How to Start Your Own Home Garden
Summer weather has arrived (on some days at least) and it’s a great time to try your hand at a new hobby—might we suggest gardening? Many Chatham students arrive on campus with a well-cultivated love of working with the land, but for others, Chatham sparks a certain green sensibility. If you find yourself curious about planting your own veggies this summer or even just keeping (1) solitary plant alive, check out some helpful recommendations below, including tips from EHC Farm worker and Master of Food Studies student, Josie Martin and Pulse@ChathamU writer and enthusiastic plant mama, Chloe Bell:
“I want to try my hand at starting a home garden but I’ve killed every plant I’ve ever had. 😥 Do you have any recommendations for fairly easy plants to start with?”
Chloe Bell: Have no fear novice gardener! There are plenty of easy places to start that will help you build your gardening confidence. First things first, what you plant depends on what you’re looking to see in your home garden. Do some soul searching to determine if you want a beautiful flower bed or a backyard produce section.
If vegetables appeal to you, try starting with tomatoes, peppers, radishes, green beans, scallions, and zucchinis. If an herb garden is calling your name, basil, cilantro, dill, and mint are fairly resilient. And finally, if you want a flower garden, check out HGTV’s list of Cant-Kill Flowers for Beginners—sounds like a dream come true.
Josie Martin: I’m always pleasantly surprised to be reminded of how resilient plants are and how well they can thrive without our intervention…. I once saw a perfectly healthy tomato plant growing out of a crack in the sidewalk downtown. Without getting too complicated about soil nutrients and such, most things just need light, water, and a little loving. In my experience kale, mint, snap peas, radish, asparagus, lettuce, and zucchini can be pretty low maintenance for beginners and still yield a yummy harvest!
“I’m thinking of renting a plot at a local community garden. Do you have any tips for working in a shared garden?”
CB: First things first, keep in mind that a community garden is a shared space, which means your gardening habits will affect other gardeners’ plots. Long story short: pluck your weeds routinely. Help amend the soil by tilling it with organic compost at least two weeks before you plan to plant. Spend time with the plot at different times of day to get an idea of where the sun hits it best and what it will need to thrive.
Familiarize yourself with the lay of the land and any rules and regulations for the community garden. Try to select plants that can function symbiotically together in a small space a.k.a. companion plants, which can help feed and protect each other. If you’re distressed by the small perimeter of your plot, you can always utilize upward space by incorporating trellises or cages. And finally, ask your fellow gardeners for help! Introduce yourself as new to the gardening community and ask for their tips, tricks, and tried and true hacks. Or, if you meet fellow novice gardeners, help each other out by sharing tools and techniques.
“I don’t have a backyard or a terribly large living space. Do you have any tips for starting my own mini indoor garden?”
JM: I think the hardest part about growing food inside is making sure the plants get enough light. If your plants look long or like they are leaning a lot, it means they aren’t happy with the amount of light they’re getting. I would highly recommend getting a grow light of some sort if you’re planning to grow things inside. That said, some herbs can do really well inside, including basil, chives, thyme, and oregano.
CB: An indoor garden is still feasible if you don’t have a ton of outdoor space. You’ll need to find an area in your house with very strong sunlight or as Josie mentioned, acquire a grow light. Indoor plants don’t require as much water as outdoor plants; a good rule of thumb is to check to soil moisture up to two inches deep prior to watering. Indoor plants don’t have access to a traditional outdoor climate so incorporating tools like a humidifier can help ensure your plants’ growth and happiness. Be mindful of your space and start with something small like a window bed or an LED planter. If your apartment has a balcony or a fire escape, you could also use that space to give your plants some outdoor sunshine, rain, and humidity.
Josie Martin
“What are the pros and cons of starting with seeds vs. plants?”
CB: There are pros and cons to either. Seeds are significantly less expensive and often available in a wider variety than baby plants, or “starts” as they are sometimes called. Seeds, however, can be a bit more challenging and may include a slight learning curve. Seeds need to be planted at a specific time to thrive while starts have survived their baby stages and give you more leeway. Ultimately, it’s up to you and what you want to achieve in your garden. If you’re trying to spend as little money as possible, seeds might be a good choice. If you’re nervous about the difficulty level of seeds, starts might quell some of that anxiety.
JM: In my agricultural experience, the only plants we have purchased have been peppers, tomatoes, or onions. This is because these items take a long time to grow so putting them in the ground as small plants instead of seeds could allow you to harvest them sooner. That said, they are more expensive and harder to transport. You can always buy some seed-starting flats and plant your seeds inside a few months before the last frost so that by the time they go into the ground, they’ll have a head start already.
“What tools and ingredients are necessary for success?”
JM: My favorite essential garden tools are a hoe, a shovel, a trowel, a broad fork, a rake, and a stirrup hoe. You can do just about any garden work with this small handful of tools. I think it is so exciting to be able to go right out into your yard and pick your food. Anyone can do it with a little extra time, a garden hose, and interest!
CB: Depending on the size of your plot and the level of your ambition, you’ll need different types of tools. Seeds or starts are obviously essential, closely followed by the tools Josie mentioned, not to mention gloves, shears, pruners, and a watering can. Beyond these trusty staples, there are a myriad of gardening tools—check out this guide from Better Gardeners to get started.
Beyond manual tools, it’s not a bad idea to plant some flowers in or around your garden to help attract pollinators. Organic composting can help provide nutrient-rich natural fertilizer for your garden. If you’re interested in picking up another hobby this summer, check out our guide to composting for beginners.
“Are there any resources that you’d recommend for novice gardeners?”
CB: For a low-pressure classroom vibe, check out Thompson & Morgan’s Top 10 YouTube Gardening Channels. But if you really want to invest in your gardening skills, we encourage you to take Assistant Professor of Agroecology, Dr. Christopher Murakami’s Agroecology course, which immerses students in the Eden Hall Farm environment and helps them learn to garden with plants of their choosing. Intrigued? Check out this Agroecology course spotlight from recent graduate, Chenoa Baker ‘21.
A cursory search of the JKM Library’s resources yields a bounty of gardening resources for a wide variety of situations. Good luck and happy gardening!
However you choose to unwind, relax, or grow your skillset this summer, we hope you keep us posted in your summer adventures by tagging @ChathamU!
