Reflections from a First-Time Gardener

As a first time gardener, I thought growing edible plants would be easy.  Sunshine + water = food, right?  Well, I've learned many many things in the past month, some of which are listed here:

1.  Expect to lose 10-15% of your crops to pests if you are growing organically. Period.

2.  Snails suck.  The answer:  Look for these mollusks frequently and remove them from your plants.  For large infestations, try beer.

3.  Gardening is not for wimps.

4.  Attract beneficial insects with native California plants like yarrow.

5.  It's best to water plants in the morning, avoiding their leaves.  Don't over-water!! Unless you have a container garden like me and then you can water a lot....

6.  Share seeds with your buddies.  If you are planning on growing from seed, invest in a seed starter tray and maybe even a cold frame.

7.  Fertilizer is crucial!  I always thought fertilizer was a scheme to get you to buy more stuff for gardening.  Apparently, plants really need it.  Try an organic variety from Dr. Earth or E.B. Stone; accidentally over-fertilizing with organic fertilizers doesn't burn plant roots like synthetic fertilizers.  Saying that, I highly recommend following the instructions on the package...

8.  Only grow things you would want to eat.  Seems obvious, but I've been caring for a parsley plant for a month now, and I realize I never eat parsley.

9.  Read Sunset's Western Garden Book of Edibles!

10. If all else fails, go to Sunset Nursery and buy more plants for cheap.

-E