Answering Your Beginner Gardening Questions!
Today’s blog post is a fun one – if you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen a few days ago that I posted a story asking for you to send in all of your pressing beginner gardening questions; and you did not disappoint! I got tons of questions (including some that will be made into video tutorials, so keep an eye out for those!). I received everything from how to prevent pests from eating your crops, to why your veggies are bolting before you harvest. Now, let’s dive into these questions!
How do I know when to start harvesting?
Base it off of the size you desire! For lettuce, harvest as you see fit for salads. When it comes to beets and radishes, make sure they are the desired size as they will grow above soil and you can see it. Harvest peas, cucumbers and zucchini often as they will produce more the more you pick! For carrots, you’ll be able to see the top if you move the soil a bit to see how large it is.
How do I find out why my plants are dying?
More often then not it’s asking for help! If your leaves are turning yellow it’s safe to say your plant is missing some sort of nutrition to thrive. It either needs a better PH level (add some fish fertilizer) or it needs less or more water. Some plants are shocked once you transplant them and bounce back in a week or so like zucchini and pumpkin, don’t give up until you’re completely sure!
What’s the best soil amendment for veggies? Best fertilizer?
I use a liquid fish fertilizer every 4 weeks until summer – I find it balances everything well. I also add 3-4 inches of compost rich soil that is OMRI certified (organic) at the beginning of the garden season.
How to prevent gophers and squirrels in the garden?
Yikes – yes, this can be so hard! I protect some beds with metal cages while the plants are small. The fuller the garden bed is the less likely they come in, so pack in those plants!
How to germinate cucamelons successfully?
Oh yes, they take a long time! Wait up to 18 days for them to germinate. A trick I like to do is ensure that the soil is warm and use warm water when I plant them. They like warm soil, so keeping them in a greenhouse or on a heated mat until germination is key. See photo below of our cucamelon harvest.
What do I do with a strawberry plant in a pot?
If you plant in the ground, or in your garden they will spread so choose a place wisely. You can also keep in the pot or re-pot it into a larger container if it needs more room. Strawberries grow well in pots. Strawberry plants only last 3-4 years.
How do you know what type of soil you need?
I do a soil test every year! You can find them online, and sometimes in stores for under $30 dollars. It will let you know what you’re missing and the PH balance. I find each year I add a few inches of compost rich soil and worm castings, and everything thrives! Plants take nutrients out of soil, so crop rotation can help. Then you have some super power plants like peas who add nitrogen into the soil — we call them soil fixers! I plant beans, lettuce or carrots after peas.
What are your favourite seed companies?
West Coast Seeds and Johnny Seeds are some of my go-to’s from larger suppliers, but don’t forget to check out your local farms as well! You have the added benefit of knowing that those seeds do well in your zone. If you’re looking for flower seeds, some of my favourite growers include Whistling Prairie Flowers, Antonio Valente Flowers, Dahlia May Flower Farm and Roam Flora.*
* Please note that some are Canadian growers, and may not ship outside of Canada.
What do I do to stop caterpillars from eating all of my strawberries & vegetables?
Plant “stinky” crops like oregano, sage, marigolds and thyme to deter pests. Pests come with organic growing so it will happen but check often. You may need to remove slugs and caterpillars for a week or so and then they move on. I harvest strawberries early (even a little white on them and put them on the counter for a day) to enjoy before the birds get them!
When should I give up on carrots?
They are very needy I get it, but TRY AGAIN! And, use these tips: overseed, and water thoroughly twice a day for 2 weeks or until you see them sprout! Thin 2 inches apart when they are 2-3 inches high, and use well draining compost rich soil.
I was gifted cucumbers… I transplanted them, but they look sad & shocked.
Cucumbers don’t transplant well, and are prone to transplant shock! They will likely look shocked for a week or two, and get better with time. The main thing is to keep watering (they like a lot of water!). I also like to add fish fertilizer after I plant.
How often do we water if we are direct sowing?
Great question! I water everyday after I direct seed. My drip system does not do an even job so I hand water until germination. After that, every other day if weather is cooler. I always do the finger check (stick your finger in about 2 inches; if it’s wet, no water is needed. If it’s dry, it’s time to give them a drink!). Always check the soil moisture before watering as you do not want to water log the seeds!
What state are you in?
I’m based in Victoria, BC, Canada, where we are a zone 9 for hardiness. I will mention, it’s not like Texas zone 9; we are very much a microclimate within the PNW!
I plant veggie seeds but they never get big enough to harvest, or they bolt.
Timing is key! If you’re also in Victoria, we had a very hot April, which shocked cooler weather crops like broccoli and kale, so I would plant again in August for a fall crop! Now is the time to plant hot-weather-loving crops to ensure you’ll get good harvests (think tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, carrots, beets and basil).
Building a raised garden bed – should I go for 1ft, or 1.5ft deep? Does 1ft really limit growth?
I would recommend a minimum of 1ft for carrots. They need well draining soil, and can grow to be a foot long! 16-18 inches is ideal for accessibility but it’s also a lot of soil to fill so do what fits your budget and look!
There you have it! Your most asked beginner gardening questions, answered. I loved doing this more interactive type blog, so if you want to see more of this, follow me over on Instagram!
* Note: Some links featured in the above post are commissionable/affiliate links.