How You Can Become A Green-Thumbed Gardener

Whatever you decide to grow, caring for your plants is the key to becoming a "green-thumbed" gardener.

Thinking about what your plants need will help you choose what tools and equipment you need to have.

Trial and error is the way that many gardeners (green-thumbed or not) learn.

Finding out what works and what doesn't is part of the overall fun of gardening but just remember to wear old clothes and shoes or boots because you will more than likely be getting rather dirty as you practice your green-thumb gardening skills.

So what does a "green-thumbed" gardener need to know?

With tending and patience, a seed that you sow will become a tiny green seedling poking out of the dirt.

By watering and feeding your plant, it will become strong and bear blossoms and leaves.

The plant will bud tiny fruits or vegetables that will grow bigger and bigger before your eyes.

Plant's need plenty of Light as well as the warmth of the Sun to help it grow but they also need to be protected from the Wind and Rain.

You will need to find a suitable place or places to grow your plants whether it is inside your house on a windowsill or inside a greenhouse or even outside in a garden bed.

You will need various sized pots and/or containers or a small garden patch outside to grow your plants in.

Plants need to be planted or sown into good Soil that provides a grip for the roots, prevents water from draining away and is full of good nutrients for healthy growing.

You will need a hand trowel, hand fork and a small rake to help you to prepare the soil before you plant your plants.

A wheelbarrow and watering can are also very useful tools to have in your garden shed.

Plants need Water to make their food, but some plants need less water than others and these are usually called "water-wise" plants.

Water in the soil is drawn up by the roots and transported to the leaves through the stem.

Some plants will need Support as they grow taller as there stems have to support the weight of the fruit.

You will need some bamboo poles or garden stakes and twine to help support the plant as it grows tall.

Plants also need to be Protected from garden bugs and diseases.

It is not necessary to spray your garden with chemical-based pesticides or herbicides as there are many organic alternatives available from your local nursery or hardware store.

There are many creatures that eat the pests, such as small insect-eating birds and ladybirds/ladybugs which love to eat aphids.

Also you can plant strong-scented herbs as companion plants to help keep pests away.

As you plant your seeds remember to add a Label so that you will know what was planted where as it could become very confusing to identify which plant is which.

Your labels can be as simple as writing on a ice-pop stick or you could have some fun making you own out of any water-proof stuff to be recycled.

As a "green-thumbed" gardener you will be taking care of your plants throughout their life cycles.

The growth of a seed into a seedling is called Germination. Seeds will start germinating if they have enough water, air and warmth.

The next stage is when the plant forms its flowers which once fertilised becomes its fruit, which is usually the part of the plant that we eat.

Whilst some plants can self-pollinate, others need a little help from insects, animals or the wind to move pollen around from flower to flower. (Another reason for not using chemical-based products in the garden as they will kill off everything - good or bad).

Once you have harvested your fruit and vegetables you can use the fruit and vegetable peelings, old plants, lawn clippings and fallen leaves to make wonderful layers or compost and mulch for the plants that you will be growing in the next season.

Through composting the goodness from decaying plant material can be recycled and turned into rich soil for new plants to use.

You will need a mulching fork which is twice as big and as heavy as a normal pitchfork but it gets the job done quicker.

So there you have it ... not so hard really is it ... it is all about being organised and having the right tools and equipment to do the job at hand.

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UrsulaRose

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