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How to Start Home Gardening in Tennessee (TN) for Beginners: From Scratch for Indoors, Raised Beds, Outdoors, Backyards, and Containers

When you raise your fruits and veggies, you receive an even greater sense of accomplishment than when you only consume the freshest produce. However, you may be at a loss for what to plant if you aren’t a natural gardener. This article will provide the foundation you need to produce your veggies, whether your motivation is to go outside and work out, save money, encourage your family to eat better, or any combination of these goals.

How to Start Home Gardening in Tennessee (TN) for Beginners
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Below we learn about Tennessee home gardening, different kinds of home gardens for Tennessee, how to begin a backyard home garden in Tennessee, how to begin an indoor home garden in Tennessee, how to begin a container home garden in Tennessee, about the planting zones of Tennessee, and different fruits and vegetables for Tennessee home gardens.

How to start home gardening in Tennessee (TN) for beginners

Is Tennessee a good state for gardening?

Gardening must be wondering if you are in Tennessee! The sun is out, and the rain is pouring. Mild weather and a long growing season can help flowers and edibles thrive in your location. It’s an exciting time to be a gardener in Tennessee. The specific information you’ll need to grow effectively in your state is included in this manual. Tennessee has warm to hot summers and moderates to coolish winters, making it ideal for gardeners. It is the hottest and has the longest growing season in the state’s southern regions.

The farther up you go, the colder the winters become. Except for the highlands, most of the state has a humid subtropical climate. The annual average rainfall there is 53.67 inches. It snows an average of 3 inches there each year. Clingmans Dome, the tallest peak in Tennessee, is located on the Appalachian Trail and is 6,643 feet in elevation. At the Mississippi state boundary, on the banks of the Mississippi River, the elevation drops to 178 feet.

The Great Smoky Mountains dominate the landscape of eastern Tennessee, including steep peaks and deep ravines. The state’s midsection is characterized by flat plateaus, gently undulating hills, and rich, fertile soils. Furthermore, the state’s western region is very level and endowed with fertile soil. Forests cover almost half of the state. Tennessee is known for its acidic soil.

Can you garden year-round in Tennessee?

Tennessee has two distinct times of year for planting and harvesting vegetables: the warm and cold seasons. Grow warm-season veggies in the spring after frost risk has passed but before July; plant cool-season vegetables in the autumn to take advantage of the winter cold; many cool-season crops can also be planted in the early spring. Planting time for cool-season vegetables is between July 1 and September 30 for an autumn and winter harvest. They need the chilly late autumn and winter temperatures for optimal germination and development.

Because of their weak roots and sensitivity to drought, cool-season vegetables need vigilant water management. Planting cool-season veggies like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Chinese collards, pickled cucumbers, mustard greens, Irish potatoes, slicing cucumbers, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, icicle radishes, and spinach during this time works well in Tennessee. Vegetables flourish throughout the year’s warm months because of their favorable conditions in the warm soil and air. The first week of April to the last week of July is when they are planted.

If vegetables of the warning season are exposed to temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, they will perish along with their seeds. They need water even in the hottest parts of summer, but their large, deep roots help plants survive dry spells better than winter veggies. Plants like bush beans, cantaloupe, pole beans, snap beans, lima beans, runner beans, sweet corn, pickled cucumbers, slicing cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peas, sweet peppers, and tomatoes are all good options for the spring.

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Soil preparation
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Planting times for cool-season veggies in Tennessee are early February to late March. Beets, broccoli, savoy cabbage, round green cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, butter crunch lettuce, cauliflower, carrots, collards, Irish and Yukon gold potatoes, sugar snap peas, iceberg lettuce, mustard greens, bunch onions, sweet storing onions, English peas, white icicle radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, rhubarb, and turnips can all be grown as cool-season crops in the spring.

What fruits and vegetables grow best in TN?

The state of Tennessee is ideal for growing a wide variety of fruit, including grapes, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, blackberries, and apples. Successful veggies include tomatoes, potatoes, squash, pumpkins, peas, beans, and cucumbers. The University of Tennessee Cooperative Extension recommends cultivars known to thrive in Tennessee. If you want to grow disease-resistant plants in Tennessee, use these varieties. Growing varieties not on this list are possible, but you do so at your own risk.

What veggies can you grow in Tennessee?

Tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, peppers, eggplants, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are some of the most often transplanted crops. Cucumbers, muskmelons, watermelons, and summer squash all have a little more delicate roots, but they may be transplanted successfully, provided care is used. Planting the seeds in biodegradable containers can avoid disturbing the plant’s roots. Most of the time, large-seeded crops, like beans, peas, and maize, and root crops, like radishes, beets, and carrots, are planted directly.

When should you plant a garden in Tennessee?

Tennessee is a great place to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables. It doesn’t matter where in Tennessee a gardener lives; the only thing that could alter is the suggested planting and harvesting times. If you’re a gardener in Tennessee who wants to get the most out of this year, you may want to create a formal garden plan before purchasing or planting. Tennessee gardeners are lucky since the state has three unique growing seasons for fruits and vegetables.

Growers have a wide window of opportunity to sow seeds for harvests at various times. The temperature is of primary significance since certain plants will not produce it when it is too warm. Among them are lettuces, spinach, peas, and strawberries. On the other hand, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peaches can only be grown in very hot climates.

In addition, gardeners should know that temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit, even for short periods, can be harmful to even fruits and vegetables suited to hotter climates. Gardeners need to remember that this data varies greatly from species to plant. Tennessee gardeners are lucky since the state has three unique growing seasons for fruits and vegetables. The temperature is of primary significance since certain plants will not produce it when it is too warm.

What zone is TN for planting?

Most of Tennessee’s planting zones are subtropical due to their closeness to the Gulf of Mexico. Southern winds are responsible for the bulk of the state’s plentiful precipitation, which falls mostly in the winter and spring. Yearly rainfall averages about 50 inches. Temperatures in Tennessee’s winters tend toward the cool end of the spectrum, while the state’s summers are often hot and humid. A humid continental climate with relatively lower temperatures characterizes the Appalachians’ higher elevations. 

However, the high mountain ranges in the eastern parts of the state often get more than 16 inches of snow. Therefore the total amount of snowfall is quite variable. In the west, precipitation totals of just around 5 inches are possible. Tennessee is so far inland that it rarely experiences severe weather. However, the state will feel the effects of tropical storms that have been weakened but still produce heavy rainfall.

Tornadoes are possible, with the greatest risk being in the western and central parts of the state. Annual average temperatures have a broad range around the state. Summertime highs often hover in the mid-70s, while wintertime lows hover just below the freezing mark. From zone 5b up to zone 8a, Tennessee has a wide range of potential growing environments.

Farmers and gardeners around the United States utilize zones to determine which species of plants, flowers, and vegetables will thrive in their area and which won’t survive the winter. Planting zones in Tennessee and elsewhere are based on average frost dates. For optimal results in Tennessee, choose plants best grown in a zone lower than yours. Therefore, if you live in zone 5b, you can safely grow any plant recommended for zones 1-5.

Tennessee is home to various vegetables, plants, and flowers. Verbena, sage, swamp sunflowers, tickseed, lamb’s ear, coneflowers, Shasta daisies, common rue, and butterfly weed are just a few of the many plants and flowers that thrive in Tennessee gardens. Several kinds of vegetables do very well in such a setting. These crops include savoy cabbage, potatoes, sugar snap peas, carrots, kale, beets, and more.

What grows in winter in TN?

Snowdrops, winter jasmine, hellebore, camellia, and winter honeysuckle, are some of the best plants that grow in winter in TN.

When should I plant tomatoes in Tennessee?

While it is possible to start tomatoes from seed and grow them inside in pots throughout the late winter, many gardeners instead choose to purchase seedlings from a nursery. Tomato plants can be transplanted into the garden at 6-8 inches.

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Planting
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It’s more essential to pay attention to the weather than the date. Due to their extreme vulnerability to cold, tomatoes should not be planted outside until after the last expected freeze of the season has passed. In Tennessee, you may wait until far into June to grow tomatoes without risk. When gardening, it’s recommended that you rotate where you put tomatoes every year. Crop rotation, in which plants are only planted once every 3 or 4 years in the same area, can reduce the spread of disease and the depletion of soil nutrients.

How long is the growing season in Tennessee?

The growing season in Tennessee varies in duration from region to region. When the final frost occurs between March and April, the season starts. The first autumn frost, which can occur anytime from the middle of October to the middle of November, marks the end of the growing season.

How do I start a backyard home garden in Tennessee?

Choosing a suitable location 

In the event of a dry summer growth season, picking a site adjacent to a water source is highly recommended. Hand-watering or piping water to plants may keep them alive even in dry periods. A garden near the home is excellent. It has to be in a spot with plenty of suns and no underground obstacles like trees. If shade trees are present, it will be difficult for vegetables to thrive due to competition for nutrients and water.

Preparing the soil in your yard for planting

Elements in liquid and gaseous states, as well as tiny organisms from plants and animals, are all included. It’s best to grow plants in loamy soil.  The texture of the soil is a measure of how the soil behaves in either its wet or dry states. Clay is abundant in the northern hemisphere. After the rain, it turns into a slick, sticky mess, but as it dries, it hardens into a smooth pavement. Therefore, clay should not be used as a standalone gardening medium.

Loam is the result of mixing clay with additional components, such as sand and bush muskeg. Vegetable growers created compost to add to the soil. Compostable materials vary from potting soil to potting soil, dried leaves, and even potato tops to tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells, and orange peels. All of this is accumulated in a bin and left to degrade during the summer, at which point it resembles peat or muskeg in texture and lightness.

Due to the nutrients it contains for plants, compost is useful. Without the fuel of nutrients, plants cannot develop to their greatest size or produce their maximum crop. In the North, clay and sand soils are poor in nutrients. Compost, leftover fish, and animal manures are great ways for gardeners to improve the soil. One more choice is fertilizer bags. You can find out how much fertilizer you need by testing the soil.

Planting your backyard garden 

Mark each row’s placement with pegs. If you have much success with a particular seed, you may want to use it again next season, so be sure to write the variety down on your planting calendar. The soil around seeds has to be consistently moist if they are to germinate. Every day, examine the soil to see whether it needs watering; if so, water very little. It’s essential to maintain a moist soil environment, but not one that’s drenched; otherwise, larger seeds may rot.

Watch for signs of sprouting. Seeds have a hard time germinating in chilly soil and weather. Stay positive if it takes longer than two weeks. You should plant a new row if you haven’t seen any growth after three weeks. No longer are circumstances ideal for germination. The seedlings may have had trouble penetrating the crusty top layer because of a lack of water, too high temperatures, or the furrow being dug too deeply.

By sowing the seeds of beans, lettuce, peas, and radishes twice or thrice at 10-day intervals, the growing season can be prolonged by up to two months. This strategy gives us confidence that we will have enough resources to get through the summer. Once the seedlings have matured, you can thin them to the recommended spacings in the chart below. Do it on a cloudy day, when the soil is still moist from the day before.

Water your backyard garden

It is best to water plants one inch in warmer climes once a week. If it doesn’t rain, you’ll have to give the plants a drink. It is possible to use rainwater collected in barrels or water pumped from a nearby river or lake to irrigate a garden. Water the garden about an inch every week. A full, thorough watering is preferred over a shallow, infrequent one.

Sprinklers are an inefficient way to irrigate plants because they force the roots to the surface, where they are more vulnerable to being broken by hoeing and baked by the sun. Set out a clear container with half-inch marks to track how much water you’ve given your plants. Water your garden by 1.5 inches every week.

Watering in the morning or early afternoon allows the leaves time to dry before evening, which is ideal if you want to avoid a soggy mess on your sheets. Mold and mildew flourish on moist leaves. On overcast days, water will evaporate at a slower pace. That’s why they are the best option. Vegetables are an excellent source of hydration. Some veggies may not thrive in dry conditions, resulting in a smaller harvest and rougher food.

Weeding your garden

Weeding is a necessary evil. Its value extends well beyond only aesthetics in the garden. Weeds are unwelcome plants growing in your landscape. Thus, the plants you want to maintain will be suffocated. They consume valuable resources like water and fertilizers and take up valuable growing space. Invasive weeds threaten crops; thus, eliminating them is essential to their success.

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Seedlings
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It’s perfect for a wedding after it rains when the ground is still soft and moist. After that, just uproot it entirely, including its roots. When weeds are young plants, they are considerably easier to uproot. Preventing weeds from going to seed is why weeding is so essential. In time, the soil will absorb these wasted seeds, and new weeds will sprout. Before deciding if a group of plants is a weed or a crop, wait for them to form a clear straight line. Unlike weeds, your planted vegetables will grow in neat rows.

Controlling diseases and pests in your garden

There is a big difference between the kinds of insects that bite people and those that consume plants. Insects that feed on the leaves of crops or sip their juices do significant harm. Holes or fading in the leaves indicate insect damage. Get rid of the insects using either a commercially available product or some home remedies. Traditional gardeners often used wood ashes to repel root maggots and protect their onion crops from rot.

There has been a movement toward more compassionate pest control practices, and soaps that kill insects without hurting people or other animals are now widely available in home gardens. Potatoes are susceptible to various fungal, bacterial, viral, and bacterial diseases. Many organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi, may cause infection. Call the gardening center if you observe any indications of diseases.

Fencing is also necessary to ensure your garden’s safety and success. The pace at which plants can grow is slowed when the soil is compacted and the plants are disturbed, both of which occur when humans or animals move through a garden. Pets like digging in the garden kill the plants by damaging the roots. You must install a fence to keep these animals from destroying your garden. A garden cannot thrive without proper fencing.

The growth of the plants in the garden might be slowed if humans or animals trample the soil. Animals that like digging in the garden are doing more harm than good by disturbing the soil and maybe killing the plants’ roots. You must install a fence to keep these animals from destroying your garden. A healthy vegetable garden is possible with little effort to protect it from pests and diseases. Try to get your hands on disease-resistant seeds if you can.

Before purchasing a plant from a store, inspect the roots. Discolored or spotted leaves might indicate sickness, malnutrition, or injury. Removing and disposing of any plant that shows disease symptoms is essential. Don’t throw it in the compost. Crop rotation reduces soil-borne diseases, notably in potatoes and cabbage.

Weeding regularly will reduce the number of hiding places for plant-eating insects. When it has recently rained, it’s not worth your time to tend the garden. Rain-drenched soil makes walking more complex, and moist leaves are more prone to damage and disease. After harvesting, all traces of the plants must be removed. You can toss them in the compost if they’re in good shape.

How do I start a container home garden in Tennessee?

Choose your containers

The arrangement of an in-ground garden is one of the first things to think about. You can delay worrying about this since container gardens are easily moved. As the season advances, you may need to rearrange your plants to account for variations in sunshine and shadow or to avoid smothering. Every common vegetable or fruit crop can be grown effectively in a container, provided it is large enough.

Root vegetables and tubers are even harder and need extra-large containers to support their growth and root systems. Growing mature pumpkins or melons in containers is difficult since their vines produce roots at each node, much like pumpkins and watermelons. Most common garden veggies, however, are easy to grow and provide superb results. It is suggested that the depth of the container is about equal to its diameter.

For instance, if you’re growing tomatoes, you may have read that you should space them out at 4-foot intervals. In such a scenario, a pot no more than 2 feet across will do. Finding the ideal container for your plant can take more than one effort. More so than herbs, which can do well even in very small containers, fruiting plants need a larger growing medium for their roots to produce a substantial harvest. There’s no use in buying little containers if you have the space for larger ones.

Make sure of drainage

If you follow the sizing guidelines, your plant roots will be confined. They cluster when they come close to the edge or bottom of the container. The growth matrix must have good drainage to “feed” the plant and keep it hydrated. Fill each pot with a soil-like medium or potting mix with good drainage. Soil, especially nutrient-rich garden soil, is rarely a possible alternative unless your containers are pretty large and place only modest limits on the root systems.

Moving a container filled with this soil is more challenging than potting mix. Place enough potting soil in each container to fill it, and then add a little extra to make a mound in the center. Remove the top layer by pressing it down with a board or ruler. In this manner, the plant’s roots can spread out as much as possible within the constraints of the container.

Don’t pack the potting soil down too tightly; give the container a good shake. The potting soil can get compacted after the first watering. As the growing season progresses, some potting soil can wash out via drainage holes. If you want to simplify watering, don’t let the “soil” go over the top of the container. It’s best to keep pebbles and gravel out of the container’s base. Many believe it aids drainage, but it does the opposite.

Continuous potting soil acts like a sponge. A sponge with water left on the ground would eventually be absorbed into the soil. Compost is beneficial to plants, but too much might cause water to pool and destroy the roots if added to a container. If you use compost in container gardening, you can use compost tea as a “plant food.”

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Pot Garden
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Commercial potting mixes often include time-release fertilizer these days. You need to find a fertilizer mixture that doesn’t include this ingredient. Vegetables grown in containers need special care to ensure they get all the nutrients without prompting fast growth that can stress the plant’s root structure. Consider the case when you have purchased fertilizer-infused potting soil. It should be flushed with a few liters of water to remove the soluble material before planting. The overflow can help water your plants.

Water your container garden

Before watering the plant, make sure the potting mix is well soaked. It will be seen when water begins to seep through the cracks. After watering, every single root hair in the container must be able to access the water supply. Wait until the top half an inch of the potting mix is dry before giving it another soaking. When the potting soil has dried up, the color will fade from black to a dull grey. In addition, signs of water stress in your plants include leaf rolling and wilting. It’s best to let the container drain completely between waterings.

If you don’t water your plants too often, the potting mix at the bottom of the container might dry up, putting stress on the roots and reducing their ability to take in water and nutrients. Even if it’s raining gently outside, you should give your plants an occasional vigorous soaking to ensure the potting soil is properly wet. There is no risk of “overwatering” while using potting mix so long as the container is obtained and allowed to dry almost fully.

Add fertilizer to your container plants.

The root systems of container-grown vegetables are shallower, so they take up fewer nutrients and water. The plants will require supplemental fertilizer in this instance. Plants thrive when given diluted water-soluble fertilizer regularly. Compost tea, seaweed extract, and fish hydrolysate are all examples of “regular” liquid or granular organic fertilizers that you may apply to your plants. Apply plant fertilizer more often and with a diluted solution than the manufacturer recommends.

The fertilizer should be spread out over time or applied gradually. Fertilizer recommendations typically call for 1 cup each month, but if you want to spread it out, you can add 1/4 cup. The plant is always given the same quantity without huge, irregular doses. Simply give the plant the amount of water it needs at any given moment to prevent over- or under-watering. Keep track of your findings; doing so will help you choose your optimal course of action in the future.

A diluted fertilizer solution has to be prepared for use in the container. You may save time by “feeding” and “watering” simultaneously. To ensure that the plant’s roots get nutrients from the soil consistently, it is preferable to completely saturate the potting soil with the solution. Using a big watering can or several buckets to mix the diluted fertilizer solution in stages is recommended. When just the top layers of a container are fertilized with a concentrated blend of fertilizer, the plant’s roots will flourish in the low-nutrient environment.

Some top roots might be “burned” if the fluid is applied too heavily. Limit your fertilisation efforts. Adding extra nitrogen to a plant with stunted roots will help it grow even more. The health of a plant can be checked by observing its leaf coloration. If you overwater a plant or use too much of a nutrient solution, you should water it again until the excess drains out of the pot. This gets rid of much-unused fertilizer. Unless you’ve already pushed yourself too far, you can wait till tomorrow to get things done—no need to “feed” a plant with green leaves before fertilizing. 

How do I start an indoor home garden?

Start by finding a place that can serve as a home for your plants. You can tidy up a table, a windowsill, a whole hall, or an entire room. If you don’t have much room for a plant stand on the ground, consider a vertical plant stand instead. The availability of enough space is crucial for the success of any endeavor. You can only maintain so many plants in your space, which must be of a certain kind. Plants’ capacity to convert light from the sun into energy that drives chemical and biological reactions is crucial to their development.

In other words, they perform photosynthesis. Your houseplants need to be in a bright location throughout the day. If natural light is not an option, grow lights will need to be installed. Young plants are easily damaged, and some can be deadly if swallowed inappropriately; keep them out of the reach of playful pets and inquisitive children. Indoor gardening is best done in pots rather than hardwood, linoleum, or carpet floors. You don’t need to buy flower-specific pots.

A planter must have drainage holes on the bottom to hold the soil properly. Water seeping through the holes should be collected in a drainage saucer or similar device. The ideal container size is dependent on the plants you want to cultivate. Herbs like oregano and basil go well in a container as little as 8-10 inches, but a dwarf citrus tree needs a pot that’s 5-15 gallons in size. To avoid overcrowding, choose a pot that is suitable for the size of your plant.

When your plantling outgrows its present pot, it’s time to upgrade to something more suitable. Then, a growth medium is essential. To grow plants, you’ll need soil unless you use an advanced technique like hydroponics or aeroponics. Different suppliers provide potting mixtures in different bag sizes. If possible, go for an organic mix, and look for products developed specifically for the vegetables you want to cultivate. Avoid bringing pests and molds into the house. Chemicals leached from buildings can potentially contaminate the soil around them.

Your older home’s soil may have been treated with chemicals intended to kill termites, but which are now illegal to use. Consider lead for another example of a pollutant that can reach unhealthy levels in the soil and air around older buildings. One possible way to determine whether your soil is contaminated with lead is to send a sample to a nearby university or your local Tennessee extension department for a small fee. Your indoor plants need enough light if they are to flourish and offer you with nutritious produce.

Natural daylight entering via windows and glass doors is the best lighting since it does not need any more energy to create and already has the ideal spectrum of wavelengths. East and west-facing windows let in the most sunlight in the summer since the sun is lower in the sky during those times. Since the sun warms the western horizon first in the morning, eastern exposure is cooler than western because less heat has a chance to build up there.

For indoor winter gardening, windows facing south are best due to the greater amount of light they allow during the darker winter months. When the sun is higher in summer, your plants may not receive enough direct sunlight. Unless you have a sunny window, you’ll need to use artificial light. Those experimenting with indoor gardening have discovered that low-cost store lighting can provide satisfactory results. Expert gardeners often suggest investing in pricier broad-spectrum lights that provide the same variety of colors as natural sunlight.

It’s possible that using one of these lights to germinate seeds might provide excellent results. Light-emitting diodes (LED) and fluorescent variants are easily accessible. Don’t light your plants with incandescent bulbs because of the risk of thermal damage. A metal shelving unit’s top shelf can hold grow lights, while the bottom level can hold potted plants and seed trays. Converting a tall bookshelf or other storage structure into a vertical garden can efficiently use your space. Plants can’t live without water.

Depending on the ambient temperature and humidity, they may require more or less water inside. Air conditioning systems may remove moisture from the air and heat during summer. Watch for plant dehydration. Leaves frequently show dryness first. Unlike outside gardening, which can necessitate sprinklers, drip lines, and hours of sweating under the hot heat while manually pushing the nozzle at the end of a dirty hose, interior watering plants requires a watering can.

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Fertilizing Pots
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You should start with a smaller can as you learn the ropes. Make it easy to replenish supplies near the sink. In addition, it is recommended that you use a watering can with a small nozzle to avoid flooding your plants. The soil’s fertility must be replenished when plants are grown and harvested. Being restricted, indoor plants require more concentrated fertilizer. Never forget that you wash away essential soil nutrients every time you water. You can get fertilizer already mixed and ready to go.

You can also compost your food waste and yard waste if you’re feeling brave and want to show off your environmental consciousness. Most composting takes place outdoors, but there are safe ways to do it inside, so no one has to wear a mask even if they are in a small room together. Worms can be employed to turn rotting food into dark, fertile soil. At the same time, the Japanese bokashi method uses bran grains injected with beneficial bacteria to “pre-ferment” the compost and hasten the decomposition process.

What kind of wood should I use for raised beds?

In most cases, Cedar is the ideal wood for garden beds because of its natural resistance to decay. Western red cedar has other excellent options for outdoor building, including white cedar, yellow cedar, and juniper. Redwood is another excellent option since it resists decay. But there is a greater scarcity of supplies. Both the kind of cedar used and the local climate influence the wood’s longevity.

What do I put on the bottom of a raised garden bed on concrete?

At the bottom of your bed, you can place drainage material. Raised beds built on top of concrete or asphalt should be lined with geotextile membranes and stuffed with at least three inches of coarse gravel or stones. The membrane keeps the drainage material from your soil, so none of these issues can occur.

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