make sure to rinse after. This gardening tip is best heeded for fruit bearing trees or edible plants.

4. Using compost fertilizers are a great way to have healthy plants. It is also a great way to save money on expensive fertilizers. Non -organic fertilizers also tend to leave chemical residues that can accumulate in garden soils and harm not only the plants but the gardeners as well. They cause toxins to go to the water supplies. Another gardening tip recommended not just by farmers and gardeners but also by environmentalists.

5. There are several plants that are only suitable for a specified climate, a certain kind of soil or can only grow with certain plants. You have to know what plant grow in the conditions you have in your area this is for you to avoid unnecessary purchases. This is a money saving gardening tip.

6.Landscaping is a good investment which can double the value of your home. This is one gardening tip that can earn you money.

7. Growing grass on bare ground is an easy way to make your home look better and appreciate in value. This is one gardening tip that promotes earning money while growing grass legally.

8. Aside from looking great in your home, trees also provide some sort of protection from direct sunlight exposure and strong winds.

9. Vines on the walls, fences and overhead structures also would offer some protection and would also look great.

10.Flowers are beautiful, but they are also expensive. Get one that is resistant to many elements. Flowers from your local community already have developed resistance to conditions present in your area.

11.For most gardens plants, their roots go only as deep as 6 inches. Putting fertilizer deeper than that would be a waste of money. Put them shallower as they seep down when the plants are being watered.

12.Earthworms are important to plants. They till and aerate the soil for the roots to breathe. Non-organic fertilizers can kill them. This gardening tip dates back to the old days of gardening.

13. Having several kinds of insects that are beneficial to your garden would be good. These insects can be encouraged to stay by having diverse plants in your garden.

14. Spot spraying weeds with household vinegar, instead of using commercial weed-killers, can eradicate them. This is another environment friendly gardening tip.

15. Avoid putting too much mulch on tree trunks; this would encourage unwanted pests to reside on them.

16. Use plant varieties that are common to your area or have been taken from an area with similar conditions.

17. Be sure to know the plants that are poisonous. If you are intent on growing them, make sure to have the necessary cure available in your household. Take note of this gardening tip, it can save your life.

18. The best time to water plants is during mornings.

19. Before planting a new plant in your garden, you must consider its height and size when it matures. This garden tip can help you save money in the future.

20. Newly transplanted plants may require special attention during its first week. This is to reduce the stress and shock it got during transplantation.

And last but not the least of the gardening tips…

21.Plants are living entities. If you want them to grow in your garden you have to treat them as such. They need to be taken care of. They are like your pets, you look out for them. In return you get that feeling of contentment watching them thrive.

A good way to take care of them is to consider that plants might have some feelings too.

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Do I ever have some suggestions for you. I do landscape design, amoung other things and always enjoy sharing information.

The very first thing you want to do is buy a 2 cubic foot bag of soil conditioner from Home Depot or a good nursery. It will cost you 6 – 8 dollars and condition a good size garden. Spread the soil conditioner evenly over the surface of the ground. If there is less than 2 inches of compost after spreading, You’ll need a second bag.

No one can tell you what plants you can grow without knowing your sun exposure.

The main catagories of plants are

Annuals (they grow this year and don’t come back next year. However, your colder climate means some plants which are annuals there, In our warmer climate, become)

Perenials (Perenials are plants that bear foilage year round, Evergreen, if you will. They may bloom at any point throughout the growing season depending on the plant. There is a second type of Perenial called)

Deciduous (Deciduous plants are those Perenials that go into a sort of hibernation for the winter and reapear when the climate warms. Many trees are deciduous. They loose their leaves in the fall and regrow them in the spring)

Conofers (Conifers are the evergreen trees and plants that have needle or needle like leaves such as pine trees)

Succulants (Cactus’ are a major member of this catagory. These plants store water for use during dry times).

Bulbs and tuberous (These plants have storage underground for hard times)

So, back to the garden. A mixture of the different types of plants is usually the best solution for a garden. Lets say your garden gets some sun but it is Morning or Late Afternoon sun which lasts 4 hours or less. You should select plants that are labled Part or Partial Sun. In this type of exposure, azaleas are a good choice for the background or random spot planting. They will bloom their little hearts out for you each spring and remain green the year round. You might want to plant some Iris and or Holland bulbs (tulips etc…) for a dramatic effect in late Winter to Spring depending on your selection. These are Desiduous and will return eack year. Taller bulb plants are good planted 4 to 6 inches apart in groups of three, five or seven bulbs. The shorter bulb plants can be used as above or planted in a row as a border.

Monkey grass, Liriope, is a great border Perinial that enjoys partial shade. In fact there are a lot of grasses that work well in a Part sun garden.

I would reserve no more than 1/3 of your garden for annuals. This is the only way you can preserve a “finished” looking garden throughout the year. You would want plants that are labled, Part sun or Part shade. Just go to your garden center once a month and pick up what is blooming. Replace the plants that are spent with the new bloomers within this 1/3 alloted area.

If a plant calls for full sun, it means about 5 hours of sun per day. Due to the length of this answer, I would like to ask you to contact me through my profile and I will add full sun suggestions to this answer.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Here are some helpful gardening tips for you

• Cutting tips. Before cutting tall, damp grass, spray the cutting blade of the lawn mower with vegetable oil spray, so wet grass won’t stick. Be sure blades are sharp. Dull blades will rip rather than clip the grass and cause leaf tips to turn brown. Great State push-reel mower and Rust-resistant Hedge Shear are both ideal for small lawns since they are lightweight and easy to use.

• Organize. Hang a removable tote basket from the handle of the mower. You can either fill this with debris as you go along or use it as storage for your garden tools, so you save time and effort while mowing.

• Say goodbye to grass and weeds. A more practical solution than an afternoon of mowing and weeding is to sprinkle salted boiling water on unwanted weeds. This effectively kills grass or weeds growing between sections of cement walk.

• Nuisance control. To keep screws from loosening and vibrating noisily on power motors, apply some weather strip-sealer to the ends of screws. The screws will hold tight, but may easily be removed when necessary.

You can read my full post (11 useful tips) at http://gardeninggarden.com/2009/04/04/11-helpful-gardening-tips-for-any-sized-gardens/

Hope this helps

-Michael

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I have a bunch of articles that I wrote on this topic posted on my website which you can look at. Basically in the Outdoors section ( http://ecojudge.com/category/eco-tips-and-ideas/outdoor ) is where you can find all of your information, like:
Companion Planting: http://ecojudge.com/content/eco-tips-and-ideas/outdoor/companion-planting
Natural Incecticides: http://ecojudge.com/content/eco-tips-and-ideas/outdoor/ourdoor-living/natural-insecticides
Natural Gardening: http://ecojudge.com/content/eco-tips-and-ideas/outdoor/gardening/natural-gardening
Ways to green up your lawn: http://ecojudge.com/content/eco-tips-and-ideas/outdoor/lawn-care/greening-your-lawn

Good luck!

GardenersCardiff answers:

Tips for Small Space Gardening
Having a small garden should not limit your creativity and discourage you from creating a cozy and well-maintained green area. To maximize the limited space, you can try to work in containers, limit colors, focus on angles and other points of interests, use vertical elements, and keep the space open.

Let’s face it, not all of us can afford a sprawling lot with fertile soils suitable for gardening. Many have to settle for a small yard and a bit of vegetation. But that shouldn’t keep you from building a nice garden of your own; if anything, it should help you think more creatively to make use of your available space. Besides, small gardens have their own advantages: they don’t need much maintenance, they’re easier to fill, and it’s easier to view them as a whole.

Small space gardening is all about maximizing space and creating illusions. If you know all the right tricks, you can create an attractive garden with any space, whether it’s two or two hundred square feet. Here are six useful tricks to help you out.

1. Keep it open. Large gardens are often divided into sections, but there’s no room for that in a small space. Instead, do the opposite: treat it as one unit and work from an overall design plan. Free up as much ground space as possible to make it look more open. Avoid anything that disturbs the ground space, such as paths, statues, and stepping stones. You may be able to work in a path behind a cluster, but the general rule is to maximize open space. Blur the boundaries with climbing vines or grass so that the garden appears to stretch further out.

2. Use vertical elements. In a small room, you trick the eye with vertical lines provided by tall shelves, full-length mirrors, and other ‘standing’ elements. The same applies to a small garden, except that you’re limited to plants. Look for vertically pruned shrubs or tall, slim trees. This will direct the viewer’s eye upward, instead of side to side where they’ll notice the boundaries. Also use slim, high-backed chairs and tall furniture. A large, wide entrance can draw attention to the vertical lines and make the place look bigger.

3. Make use of angles. Most people arrange room elements in straight lines or against the wall. This does save space, but it also emphasizes the smallness of the garden. Instead of aligning your plants with the wall, arrange them at an angle so that they don’t form a rigid square area. This leads the viewer’s eye away from the sides and into the center, where the space is wide and open. When designing the corners, arrange them at a 45-degree angle, forming an empty right triangle with the wall. You can fill this space with a tree, statue, or some other vertical element.

4. Find other points of interest. A large garden commands attention with its size alone. If your space is small, you simply have to find something else to grab attention with. It could be an interesting plant arrangement, vivid colors, or a unique architectural feature. Don’t overdo it, though—there should be just one focal point, with the rest of the elements arranged around it. This gives your garden a coherent look, drawing attention to the décor and away from the limited space.

5. Limit your colors. Colorful gardens are attractive, but in a small space, they’ll just look cluttered and messy. Stick to two or three main colors and arrange them neatly around your garden. You can either group similar colors together or distribute each color evenly throughout your space. Don’t stuff too much into your garden—it’s all about saying more with less, making a statement with the little that you have. If you find something you absolutely need to have, see if there’s something you can take away to make room for it.

6. Work in containers. Container gardens are a great way to save space while putting in more. They work best if you’re growing garden herbs and vegetables. Melon, squash, tomato, and pepper all thrive well in containers. You can simply put them on the ground and decorate your containers, or arrange them on a stylish potting bench. You can get special garden containers at supply stores or make your own from used five-gallon water containers (smaller ones won’t support the root system).

GardenersCardiff answers:

1. Have your garden soil tested. Your County Rutgers Agricultural Extension Office is a good place to ask for testing procedures. It is helpful if not important to know what the PH of your garden soil is and also what nutrients it lacks. You can save money in the long run by only adding what is needed in the proper proportions. If the soil is not within a proper PH, the plants may not be able to absorb the nutrients properly and will not grow as well.

2. If lime is needed, adding it several months ahead of time will adjust the PH of your garden when it is needed for planting. Do not add the fertilizer until you are ready to plant as the nutrients will leach away over time and be wasted.

3. Prepare the garden by loosening the soil, hoeing the clumps, raking out the stones and smoothing the top.

4. Many plants can be directly seeded into the garden when the soil warms to the proper temperature. Depending on where you live the time for sowing seeds varies.

5. Some plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant need a head start to plant them at the right time when the temperature is above 70 degrees and all danger of frost is past. If you can not start the plants ahead of time indoors in a sunny place buy them from a reputable plant outlet. Check the plants to make sure they are healthy and not aphid or white fly infested.

6. I live in South Jersey and plant my garlic in the fall which has always worked well…even last winter and the one before with all the snow. Garlic needs a long, cool moist growing season. Plant it right away and see what happens.

7. Many herbs are perennials and will winter over. I now plant many in large pots that I can move around and semi protect in the winter (thymes, oreganos, rosemary, marjoram) Sage and Lavender I plant directly although they could also be planted in pots. Basil, dill and cilantro are annuals which I seed directly into the garden.

8. Flowering herbs will attract bees as will most flowers both annuals like marigolds, zinnias and cosmos, all very easy to grow with your vegetables. Nasturtiums are said to deter pests as is garlic. Perennials such as fennel,echinacea and sedum attract bees and butterflies. They will come back each year so choose your planting spot wisely.

Your County Rutgers Extension Office has a wealth of information. Check it out and have a good growing season.

Good luck and have fun!

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Http://decor8blog.com/

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/home_and_garden/interior-design

GardenersCardiff answers:

You should just be able to click and hold on the photo until you see ‘Copy’. Click on copy and then paste the photo into your blog.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Since you have so much sand where you live it would probably be best to create some raised beds for you vegetable garden. They don’t need to be very high, but at least six inches. Fill the beds with a mixture of potting soil and organic compost, this mixture can be anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 compost. You may also want to get some vegetable fertilizer or something called compost tea, ask at a local nursery which would be best for you.

Another tip is that wherever you are planting tomatoes you should also plant marigolds right alongside them to repel nematodes which will destroy your tomato plants roots. Also planting nasturtiums along the edges of a vegetable garden may help to deter whitefly.

Happy planting!

GardenersCardiff answers:

Texas A&M Horticulture Extension
Access information on lawn and garden topics, landscape
maintenance, growing fruit and vegetables, sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/
Home Vegetable, Fruit and Nut Production:
This site feature numerous fact sheets guides and other useful information on growing your own vegetables, fruits and nut crops. You’ll also find Extension recommedndations for selected varieities specifically adpated to your location.
Http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/

Using you University Extension will always give you the most complete
information for gardening in your specific state and location.

Scroll down about half way and get the complete list of
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/home/hmguide.pdf
Another good site
Bookmark for future useGood Luck!
Http://ccmgatx.org/Plants/Vegetables.asp

GardenersCardiff answers:

Daylilies. Start with daylilies. They come in a gazillion colors, bloom for weeks, come back year after year. Buy a one gallon size for impact, dig a hole, plop it in, fill in the hole, push the dirt down and water it. No muss no fuss no bother.

Coreopsis. Great workhorse plant. Pot or in the ground, same scenario. They’ll literally bloom til the tops freeze.

Iris. Unless you water them to death they’re pretty bulletproof. Buy them potted, this time of year. Do not put dirt past the level they’re planted in the pot. Bearded iris are my favorites, but there are other varieties…ask at your nursery.

Peonies. Another bulletproof selection. Again, buy them potted this time of year.

Sedum. Gotta love a good succulent.

All these like full sun. The daylily will grow and bloom in part sun, but not as well as they do in open ground. Also, all of these will grow just about anywhere in the country. Halfway decent soil that’s not real wet will give you results.

For shade, try bleeding hearts, columbine, dead nettle, sweet woodruff, hosta, ferns, cordyline, monkshood, and lily-of-the-valley. Same basics, dig a hole and drop it in. If you can grow fairly impressive weeds, your soil should support these.

Get yourself a Western Garden Book if you’re really serious. It’ll answer most of your questions. Good luck!

GardenersCardiff answers:

Prune them & stick them in plastic soil & they’ll do just fine!

GardenersCardiff answers:

Perhaps look at sunset magazine; they always have cute ideas for your garden!
Or perhaps go to the home depot and look at the magazines they have on gardening.

They are quite helpful!

Good luck!

GardenersCardiff answers:

Garlic and onions are a natural repellent for ants. Rosemary repels many flying insects (including flies and mosquitoes). When I plant garlic or shallots with my tomatoes, the vines grow much faster and thicker. Plant icicle radishes (let them go to seed) and yellow nasturtiums in with your zukes and melons to repel insects. Marigolds repel nematodes. Which kind of peas, green or “southern”? Don’t plant any member of the onion family around beans or peas. The vines will be stunted. Green peas get some protection from insects by planting them with geraniums or aromatic herbs. Southern peas like to be planted with cucumbers, corn, petunias, and radishes.

Good luck!

GardenersCardiff answers:

I suggest finding some basic gardening books you like the looks of and reading them. If you’re short on funds, try the library or thrift stores, which are an abundant source of cheap books.

I specifically suggest as a beginner you do some of your reading on companion planting, some plants like each other and some plants don’t. Some plants have beneficial effects for other plants. For instance, you’ll want to put your marigolds near your tomato, as marigolds exude something that nematodes (microscopic worms that are a scourge of tomato plants) don’t like. Other plants, like the onion family, are disliked by many other plants and plants planted near or with onions will often do poorly.

Also, if you plant to plant them in the ground, it will be helpful for you to read up on building your soil with compost, mulching the top of the soil, pest protection. Asiatic lily’s are especially attractive to gophers, so I’d keep those in a pot, although if you have gophers, they’ll eat almost anything if they’re really hungry.

If you plant to keep your garden in pots, which is not a bad idea for a beginner, read up on container gardening. It’s basic but knowing that black plastic pots can absorb enough direct sun on a hot day to effectively cook and kill a plant, and that you’ll want a loose soil that retains water are among necessary tips you’ll get in a container gardening book.

I’m in California, and for me the Sunset Western Garden Book is a bible. It’s specifically written for the western states, if you are outside that area I’m sure Sunset has a publication that covers your area. Use it and read it and explore it, it will have pretty much everything you will need to know, although if you are really interested in gardening there are lots of other wonderful books as well.

Above all, don’t be afraid to try new things, to learn from your mistakes and don’t give up if something dies or fails, you can always start again. Have fun!

Oh, and a wonderful way to learn about gardening as well as gourmet cooking is to have some potted herbs. Herbs started a lifelong interest for me in gardening and also in cooking! Even if you don’t have the room or inclination ro grow your own food, growing your own herbs to use as seasoning is very rewarding. Basic herbs you’ll want to start would be rosemary, oregano, tarragon, thyme. Those are all perennials, meaning they live through the year. Your annual herbs would be basil and chive. There are lots more, be sure to taste a leaf of the plant before you buy, I find some oregano and marjorams much more tasty than others. As 4″ pottted herbs will take a while to get to where you can regularly take cuttings, you might want to start with a larger plant. I won’t usually take cuttings from any herbs til they’ve been in my garden getting overhead water for a couple of months, that way I know any junk on them from the growers has washed off.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Water early in the morning. Avoid strong fertilizers until your plants are mature. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. I’ve personally murdered many a good plant through neglect, ignorance, and stupidity.
Read the little cards that come with the plants, there is a lot of use-full information there.