Gardening may seem a daunting task only understood by hippies and retirees, but it's a lot easier than you'd think. Last year, with zero experience, I grew my first herb garden. Although I didn't get the best yields, I managed not to kill many of my plants. So, for those that aren't agriculturally inclined, here are a few tips on simple gardening.
Start now. It may seem early--this morning my car was covered in frost--but now is the perfect time to start your spring garden. While it may be cold outside, you can start germinating seeds inside.
Germination. Your first reaction to this word may have been similar to mine: "Growing germs on my seeds seems counterproductive." Try to think of it this way: Given the proper conditions (warm, moist soil), your germs (seeds) will grow quickly, strengthening themselves for the inevitable attack on your mouth. Put potting soil in a small pot or reused plastic container (yogurt and the like) with holes poked in the bottom to allow drainage. Add seeds and cover with a thin layer of soil. Then...
Follow directions. Seed packets have instructions printed on the back for a reason. They'll let you know when to transplant and when to harvest. If you'd like more detailed instructions, head to the library or sites like finegardening.com and gardenguides.com. When these sources tell you to regularly water your plants, they mean it. I deprived myself of half the delicious cilantro I was entitled to last year because of my extreme negligence.
Act smug. Bring up your new garden in conversation whenever possible. Wait by the herb section of your supermarket until someone buys a package of thyme for $3.50, then laugh in their face. You've earned it.
Learn from mistakes. Your first garden won't be perfect. Your 50th garden won't be perfect, but with experience each one should be better than the last. Keep a journal of your experiences so you can put them to use next year.
--Cody
This picture is taken from this photostream and used with the permission of a Creative Commons license.
