Things I Learned as a New (Pandemic) Gardener
The Top 7 Things I Learned While Trying To Grow My First Garden…
For as long as I can remember, I have loved flowers. I have been known to pick wildflowers on the side of the road, forage lilac branches from the countryside, and raid my mom’s garden for peonies, hydrangeas and lavender… However, that changed in 2020 when I was able to grow my own garden for the first time!
In early March 2020, Ben & I purchased our first home… and then a few days later the world shut down due to the Covid- 19 pandemic (how about that timing?). So, like numerous others, I took the opportunity of ‘Staying Home’ to grow our own fruits, veggies and flowers. Rumour has it that ¼ of all Canadian gardeners were new to the garden in 2020! So, from one new gardener to another, here are some valuable lessons I learned during my first growing season.
Plan Ahead
I admit, I am someone who loves to have a plan before jumping into action. However, I was so excited to begin gardening that I just grabbed random plants and seeds from the garden centres, and hoped for the best. Considering that this was my approach this year, I would say things turned out pretty well, however I lost some plants along the way. (RIP zucchini plant).
Secondly, ensure you have the equipment you need before jumping into things. I ended up having to run out last minute to purchase things like kneeling pads, weeders, and flower netting, however many of the supplies I needed were sold out or on backorder. So, moving forward into the 2021 growing season, I have a specific plan of what seeds/ plants that I am purchasing, where they will be planted, and what equipment I need.
2. Listen to the experts
Although my love for gardens and flowers has existed since birth, I realized very quickly that I actually know very little about gardening. Although I did my best last year, this winter I have been doing a lot more research and learning from some of the best in hopes of a better season in 2021! My favourite sources of information and inspiration are:
Andrew Burton Anderson
Landscape architect, cultural & natural heritage conservation advisor, and UNESCO World Heritage expert… who also happens to be my uncle!
Peggy K.
My mother-in-law is the ultimate gardener! Having grown up on a farm, and still living on one today, she knows so much about flowers, vegetables, and fruits. She grows everything under the sun! (Also, she lets me steal from her garden all the time, so that’s a plus.)
Floret Farmer (Erin Benzakein)
I have been following her on Instagram for YEARS with the dream of one day having a garden like hers. Although mine is MUCH smaller scale, I appreciate all of her posts providing insight to specific flowers, growing tips and stunning photography. You can check out her website here.
3. Soil Matters
They say you need to start from the ground up, and that’s what I will always do moving forward. Some of my garden spaces absolutely flourished, while others struggled due to the poor soil quality. For the 2021 season, I will be incorporating much more organic matter and compost into my garden beds, and will be removing the dry, clay-like soil.
4. Stagger your planting times
I learned this one the hard way. I was so excited to get my vegetables planted in my raised garden beds, that I planted all my seeds and plants at the exact same time. The end result: 8 lettuce heads all ready to eat at the same time, more basil than I knew what to do with, and plants that all went to seed when there was still plenty of growing time left. So, stagger your planting dates to ensure you have fresh fruits and veggies all summer long.
5. Plant Properly
There are always planting instructions on plants and seeds packages- so read them! There are instructions on spacing, lighting, and harvesting, all of which will help ensure that you have a more productive and plentiful growing season.
6. Gardening is Good for mental health
2020 was a stressful and difficult year for many. I found that spending time in the garden really allowed me to clear my head, forget about the things that might be worrying me, and get a breath of fresh air.
Also, how could a fresh bouquet not bring me joy?!
7. Share your harvest with others, and spread a little joy!
My love language is gift giving, so sharing my harvests with friends and family meant a lot! We were dropping off bags of lettuce and bouquets of flowers left, right and center. If you choose to garden this season, don’t forget to spread a little joy to others!
Well, there you have it! A couple tips and tricks to help ensure that your first growing season is as productive and plentiful as possible! Happy Gardening!
- The Becks