How to start a garden from scratch, from soil preparation to planting

You are also conquered by km 0 of food products, so you decide to own a small piece of land and create   a garden   to watch your vegetables grow, harvest them and bring your produce to the table. where to start The first step is devoted   to the preparation of the soil   (and perhaps the most exhausting!). You’ll need work gloves to prevent blisters on your hands, a shovel, a rake, a pickaxe, a spade, and some fertilizer.

If you are a beginner   , don’t worry. Follow the instructions step by step and maybe ask for advice from someone more experienced than you or read some books on the subject. And then remember that you only learn by doing, so don’t worry about making too many mistakes, especially at first.   If, on the other hand, you’re   a gardening professional, you might still be missing a trick or a plant you haven’t dared to grow yet. This could be a good time.

In which month should you start preparing your garden?

Naturally, if you want to   start growing a garden from scratch,   the best time is always the spring and summer months. We normally start   preparing   the garden    in   March   , but climate change  may  change this tradition   . Elevated temperatures actually facilitate the process of germination, i.e. the appearance of seed sprouts. However, you will need to pay attention to the planting times listed for the particular plant you want to grow, as some prefer different seasons.

Where to place the garden.

In general,   the location of the garden   depends on several conditions, including   sunlight   and   wind   . In fact, these factors affect the growth of plants, so it is very useful that you carefully choose the place where you start gardening. In fact, as a privilege, the garden needs    6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight   per day, areas that are too windy could also damage the plants and damage them.

Also consider   protection  or control for  animals in your area   that could   destroy   your   plants   . It’s also a good idea to choose a location that’s easy to access, so you can be sure to garden to the best of your ability and harvest     an optimal  crop    .

What tools are needed to create a garden?

But what does this really mean for the garden? Undoubtedly, you will need:   some shears   to prune your plants or crops, a drip  irrigation   or hose so that they always have an adequate amount of water for the day, a picker or basket to collect the fruits and vegetables when they are ready to be harvested. A hoe   and   a rake are essential     , the first will help us work the land as well as possible, also remove weeds and prepare it for planting, the second will level and break up   clods   . Equip yourself with   crop   -handling   gloves   and buy   a fertilizer   that is as sustainable as possible so that your plants grow at their best.

Soil preparation

Contrary to what you might think, the soil should be prepared at the beginning of winter. The soil actually needs to be removed, fertilized and rested before spring planting.
At this point, it’s time to roll up your sleeves. First, you need to dig up the soil, turn over the soil where you will build your garden, and remove the roots of weeds and weeds. Also remove as many stones as possible to make tilling the soil easier later.
Feed the soil   with fertilizer   : horse manure is the best, but it is also the most expensive; Otherwise, use   compost   , ideal for fertilizing as it leaves the soil very friable.
Break up the largest lumps with a pick and rake and finally mix them well with the fertilizer added to the soil. In short, the surface of the land must be as uniform and flat as possible.

before sowing

The effort did not end here.  The garden soil  must    be processed again   shortly before planting  . Weeds and weeds should be removed if they are still present, as well as large and medium-sized stones. Work the soil until it is crumbly and well leveled. At this point you can organize your garden. Think about what products you want to grow and   divide the land   into areas of different sizes; Seedlings and seeds must be placed in spaced furrows made transverse to the slope that will follow the water flow. How is slot spacing decided? Simply imagine what vegetables you will be growing and how much space the plants will take up right before harvest. Another important aspect is   how to place the seedlings in the furrow   : if it is a spring or summer product, the seedlings should be placed in the furrow to prevent water from dispersing; However, for winter products, you should place them on the piles of soil that you have prepared in the furrows to avoid possible water stagnation.

growth

There are vegetables that are easy to grow and others that are more demanding. If you’re new to using a shovel and rake, it’s best to focus on the easiest ones.
Tomato is one of them   .   It needs good sunlight and soil acidity between pH6 and pH7. Dig a hole for each seed and space the holes at least 30cm apart. It is a climbing plant, so get a structure that supports its growth.

Zucchini should be planted in spring,   between   March and May. Place two or three seeds in each hole, spacing the holes at least a meter apart. Zucchini needs a lot of water, so water every day and in a few weeks you will see the first sprouts.

 I can’t imagine a garden   without carrots  . On Ohga, we have already explained   how to grow carrots   . You have to sow them between January and October. Also in this case, make well-spaced holes in which to place a few seeds. Make sure the soil is always moist and water as needed, especially when the plants are still in the growing stage.

Lettuce adds an ornamental touch to your garden: its leaves are actually very nice, wide and bright green or, in some varieties, from   yellowish   to red. Excellent for salads, rich in folic acid and vitamin A, lettuce needs well-fertilized soil. Seeds should be planted 3 to 6 inches deep and watered daily.

 Iron and calcium rich   spinach  should be grown in soil well fertilized with compost. Water them abundantly and keep the distance between one plant and another.

But you also have many other vegetables at your disposal. At Ohga, for example, we explain   how to grow strawberries    and   how to grow orange trees   .