TIPS
How to Start a Garden
Wondering how to start a garden? No problem. Here are a few simple steps to get you started.
- Place your garden somewhere that you can see it regularly. Out of site, out of mind. Just like in real estate, it is all about location.
- Follow the sun – Make sure you know how much sun your plants need. Most edible plants such as vegetables and herbs need at least 6 hours of sun per day.
- Keep close to water – plan your garden where you can easily access it by a garden hose. If you have to lug heavy jugs of water, you will not be inclined to do it.
- Start with great soil – You will want soil that is nutrient-rich and well-drained.
- Learn your frost dates – You do not want to plant too early or too late. You can accidentally kill plants by putting them out prematurely.
- Feed plants regularly – remember this equation: amazing soil + top-notch plant food = super garden success! Begin feeding your garden about a month after planting.
Happy growing!
Tip: What Flowers grow best in the Coachella Valley
It is recommended to plant twice a year in the desert – Spring and Fall. Spring comes early in the desert. Marigolds are easy to grow and thrives in arid climates. It has a fragrant ferny green foliage and brings colors such as gold, copper, and brass into your garden. It will bloom brightly throughout summer. Zinnias are a warm-season perennial that flowers for months on end. They will also attract butterflies to any garden. Blue Salvia grows from early Spring to late Fall. They bloom abundantly and are a great addition to any landscape. Vincas also do well planted in the Spring and are easy to grow. You can use them in masses in beds or as a filler to spill over the side of a pot.
During the Fall, Petunias, Pansies, Alyssum, Snapdragons, Impatiens and geraniums are all great choices. The trumpet-shaped Petunias are very popular due to their vibrant colors. You can grow petunias from seeds, but it is easier to grow them from transplants. Pansies are the colorful flowers with “faces”. They have heart-shaped, overlapping petals and have a wide variety of bright colors. The Alyssums, Snapdragons, Impatiens, and geraniums all hearty, colorful plants that will do very well during the Fall season in the desert.
Tip: Protect your bulbs
Critters love to take pleasure in finding, digging, and nibbling on bulbs. To protect your bulbs this year, cover them up by staking down chicken wire over the bed. Once early Spring arrives, remove the mesh or let the flowers grow through the holes.
Tip: Transporting your plants home
No need to strain your back lifting those heavy pots. Try filling the bottom third of the pot with foam packing peanuts. On top of the packing peanuts, put a layer of landscape fabric. Then, add lightweight potting mix that has lots of vermiculite and peat moss. You will be surprised how much lighter that pot will be!