According to research by Garden Trends Report, tThe pandemic has attracted 16 million new gardeners, many of whom are under 35 years old. Going outside and maintaining a garden is appealing to newbies too!
But maybe there could be more! Some people may have been reluctant to grow their own flowers, herbs, and vegetables because of certain horticultural misunderstandings. Some may doubt their ability to keep plants alive or that they have enough space to grow everything.
Below we break down some of the most common horticultural misconceptions that may keep you from realizing your true calling.
Photo by Jennifer Ashton, Allied ASID
The size of your garden should never stop you from gardening. You can still get your hands dirty no matter the size of the space.
“You don’t even need a garden plot. If you live in an apartment or condo and have limited space, you can grow many of your favorite herbs, vegetables and flowers in containers, ”says Angelo Randaci, a master gardener and horticultural expert at Earth’s Ally.
Amy Enfield, Gardener at Bonnie Plants Gardening, says gardening is what you make of it.
“Whether a large vegetable garden in the backyard, a piece of land in the community garden, a well-tended landscape, a raised bed, buckets on the terrace, a plant on the windowsill or a hydroponic unit on the kitchen counter, there are plants that grow well in every situation” , she says.
2. Gardening always starts with seeds
When you are thinking of starting a garden, you may imagine digging in soil, throwing in some seeds, and watering. But do you really need seeds to start your garden?
“No! Start with plants, not seeds. You save time and avoid mistakes that can happen during the seed start process,” says Randaci.
You can purchase “plant starts” or baby plants from your local nursery or garden center and omit the seeds altogether.
“The advantage of young or starter plants is that they ripen faster, so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor faster than if you started with seeds,” says Enfield.
3. I’m too sociable to be solo gardeners
Gardeners are some of the most talkative people you will ever meet – just go to your local nursery and ask a question and you will see. And while gardeners occasionally like to be one with nature, gardening doesn’t have to be an isolated activity.
“Another great way to make the activity social and get help as a beginner is to join your local community garden,” says Randaci. “It’s a great way to garden when you run out of space in your yard and want to share ideas and fresh food while making new friends.”
Enfield says even if you end up doing the gardening yourself, “there are plenty of communities on social media that you can join to brag about your gardening successes or ask for help when you have a problem.”
4. Bugs in my garden are bad news
Freaked out from scary crawls? Learn to take a different perspective – some can be a gardener’s best friends.
“Bees alone help with pollination over a third of the world’s food crops and ensure food security, biodiversity and living ecosystems for plants, ”says Randaci.
Some bugs act as pollinators, predators, and parasites in your garden. For example, predators like praying mantis, ladybugs, and spider will eat bugs that could destroy your plants.
5. You will never be a green thumb
You fell off a bike a couple of times before learning how to ride it. Because of this, it takes time to turn that brown thumb green. But it will happen.
“Being green and growing plants is not something that everyone can take for granted, but all hope is not lost. You just have to follow a few simple steps to be successful, ”says Randaci. “Starting with the right tools – shovel, rake, trowel, hoe, secateurs and gloves – and investing in high quality soil improvers will help tremendously.”
According to Enfield, the biggest key to success is choosing the right plants for your gardening habits.
“If you have a tendency to water your plants, try drought tolerant plants. If you’re leaving your plants, look for plants that prefer consistently moist soil and make sure you plant in really well-drained soil, ”she says.
6. You have too many vegetables and they are wasted
Now that you’ve grown all of these wonderful vegetables in your garden – and impossible to eat them all – what will you do with your harvest?
“A lot of people don’t realize that food that you grow in your own garden can be donated directly to your local food supplies to help those in need in your neighborhood,” said Mike Sutterer, CEO of Bonnie Plants.
According to the founder and executive director of AmpleHarvest.org, home gardeners grow enough excess food to feed 28 million hungry people each year Gary Oppenheimer. The group has identified nearly 8,700 member pantries nationwide and can connect gardeners to the nearest participating pantry with instructions on how, where and when additional produce can be donated.
