What do beginning gardeners need to know to succeed, when success means getting an acceptable harvest and not feeling like they are working themselves to death? If you read my last post you know I am critical of gardening advice that unnecessarily complicates the process of growing your own fruits, veggies and ornamentals. Much of the advice I read that is aimed at beginners I don't follow myself, because I think it's unnecessary.
For newbies who wish for results without overload, here is my advice: focus on your soil. Soil health is the biggest single factor in gardening success. Healthy soil means healthy, thriving plants. You can't shortcut this part of gardening. Or rather you can, by tilling and using synthetic fertilizers, but in the long run this method creates a lifeless growing medium rather than a soil. This type of garden patch will continue to need constant inputs of chemicals to feed the growth of plants. A healthy soil must be fed also, but it has a different sort of appetite.
I feed my soil primarily wood chips, leaves, cardboard, weeds, and animal manures--which are all considered wastes in other contexts. This means they are cheap or even free to acquire. As they break down they provide energy and carbon for cell growth to the myriad bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes that inhabit soil. It is these organisms as well as earthworms, sow bugs, millipedes, ants, beetles, etc, that I am feeding with the organic waste materials that I constantly add to the garden.
The ways in which organic matter, including living soil inhabitants, creates an excellent environment for plant growth are nearly endless. Here are a few:
Improves soil aeration and structure
Improves drainage AND moisture retention
Forms mutualistic relationships with plants for beneficial exchanges of nutrients
Increases buffering capacity of soil
Increases ability of soil to hold nutrients and minerals
Prevents erosion and mitigates temperature extremes
There are many appropriate materials to feed your soil in addition to the ones I listed above. The best ones are free, local, and easily accessible. Spoiled hay, food waste, coffee grounds, and grass clippings are all good candidates. Avoid things contaminated with known toxins, heavy metals, and synthetic chemicals.
When soil is full of organic matter, alive, and minimally disturbed, it will require less work each year. Healthy plants in living soil will experience fewer issues with pests and diseases, lessening the time I need to spend rectifying such problems. I credit good soil for my lack of interest in crop rotation and companion planting: the benefits gained aren't worth the extra planning time for me. New gardeners interested in such things can explore and experiment at their leisure.
Starting with healthy soil minimizes headaches and provides for good harvests, ensuring success in the long run. It takes time though. Start working on your soil at least a season or two ahead of time; a year is even better. Buying soil amendments can help, but the bagged composts, manures, and potting soils sold in garden centers are often low quality, and don't compare to home-grown living soils. Spending the time you need to create a vibrant soil environment teeming with life is the best investment you can make for your garden. Coming soon: the nitty gritty of soil building.
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