7 Things I’ve Learned About Gardening (And Wish I Knew Sooner!)
It’s no secret that gardening is an ever-evolving process, with something new to be learned every season. Each season, I learn something new about a crop, or a space in my garden, and sometimes I have to pivot. I also learn so much more about local producers, farms and the ways that things are grown in the commercial industry, and today, I want to share a few things that I’ve learned about gardening so that you are also armed with this knowledge!
1) There’s a lot of chemicals in traditional gardening.
Have you ever stopped to think about why every piece of produce in a grocery store looks so perfect, but yet in your home garden, there’s usually bites taken out of it from animals or bugs? Pesticides and herbicides are widely used in traditional farming; wanting to reduce your exposure to that is normal, which is a huge part of why many start a garden!
2) A lot goes into growing food. Gardening makes you appreciate how difficult it is.
Growing food is a lot of work, and I don’t believe that you truly appreciate how much time, money and effort goes into that practice until you do it yourself. There’s no better feeling than when you successfully grow a tomato from seed, and enjoy it in your pasta sauce, or salad. Learning the gardening process makes you understand this process.
3) It takes more plants than you realize to feed your family.
That one cucumber plant you bought thinking it’ll feed your family of four all summer long? Unfortunately, that’s just not the case. A lot of people think that one or two plants is more than enough to get an abundant harvest throughout the season, but the reality is, it takes a lot more plants (and space) than that if you want to exclusively eat your own home-grown produce all summer. However, if you ignore spacing rules and add more plants in one area you can grow more food in the same space. We do not have to follow traditional spacing methods in our home gardens.
4) You don’t need a ton of space to have a successful garden.
Contrary to my previous point, you also don’t need to have a ton of space to have a successful garden! If you are limited to a small backyard space, a couple of raised beds or even just a balcony, there’s tons of options for you to have a thriving gardening season. The key is to ensure that you know what can grow in those spaces, and for your conditions to maximize your harvests.
5) Flowers are just as important to grow as food.
When I first started my gardening journey, I was all about growing food. While that’s still my focus, I’ve also fallen in love with growing flowers. Not only are they beneficial to plant alongside your edible crops (planting flowers like calendula, borage and nasturtiums can bring in pollinators, and naturally help control pests like aphids!), but they bring so much joy to your garden as well. Plus, who doesn’t love a homegrown bouquet?
6) Onions need a lot more sun than you think. 10-12 hours a day is needed.
The best pantry staple and one of my FAVS to grow. If you’re thinking about growing onions at any point, one thing you need to be very aware of is just how much sun they need. 10-12 hours is an absolute must for this crop! If they don’t get enough sun, they won’t be nearly as large as you may have hoped. It’s one of the most rewarding crops to grow when done right.
7) Gardening teaches you to be patient.
Last, but certainly not least, gardening truly teaches you to slow down, be patient and enjoy the process. If you’re looking to get in touch with nature, be more offline and enjoy what life has to offer, I highly encourage you start a garden. It reminds me that each year I can’t rush the process or speed up the process. I have to TRUST in the process.
Though these aren’t necessarily garden tips in the traditional way that I normally share, I feel like these are equally as important pieces to know when you start gardening or friendly reminders for those that are avid gardeners. Let me know what’s something that you’ve learned from gardening in the comments below.
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