Top Gardening Tips for Newbies: Grow Your Green Thumb

Getting started with gardening can be super rewarding—and surprisingly simple once you know the basics. Here’s a beginner-friendly breakdown to help you grow your green thumb.

1. Start Small

• A small area is great for beginners.
• Focus on easy-to-grow plants like herbs (basil, chives, thyme, oregano etc), peas, radishes, spring greens, lettuce, tomatoes, and even flowers! 
• Zinnias are an easy flower to sow from seed, germinate quickly and bloom all summer long! 

2. Pick the Right Spot

• Most veggies and flowers need atleast 6-8 hours of sunlight a day.
• Choose a spot with good drainage (no standing water after rain).
• Understand what you are planting. Does it require more shade?

3. Know Your Soil

• Use quality potting mix for containers or improve your garden soil with compost.
• Do you have clay? sandy soil? a loamy soil? Has your soil been amended with organic matter to feed the soil + the worms in the soil?
• Test the soil if you’re serious—pH and nutrients matter.

4. Water Wisely

• Water early in the morning.
• Knowing your soil helps with proper watering 
• Don’t OVERWATER!!

5. Feed Your Plants

• Use slow-release fertilizers or compost. 
• Don’t over-fertilize—too much can hurt the plants.

6. Watch for Pests & Problems

• Check plants regularly for bugs, mold, or yellowing leaves. Some bugs are good, so don’t jump to conclusions before you know and learn what things are! 
• Why do you have yellowing leaves? Surprisingly, a lot of time this is from too much water.

7. What can be grown now!?

• April is a great time for cold weather crops. Find a guide to planting your cool weather crops here. They thrive in cooler conditions! This includes things like: radishes, peas, potatoes, onions, lettuce, kale, spinach, arugula, carrots, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage..
• Summer crops are planted a bit later. These include things like: tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, green beans, corn, pumpkins, and squashes. Along the Wasatch front in Utah, the rule of thumb for this area is typically Mother’s Day weekend. This is because this is typically after we have our last killing frost. But mother nature keeps things exciting and some years you may need to cover your plants if the temp steps dip down to low.

8. Learn as You Grow

• Keep notes on what works and what doesn’t.
• Be patient—gardening is all about trial and error.

Find my favorite gardening tools here!
I hope this helps you get started this season! Gardening is an incredibly rewarding hobby! Starting small and choosing easy-to-grow plants like herbs and flowers can set you up for success. Understanding your soil, watering wisely, and monitoring for pests are key. With patience and notes on your progress, you’ll cultivate a thriving garden in no time!

Xo, Carly

Get outside and get gardening friends!