We All Start Somewhere: my gardening successes

So i frequently get asked for garden tips from self described, "beginner gardners". I feel weird giving tips to them cause I still feel like a beginner too. So, I figured I'd try to organize thoughts. What follows is what I've succeeded with, failed with, and practices in my gardens. If you want any more info on a certain topic, drop a comment or check out my pinterest. Pinterest

The Beginning

is 

I started gardening because my therapist told me to. I was a new mom, school full time, and work full time. When she  asked me what I did for fun, I said, "school, work, homework, mommying." She told me to pick a hobby. Gardening was first on her list, so I chose that. The fact that it was November in missouri when she told me to start this hobby, shows that I had no idea what I was doing. I learned very important things though. For example, how important drainage is and that peppers love me.

A real garden

When I first moved back to Chicago, my dad wouldn't give up any space in his bed, so my garden was relegated to the side of the garage. That first year is when I learned how awesome cinder blocks are as planters. The next year, dad gave me his bed as well. I still kept up my cinder blocks though.

Still growing, still learning 

 This is what my yard looks like now. I'll do a blog later, after i clean up my beds, to show y'all what it really looks like.

So...here we go.....any of these topics i could do a whole seperate post on. If you wamt to know more, leave me a comment.

Garden beds
 I don't know what kind of space you have, or how handy you are, but I stick to the least amount of effort and money with these. I'm a big fan of cinder blocks and baby pools to make my beds. I started with cinder blocks cause i had to, but when i moved here, i made a rectangular one. I planted herbs in the bricks and strawberry, tomatoes, and zuchinni in the middle. I did have trouble with pests though, so i think this year ill do pest repelling plants. In my pool, i did peppers. I cut holes in the bottom dor drainage, put rocks in the bottom, then planted. It was so much cheaper than anything else  Im adding another one this year. Im also turning old tires into planters for along my driveway. I have about 12 planters all over the rest of my yard with fruit and herbs.

Companion planting
Companion planting in my beds is key. I always try to arrange plants that are beneficial to each other, next to each other.

 

Native plants
I use plants that are native to my area in any way I can. I joke that I can only grow plants with a purpose, just pretty flower beds cant survive me. This is just how it's been. Until i learned how awesome native plants are.

They're meant to grow in your area, so they're maintenance free and attract all sorts of good things to your garden. Check out this link. Native plants rock!

Soil

As i mentioned before, i have an addiction to buying gardening stuff, as well as good deals. To get my "fix" during the winter, i buy soil. For context, in rural Missouri, its kind of a "food desert". If you've never heard that term, look it up. We're not as hard up as inner city residents who rely on the corner store, but we are limited to walmart. I hate it, but it works out well for my soil plans. I found a brand I love at walmart, Ecoscraps. I've seen bags of their stuff go for $8-11. They don't remove bags at the end of the season though. From October - February, I bought a bag a week and stored them up in my garage. I paid  $4/bag in October and $2.25 on January 31st. Its so much easier carrying a bag a week then all at once. 

In my garden beds, i use a mixture of Ecoscraps garden & top soil. In my containers, I use a mixture of the two above, as well as Ecoscraps potting soil.

I don't add anything else to my soil. Once in a while, if i have a little left amd wamt to recycle the container, ill sprinkle epsom salt or baking soda on the plants. 

I also don't weed. I'll take out big ones that are hindering my plants, but other than that, I let them be. You could argue that this might hinder my garden productivity, and I'd say you could be right, but I hate weeding. 

Composting
I love the barrels I've bought from Menards. They're easy, cheap, and perfect. Compost bin link I have bought 2 of these. Its not the fastest way, but it works. My first bin is still in my parents yard in chicago. I started it two summers ago. They'll probably get the first batch of compost this summer. I keep a brown paper bag on my counter and throw in any egg shells, egg cartons, and vegetable & fruit parts, that havent been cooked with oil. Ive read that you can compost bread and cheeses, but that takes more effort and ive read that any food that wouldn't exsist without humans making it, should be avoided.

Seeds/plants 
I am buying seeds year round. If i see an herb on sale, or an heirloom seed set somewhere randomly, i buy it. However, i buy zuchinni, tomato, beans, cucumbers, and peppers already started. I will also grab random onion sets or something at walmart throughout the season, cause i have an addiction. I would love to order all heirloom seeds online, but again, i have a seed or plant addiction and would still buy some. I like doing a lot of herbs in containers cause they can be moved inside. It also helps control invasive mint.  I also do not have any trees in my yard, so i have to get mostly all sun plants. This hasnt worked out well for my love of spinach, but I hope to fix that this year.

Mistakes ive made
- a lot of herbs are perenial if they arent trimmed the first year
- ‎pay attention to spacing
-make sure pots have proper drainage

Things that have worked out without me trying:
-my grandma, who owned my house previously, planted an amazing native plant/butterfly garden. I put my veggies right next to it. There were also bumble bees over there. I think it helped.
-‎out in the yard, away from my patio, i put a section of strictly bee friendly, native, perrenial plants like rasberries, blackberries, and bee balm. It was like an agreement, i made them an area, they left me alone. Same with the birds. Once i put birdhouses out back, they stopped pooping on my car.