Complete Guide to Cultivating a Flourishing Garden - Insights From ZDNet

When folks find out I grew up on a farm, one of the first questions they ask is: Can you help me with my garden? And really, what is farming if not a more intense version of gardening?

Also: The best indoor garden you can buy

While everyone’s growing situation is different, there are a few key basics to keep in mind while planning for patio containers, raised beds, or in-ground planting. You’ll want to make sure your soil is good enough for growing healthy plants with testing kits and add fertilizer as needed to create the perfect balance of nutrients for whatever you’re trying to grow.

So if you’re thinking of growing a few herbs for your kitchen or a full-blown vegetable garden, I’ve put together a checklist of everything you need to get started – from greenhouses and fertilizer to raised beds and hand tools, you’ll be growing beautiful blooms and tasty veggies in no time.

A greenhouse

Whether you’re just looking to grow a few bins of tomatoes and kitchen herbs or tropical flowers and greenery for landscaping, a greenhouse can help jumpstart seed germination by giving you almost total control over temperature, humidity, and airflow for optimal growing conditions.

Home Complete 4-tier mini greenhouse A roomy greenhouse

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This four-tier greenhouse is sized just about perfectly for most suburban gardeners, with enough room for seed starting trays, and potted plants up to 14 inches tall. The clear PVC cover helps let in light while allowing heat and humidity to build optimal growing conditions for flowers, herbs, and vegetables.

Each shelf measures 27 inches wide and 19 inches deep with a tubular steel construction capable of supporting up to 24 pounds, which is great news for anyone looking to try growing tropical plants like hibiscus, which can be hefty when fully grown. The entire unit also disassembles easily for off-season storage in your garage or garden shed.

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Best large greenhouse Ohuhu 3-tier walk-in greenhouse The Ohuhu 3-tier walk-in greenhouse is a great option for experienced gardeners and tropical plant growers who need a larger structure for starting more seed flats or caring for larger mature plants. It measures 4.8 x 4.8 x 6.3 feet, giving you plenty of space to stand up, move around, and work comfortably to care for your seedlings and specialty plants. View at Amazon Best greenhouse for homesteaders and commercial growers King Bird 15-foot heavy duty greenhouse The galvanized steel tube construction of this greenhouse helps resist rust and corrosion, while the UVI 6 rated protective cover lets in just enough light for growth without risking your seedlings getting scorched in the summer sun. The cover is also waterproof, helping protect your plants from damage from heavy rains and storms as well as overwatering if you’re experiencing a wetter growing season. View at Amazon

Gardening tools

I inherited most of my gardening tools from my great-grandmother, and my favorite is the 8-foot, razor sharp garden rake (that I’m fairly certain she made herself) that is good for everything from removing errant weeds and encroaching grass to removing rocks and dispatching garden pests. But if you can’t get your hands on a bespoke antique, turn-of-the-20th-century garden tool, store bought is fine. Hand tools like pruning shears, trowels, rakes, and weed pullers are essential for preventing unwanted plants like wild grasses from taking over your garden beds and ruining all your hard work. They also help you shape plants for healthy growth and harvest fruit, vegetables, and herbs without damaging new growth.

Grampa’s Weeder A reliable garden tool for weeding

Grampa’s Weeder/ZDNET

Removing weeds can feel like a constant battle, especially if you prefer in-ground gardening over raised beds and bins. This weeding tool has a century-old design for pulling weeds out by their roots: a 46-inch wooden handle and a four-pronged steel claw that helps you get rid of unwanted plants like dandelions and errant grass without having to stoop or kneel.

It’s also great for anyone interested in organic gardening, since it allows you to remove weeds and their roots without harsh chemicals and herbicides that can damage your lawn or contaminate your garden beds.

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Best garden tool for pruning Fiskars 5/8-inch pruning shears If roses and other hardy plants are your garden occupants, you know you need a good pair of pruning shears to help remove dead material and promote healthy growth. The Fiskars Bypass 5/8-inch shears have a built-in sap groove to help keep the cutting blade clear for smoother cutting. View at Amazon Best versatile garden tool Fiskars Ergo garden trowel The Fiskars ergonomic garden trowel not only features an easy to grip handle, it also has a pointed spade which not only allows you to dig through gravelly soil or hard-packed earth, but also to dig out weeds and break up root-bound plants while repotting or transferring to a bin. View at Amazon Best garden tool for landscaping Craftsman steel garden rake The Craftsman garden rake head is designed to handle gravel and mulch as well as a variety of soil types, making it easier to create beautiful landscaping designs, tend in-ground and raised garden beds, and remove unwanted debris. The 57.25-inch wooden handle gives you plenty of reach for working, saving your back and knees while the handle grip gives you better control and comfort. And with a 15-year warranty, you can replace it if the rake head rusts or the handle breaks. View at Lowes

Bins or raised beds

If you don’t have the space, energy, or know-how for large-scale or in-ground gardening, containers and raised beds are a great option. Planting pots are available in a wide range of sizes and materials, letting you garden on your patio, balcony, deck, or otherwise difficult ground. I use raised metal and cedar bins in our backyard garden since we have mature trees with extensive root systems which make it difficult to till the ground and grow healthy plants with consistent harvests.

Style Selections 19.3-in indoor/outdoor planter A container for plants

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Barrel planting pots are a popular option for container gardening, since they come in a variety of sizes and materials. The Style Selections 19-inch pot is made of UV-resistant resin that helps protect against color fading as well as from being broken down by UV radiation from the sun. They’re lightweight and easy to fill and empty, with no-drill drainage holes for proper water retention in the soil.

We have a rather fussy Hibiscus in one and it seems to like being in there, and we’ve had great luck with various annuals and herbs like marigolds, nasturtiums, petunias, and lavender when we’ve planted them in this pot. It’s also much less expensive than a cut-down, wooden barrel planter, making it great for beginners and budget-conscious patio gardeners.

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Best metal garden bed Sunnydaze Decor 48-inch galvanized metal garden bed These galvanized metal bins are excellent for permanent raised bed gardens. Measuring 48 x 24 x 11.75 inches, it can hold 7.8 cubic feet of soil. The galvanized metal construction resists rust and corrosion while also making it harder for pests like ants, termites, and even moles and chipmunks to work their way into your garden beds where they can wreak havoc. View at Lowes Best modular garden bed Greenes Fence 48-inch cedar raised garden bed These raised beds are made of your choice of treated pine or cedar to help prevent mold, rot, and insect damage. They also feature a modular design that allows you to create custom layouts for almost any space, regardless of size or shape. View at Lowes

Fertilizer

Whether you plan on going fully organic and pesticide/herbicide-free or want a blend of techniques for growing beautiful flowers, lush greenery, and tasty fruits and vegetables, there’s a fertilizer out there to suit your needs. But vegan gardeners beware: some fertilizers get their nutritional elements like calcium, phosphorous, and nitrogen from animal sources, so be sure to research before buying.

Sta-Green blood meal A nutrient-dense fertilizer

Sta-Green/Taylor Clemons/ZDNET

If you’re having trouble with leafy plants like basil, zucchini and other squash, and roses from having their leaves turn yellow and die, it’s a sign that there isn’t enough nitrogen in your garden soil. Fortunately, you don’t need to worry about adding unnecessary nutrients with Sta-Green organic blood meal.

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Best fertilizer compost bin Vivosun 43 gallon dual chamber compost bin This Vivosun compost bin has two separate chambers, allowing you to have a rotating supply of nutrient-rich material to add to your garden for healthier plant growth and better harvests of herbs, flowers for arrangements, and vegetables. It also features a freely-rotating design to help turn organic material for proper air circulation and dispersal of beneficial organisms. View at Amazon Best fertilizer for balanced nutrients Miracle-Gro all-purpose plant food Miracle-Gro is one of the most prolific, popular, and trusted brands of garden fertilizer. Its all-purpose plant food provides a balance of essential nutrients like nitrogen (for strong stems and healthy leaves), phosphorous (for bigger blooms and better veggies), and calcium (to prevent blossom-end rot on tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash). View at Lowes Best phosphorous-dense fertilizer Sta-Green bone meal Are your plants having a hard time establishing strong, healthy root systems? You need to add phosphorous to your bins, and Sta-Green bone meal is a great option for doing so. Like blood meal, it adds targeted nutrients to avoid causing problems by fixing another with a more generalized fertilizer. View at Lowes Best calcium-dense fertilizer Bonide Rot-Stop Bonide Rot-Stop is a liquid concentrate that you can add to your watering can for periodic fertilization to prevent rotted ends. If you have a fertilizer attachment for your garden hose, you can also mix the concentrate in its holding tank for more convenient fertilization of large areas like flower gardens or community vegetable gardens. View at Lowes

You might also need…

While a few of these items aren’t necessarily essential for gardening basics, they’re nice to have for experienced growers or year-round herb gardeners.

Bell+Howell 6W LED grow light View now at Lowes

AeroGarden Bounty hydroponic system View now at Lowes

Style Selections 2-gallon watering can View now at Lowes

Vevor Folding Garden Kneeler and Seat $31 at Amazon

What is the most important tool every gardener should have?

Aside from a watering can, a good, sturdy garden trowel like the Fiskars ergonomic trowel is a vital tool. Not only does it allow you to dig around in the soil for transferring seedlings and repotting plants, but the pointed tip is great for digging out weeds and removing rocks and stones.

What is the best fertilizer for raised beds?

Miracle-Gro all-purpose plant food is a great option for providing balanced nutrients for your plants, whether you choose in-ground or bed gardening. Just be sure to follow instructions for proper application to avoid over fertilization.

What type of greenhouse is best for year-round growing?

If you want a permanent greenhouse or conservatory, it’s best to contact a local contractor as well as your city office for permitting and construction. Permanent greenhouses require poured concrete foundation slabs as well as sturdy steel-and-glass construction to trap heat and moisture. They also require HVAC systems for proper ventilation, temperature control, and to prevent mold and mildew from moisture build-up. Costs will vary wildly depending on size, location, materials, and labor.

Do I need a permit to start a garden?

If you want to grow a few vegetables and kitchen herbs on your patio or in your backyard, you shouldn’t need a permit to do so. However, you may want to check with any apartment complex or HOA regulations so you don’t come home to find your mint and poblano pepper plants have been confiscated.

If you’re looking to start a community garden, contact your city office for guidelines and permitting questions. Do be aware, though, that community gardens require time, effort, and money to operate; so make sure that everyone interested in the project is aware of rules and regulations for planting, maintaining the garden, and harvesting. You may also need to petition appropriate non-profits and organizations for sponsorship; If granted, sponsorship usually requires your garden to display the organization’s logo as well as an acknowledgement of their funding.

Can I grow herbs indoors year-round?

Absolutely! And you don’t even need a fancy hydroponic setup to do so. As long as you have a good, full-spectrum grow light for seedlings and to supplement low-intensity winter sunlight, consistent temperatures and humidity in your home – and no pets that will eat your plants – you’ll be able to grow kitchen herbs and even some varieties of vegetables like tomatoes indoors year-round.

What plants are toxic to pets?

If you’re a pet parent, you know that they’ll get into anything and everything – especially if it’s bad for them. If you have cats, you’ll want to avoid: garlic, onions, oregano, marjoram, rosemary, lavender, tarragon, and all varieties of mint except catmint/catnip. If you’re not sure how to tell a plant is in the mint family, check the stem: plants in the mint family have a distinctive, square stem.

If you have dogs, you’ll want to avoid planting these in your garden: chives and garlic, lavender, oregano, marjoram, mint (two varieties are toxic and most others cause GI issues), flat-leaf Italian parsley, and thyme.

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