HOME GARDENING: HOW TO GET STARTED

Written By: CHRISTINA POOLER - Administrative Assistant, Caribbean Permaculture Institute (CPRI Barbads

Starting a home garden can seem daunting to anyone; especially to those first timers amongst us. Let’s break down this process into manageable steps to get you on your to a bountiful home garden.

WHAT DO YOU DESIRE?

What are your interests or goals for your garden? Do you want to plant vegetables, herbs, flowers, plants for medicinal use or simply have a cocktail garden? Whatever you decide, choose plants that you and your family will use, and enjoy! It’s also nice to plant extra to gift or trade with other family members and neighbours. An ideal garden includes vegetables, herbs and flowers. Planting a variety of species increases the biodiversity, which has a number of benefits in itself. More on that later...

SEEKING THE IDEAL SPOT

Observation is key. Take a day or two to find the correct area for your garden. Observe the amount of daylight; most plants require about 6-8 hours, look at the water drainage when it rains, and how strong the wind is in that area. Your home, a neighbour’s house, or even a tree can act as a wind break or shade your precious plants from the sun at certain times of day. It’s important to bear in mind the type of bugs, animals and birds that may pass through that location as well. It can be very disheartening to enter your garden one day to find that all of your hard work was enjoyed by an unintended recipient; a few neighbouring birds calamitously ate all of your tomatoes, or the resident caterpillars devoured your prized peppers, stalks and all! Avoid choosing a spot that you will not walk by frequently or check on for a couple of days, your garden will surely die a slow agonizing death. Also consider if the garden is close enough to a water source to make the watering process easy. Trust me, no one likes dragging a hose around to then roll it back up neatly for storage, I certainly don’t.

PREP YOUR AREA

Close your eyes...imagine one of those infomercial intros (depicted in black and white) the hardship and stress of starting a garden by clearing grass with a fork and hoe in the hot sun... Why over work yourself with this method when you can do something fun and educational; especially if you have kids around? A simple lasagna garden can kick start your soil into a fully healthy masterpiece. All you need are simple inputs that can be easily found at home. Examples include: shredded newspaper, cardboard, grass clippings, fruit & vegetable scraps, compost, top soil, timber/stones and mulch. Check out our Instagram: (@cpribarbados). A worm tower can be a great bonus too, it is effortless to use; as you insert your organic materials your garden worms will do the rest.

An ideal garden includes vegetables, herbs and flowers.

THE PERFECT CANDIDATES

Think about how you want to layout your plants and how each will benefit each other. Companion planting is ideal to reduce your pest population and promote good growth. If you are an adventurous new gardener; you can start seeds yourself, knowing that you cared for each plant from birth to plate. Be sure to read and follow the seed packet for information about the planting depth, and spacing. If you plan to skip this step, luckily we have plenty of access to nurseries, gardens and even farmers from whom you can purchase seedlings directly. When planting out seedlings dig into your new lasagna garden and plant each at the soil level. If any happen to be root bound, untangle some of the outer roots with your fingers before planting. Don’t forget to water your new garden seedlings often!

GARDEN MAINTENANCE

No one likes to weed, no one. To eliminate this chore, mulch your garden. This keeps the weeds out and moisture in, win win. All you need is a couple inches of leaves, wood chips or anything natural you have around. Don’t let your little seedlings dry out. Frequent watering is needed, until roots are established. Watering early in the morning or in the evening is recommended. Keep an eye out for those predatory plant eaters, who might harvest before you do!

Don’t let your little seedlings dry out. Frequent watering is needed, until roots are estab- lished.

Banish destructive insects by picking them off the plant or protecting it with homemade pesticides, my favourite is a little dishsoap and garlic. You can also build habitats to seduce beneficial insects, get them to do the work for you.

CONTAINER GARDENING

For those without the ideal space for garden beds, you aren’t left out. Choose varieites suitable for planters like cherry tomatoes and zucchini, you can harvest just as much from your patio as your farming neighbor! Popular items for pots are herbs, salad greens and don’t forget to try sprouts and microgreens which are little, easy to grow, nutrition packed alternatives.

GO START YOUR GARDEN

Now that you have the basics, just get started and start experimenting! Imagine creating the perfect cocktail highlighting the herbs you grew yourself. Pair your next Sunday lunch with a freshly picked garden salad. Whichever way you have it, plant- ing your very own home garden will be one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have.

For more indepth information on where to place your garden, what to plant, and tips and tricks, get in touch with the Caribbean Permaculture Research Institute (CPRI Barbados) – www.cpribarbados.com

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