YOUR SECOND YEAR GARDENING: MISTAKES TO AVOID & THINGS TO TRY
Did you get into gardening during lockdown last year? It was amazing to see how many people worldwide got interested in gardening and started growing their own food. We're hoping you're all still excited to garden in 2021 as well.
Don't get discouraged if you had a few gardening fails in 2020. Everyone makes mistakes in gardening, even those who've been at it for 30+ years. We want you to have a successful second year of gardening, so we've gathered a list of common gardening mistakes and tips for how to avoid making these mistakes this year.
Don't get discouraged if you had a few gardening fails in 2020.
MISTAKE 1: PLANTING TOO EARLY
Whether you're starting your garden from seed, or picking up starter plants from the nursery, one of the common mistakes people make is starting a little too early. It's very tempting to order a bunch of seeds in January and plant them as soon as they arrive, or pick up a few veggies and tuck them into the garden in early April.
How to avoid this mistake: Check your seed packets against the calendar and keep our last frost date in mind. Each seed packet will tell you when to start the seeds, usually a number of weeks before the last frost. Our last frost is usually mid-April around Indianapolis. If you're eager to pick up starter plants in April, choose cold-hardy plants like kohlrabi, lettuce, corn salad, and Swiss chard. Keep an eye on the forecast, and be prepared to cover them with an old sheet, buckets, or even milk cartons if it's going to freeze overnight.
Something new to try: If you haven't started anything from seed before, why not give it a shot this year? If you want something super easy, try marigolds. They germinate fast, they're bright and attractive all summer long, and having them around your vegetable plants can help repel pests!
MISTAKE 2: PLANTING TOO CLOSE OR NOT THINNING SEEDLINGS
Planting your plants too close is one of those gardening mistakes that almost everyone makes, even after years of gardening. When you plant those little plants, it's easy to just guess about far apart you should put them in. If you planted seeds, it can be tough to go through and pull a whole bunch out just because they're too close together. But plants that are crowded won't be as healthy, they won't get enough nutrients, and they won't produce as much or as tasty of fruit as plants would with enough space.
How to avoid this mistake: Follow the guidelines on your seed packets or plant tags when you're planting. Take a ruler or tape measure to the garden with you to make sure you're giving enough space. Do your thinning early, when seedlings are still tiny before you get too attached to them.
Something new to try: If you struggle with thinning your seedlings, try succession planting tiny batches. Plant your first small batch of seeds, plant another small set in two weeks, and another two weeks later. You'll want to keep an eye on how long plants take to mature to make sure you give your last batch enough time to grow before the end of the summer. Succession planting can help alleviate the overwhelm of having a whole bunch of one type of vegetable ready all at the same time.
MISTAKE 3: WATERING TOO MUCH
We totally get it; watering your garden every day is a really appealing idea. There's a reason kids always want to muck around with water; it's fun. It's fun for us as adults too. But your garden can really suffer from too much water. Too much watering can cause root rot, which can kill your plants, and it also makes your garden attractive to slugs and snails. Also, plants that are watered daily don't have much incentive to grow strong, deep roots.
How to avoid this mistake: get out and check the soil in your raised beds or gardens every day. Dig your fingers into the ground a bit. If it feels damp a couple of inches deep, you don't need to water.
Something new to try: using soaker hoses or a drip irrigation system can make watering much easier and reduce the amount of water you use in the garden. Soaker hoses are great if you only have a couple of garden beds. If you've got lots of garden space, a drip system is more efficient. You can build your own irrigation system or buy a system that you just put together and hook up.
MISTAKE 4: PLANTING THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE TO EAT
It's fun to experiment and try to grow as many different kinds of plants as you can. This is another one of those super common gardening mistakes. Who doesn't end up with too much zucchini every year?! It's good to keep in mind what you will actually be able to use and focus on growing the things you and your family really like to eat.
How to avoid this mistake: If you're growing from seed, don't feel like you need to plant every seed in the packet. They'll last for a few years if you keep them dry and dark. If your family doesn't love eating pumpkin pie, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin soup, or pumpkin muffins every day in the fall, don't plant more than 1 or 2 seeds. The same goes for zucchini, it's a delicious vegetable, but it produces prolifically. So, if you don't want to eat zucchini for every meal from August to October, limit yourself to 1 or 2 plants.
Think back to what you grew last year. If you or your family loved the tomatoes and peppers, grow more of those. If you had veggies that ended up rotting because they weren't getting used, cut back on those. And remember, you can generally donate extra fresh garden produce to a local food bank or share it with friends and neighbors.
Something new to try: Try growing a couple new varieties of your favorite veggies from last year. There are so many different varieties of tomatoes, lettuces, peppers, peas; you name it. Add an exciting new veggie variety to your garden this year; you might discover a new favorite!
Ready to get started on your garden planning for 2021? Stop by the garden center and have a look around, we've got plenty to inspire your planning, and we're happy to answer questions and tell you about our favorite garden plants to grow.