Get Ready For Gardening Season

May 1, 2022
, Lifestyle

We are coming into gardening season, and that looks a little different for everyone. Some of us are happy with a few pretty potted plants to brighten up our patios and front entrances. Quick and easy, with a number of local nurseries and grocer's that supply gorgeous pre-made arrangements.

Others like to get their hands dirty, and get a little creative with design by planting their own unique containers filled with the colors and flowers they love.

Finally there are some who want to care for and nurture a vegetable garden that will provide some delicious fresh produce for the summer season.

With the higher cost of produce, I think many of us might be trying to attempt our own little veggie patch this year, so I’ve put together a little helpful guide if you are a newbie and looking for a little direction.

Gardening Season Veggies

3 Easy To Grow Garden Plants For Beginners

Lettuce

Good Reasons To Grow Lettuce:

requires little care
ready to eat in approx. 3-4 weeks
requires little space
grows well in shade

How to harvest:

Pull leaves when your plant is around 4 inches tall. You will want to harvest the outer leaves and leave the inner heart intact to allow the plant to keep growing. You can have fresh lettuce for several months if you use this method.

Cleaning Tips: Fill your kitchen sink with cold water and add a little salt. If there are any bugs present the salt will bring them to the bottom. Drain and repeat for best results.

Cucumbers

Good Reasons To Grow Cucumbers:

require lots of water and sun
grow quickly and in abundance
delicious

Planting and harvesting:

Cucumbers do not do well in the cold, so be sure to wait a few weeks after the last threat of frost. Leave enough spacing between plants for growth.

They grow fast! Pay attention to their growth and be sure to pick them when they reach a usable size. Use garden shears to snip the stem.

Bonus Tip: A simple sugar-water solution sprayed on the vines will attract and encourage bees to pollinate. Pollination = Growth!

(ok, this is actually a fruit..)

Tomatoes

Good Reasons To Grow Tomatoes:

easy to grow (love the sun)
yield big harvest
can be grown in multiple ways (hanging basket, containers, in soil)
used in many ways (salad, soups, sauce, etc.)

Planting and harvesting:

Select the sunniest spot you can. Adding an organic fertilizer will ensure the proper nutrients to flourish. Pop them off the stem when ready.

Ward off insects with essential oils.
10 drops to a gallon of water, add to a spray bottle.

Essential oils you can try:

Peppermint
Lemongrass
Lavender

Tip: Shake, shake, shake that bottle before spraying. Essential oils are water soluble, so give it a good mix before applying.