Tips For Beginner Gardeners

Owning your first home opens up many new opportunities, one of which is growing a vegetable garden.

As exciting as it sounds, the responsibility of tending a garden can be a daunting task for someone with no gardening experience. Fortunately, given a few basic considerations, novice gardeners will have no problem growing a large garden.

READ: DIY | cheap garden project

For beginning gardeners looking to get their hands dirty, RE/MAX South Africa offers some advice on how to grow a beautiful, sustainable garden that will help increase property value.

Think about long-term growth

A common mistake is planting plants too close to the walls of the house. If the plant grows, its roots can damage the foundation of the house and the branches can damage the walls. Even if the plant is small at first, it's still important to consider how much it will grow in the long run.

Domestic orientation

Different plants require different amounts of sunlight and shade. Find out which side of the house faces north, as that side of the house will get the most sun. When shopping for plants, be sure to check whether the plants prefer full sun or shade.

water resistant plants

In dry climates like South Africa, succulents are best planted as succulents. Put a layer of mulch on the beds to keep the soil moist longer. Mulch will also help prevent soil erosion, which can be a problem, especially in windy areas like coastal areas.

Consider upgrading to free maintenance

A well-maintained garden can take a long time, but a neglected garden can lead to damage and costly repairs. Make life easier for yourself (and your future clients) by planting plants that don't require much maintenance or regular pruning.

“Having a well-maintained garden can be a major challenge for prospective buyers. As modern developments move towards apartments and complexes it is becoming less and less convenient to have your own personal outdoor space. Outdoor property owners can add a lot of value to a property with little effort to make it as attractive as possible,” says Adrian Goslett, regional director and CEO of RE/MAX South Africa.

READ: Why gardens and barbecues are a strong selling point

For those looking for a home for their first garden, Goslett recommends visiting the nearest RE/MAX office. “You might be surprised at what you can find in your price range. Agents can also know about listings before they hit real estate portals so they can show you homes you might not otherwise see. If you have a house with a garden on your wish list, make sure your agent knows about it and let them take the stress out of finding the perfect home for you,” says Goslett.

In addition to creating your own garden at home, Home-Dzine shares tips on creating your own herb and salad garden.

Many people think they have a houseplant or a vegetable garden, but that's all they can do. Summer is fast approaching and we are looking forward to a fresh and crunchy salad to accompany grilled dishes, or to add fresh aromatic herbs to savory dishes. If you want to grow vegetables and herbs in the kitchen or on the balcony, here are some tips to get you started…

Not everyone has space for a vegetable garden or outdoor lawn, but a vegetable garden takes up almost no space when placed in front of a sunny window. Soon you will be able to harvest organic vegetables and lettuce anytime anywhere.

Grow salad and staples indoors

Growing lettuce, tomatoes and onions indoors is easy if you use a shelf along the kitchen window. If your kitchen doesn't have a sunny spot, it's easy to install grow lights today to provide enough light for healthy growth. If there isn't room for a window garden, you may want to consider the option of a planter box outside the window.

Grow lettuce at home

Lettuce doesn't need large pots, as its root system is non-invasive and doesn't take up much space. For a salad, a pot with a diameter of 10 cm is sufficient.

Fill the pots with the seedling mix. It is better than regular garden soil and contains nutrients to get seedlings started.

Place lettuce seeds in each vase and watch them bloom quickly. Once you reach your desired height, you can start harvesting leaves from outside and continue growing your lettuce.

If you plant regularly, say every 2 weeks, you will have a stable supply of lettuce that will last all summer.

Growing onions at home

While you can grow any type of onion indoors, it's best to only plant onions for the garden. They take up less space and grow faster than bulbs.

Green onions don't require large pots, but you can use larger pots and plant more bulbs in each. Make sure you leave enough room when you plant the seeds so that each plant has room to grow.

A quality seedling mixture instead of soil will provide all the nutrients necessary for good seedling growth.

Growing tomatoes at home

Just like lettuce and onions, tomatoes can be grown indoors. It is a fact that tomatoes grown indoors under the right conditions will be less attacked by pests and diseases.

Unlike other salad staples, tomatoes will need a larger pot to accommodate the root system, say about 20cm in diameter. They will also need space and a support system to grow taller.

Start with enriched, well-drained soil and place one seed per pot. If you want your tomatoes to be permanent, prepare multiple planting pots.

Tomatoes love a sunny location and regular watering, like all of the above.

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