Achi news desk-
Now that spring is here, some people are thinking about starting a garden but don’t know where to start.
From flowers and herbs to fruits and vegetables, the options can be overwhelming for beginners.
Chris Piccola, assistant manager at Plant Ranch in Regina, has a few tips on how to make gardening fun.
The soil is a little too cold to start planting right away, Piccola said, and advises people to wait until the soil is soft enough to dig in by hand.
“You don’t want to have too many plants in the ground before the night lows average one or two,” he said.
Piccola said for starters, he recommends marigolds and chrysanthemums to new and seasoned gardeners alike for many reasons.
“They’re nice and colorful, pretty easy to care for, you don’t have to worry too much about watering or overwatering,” he explained. “They’re pretty pH resistant… and they’re also natural insect repellants. A lot of things like aphids or spider mites will bite them and they’ll leave the area.”
“They just make the garden a pleasant experience.”
Piccola said the pH in Regina is a bit high because of the older pipes in the soil, so it can be difficult to start with the hard soil, as most plants generally like soil pH on the lower side.
“What I really recommend to a lot of people if you’re just starting out, there’s a whole bunch of crops that you can grow or vegetables and plants that you can grow in containers,” he said.
In this picture you see a begonia. (Photo courtesy of Gus, Plant Ranch customer) “It makes it a little bit more of a pleasant starting experience. I wouldn’t recommend that if you’re doing like a 10 by 10 plant in the community gardens, but just for a little something in the backyard, it’s a great way to start,” he added.
Some plants that don’t mind growing in three- or five-gallon containers are peppers, tomatoes, corn, lettuce and spinach, as well as cucumbers and herbs and spices, according to Piccola.
Piccola said some people plant the container in the ground or cut the bottom of the container so the roots can go deeper.
“The container itself serves as a sort of garden barrier for the plants, it cannot go to the side and the grass cannot bypass it,” he said.
As for general tips for new gardeners, Piccola said proper fertilization and watering are important.
“Plants need fertilizer like people need food… If you have plants outside, try to fertilize them every week or so,” he said. “Large deep watering is better than frequent light watering and should be watered in the afternoon or early morning, not during the heat of the sun.”
“If you have problems with plants, most likely it’s usually overwatering, underwatering or not enough fertilizer. That’s 98 percent of the problems.”
Strawberries are visible in this picture. (Image courtesy of Plant Ranch) When it comes to planting different types of things, Piccola recommends paying attention to the spacing.
“You don’t want to plant your onion next to your cucumber or watermelon patch because the vines will go through there and they’ll take them all down,” he said. “But for the most part, it’s kind of helpful for the plants to actually have other plants next to them.”
“Corn and lettuce really like to be next to each other. The lettuce enjoys a bit of shade from the tall corn plants and the corn benefits from the increased moisture from the lettuce providing ground cover,” he added.
If people want to attract pollinators, Piccola said to plant bee bombs, marigolds, and caterpillars.
Some things can be toxic to dogs and cats, so Piccola recommends avoiding planting lilies, onions and aloe if you have a pet in the yard.
An onion is visible in this picture. (Image courtesy of Plant Ranch) “I recommend checking what plants your particular pet is allergic to in general. And then if you get something new and unusual, then that would be a place to check as well,” he said.
If you’re eager to get started, you can prepare your yard by raking and getting rid of weeds. Choosing the right spot is essential, as you’ll need to make sure your plants are near a water source.
According to Plant Ranch, it’s important to make sure you know your yard’s sun patterns, as most edible plants and herbs need at least six hours of sunlight to grow.
A good rule of thumb is to start planting after the May long weekend if you live in Regina, according to their website.
For people who want to start planting later in the summer, there will still be plenty of options.
