One of the things many people do when they move to a more rural location is start a garden. While there is much to know about gardens, it is best to start small. Take the time to continue to research as you go, and expand your plot.
Depending on your climate and topography, your garden can produce food to eat. Many consider buying a greenhouse and/or setting up a hydroponic system as well.
Starting with in-ground gardening may be a place to start. To enrich the soil, you may want to consider composting. Composting is easy to do and can make a big difference in your garden.
Even if you don’t intend to live off-the-grid completely, you will enjoy many benefits from gardening.
Whether you are interested in fruits, vegetables, herbs or an orchard, with proper planning and research, you can grow food. You and your family can enjoy fresh, homegrown produce by starting a garden, spend more time outdoors, and literally enjoy the fruits of your labor. You will continue to learn new things and skills through trial and error.
Having a steady food supply helps in self-sustainability and also provides a sense of comfort for those interested in prepping.
Flowers and other plants are beautiful too. Along with food production, beautiful scenery is an important part of rural living as well.
Here is what to consider when deciding where to plant your garden: in the ground vs raised beds vs pots and containers. Learn the pros and cons of each gardening spot. If you have a … Read more
Before I became interested in gardening, I would go to the store, buy seeds, come home, and plant them. I didn’t know that certain plants grow best in certain areas. I also didn’t know that … Read more
Before you buy anything or do anything, learn these gardening tips for beginners. I explain exactly what to do. To be successful gardening, it takes more than buying seeds, planting them, and watering them. Where … Read more
It’s fun to buy seeds (they are inexpensive!) and to imagine yourself growing lots of vegetables and fruits. But don’t buy anything until you learn which types of plants grow well in your area. Here … Read more
Whether you want to buy pomegranates from the grocery store or pick them from a tree, I explain how to tell if a pomegranate is ripe. I also discuss when to buy them so they … Read more
Wondering what to plant next to your aromatic Rosemary bush? Here we explain the best Rosemary companion plants. Whether it’s the Sage or Beans, planning your plants will benefit your garden. To create a thriving … Read more
Growing Swiss chard is easy when you do it the right way. Swiss chard is typically grown as a cool-season crop that thrives in cool temperatures and tolerates frost. Swiss chard can grow back after … Read more
Turnips are cool season root vegetables. They are easy to grow, with some varieties taking 35 – 40 days to mature from seed. Plant at the right time of year for your climate and use … Read more
Learn how to harvest prickly pear safely. I live in Tucson, Arizona, and have at least 30 prickly pear cactus plants on my property. We lost a few to a record-breaking drought a few years … Read more
Tomato hornworms and tobacco hornworms will wreak havoc on your garden. You may first realize you have a problem when you see bite marks on leaves along with leafless stems on your tomato plants. Damage … Read more
Growing lettuce is easy when you know what you are doing. Here I explain how to grow lettuce from seed or regrow from lettuce. It grows quickly and is a cool season crop. See below … Read more
Growing radishes is one of the easiest ways to start a vegetable garden. Radishes are a cool season crop. They are quick-growing, easy to plant, and require little maintenance. They are ideal for first-time gardeners. … Read more
Learn how to harvest basil to maximize growth. This warm-weather plant will produce lots of leaves. The great thing about growing basil is you can snip leaves off to use in cooking as well as … Read more
Learn about growing a lime tree. They do well in the ground and in containers. There are many lime varieties to choose from, depending on what you want to use them for. Some are more … Read more
When you decide to plant tomatoes in your garden, there are two types from which to choose –determinate and indeterminate. There are distinct differences between the indeterminate tomatoes and determinate tomatoes and reasons you may … Read more
There are as many as 150 different types of basil plants, with sweet basil being the most popular for culinary purposes. Beyond sweet basil, cultivars like Thai basil, Genovese basil, Greek basil and lemon basil … Read more
Learn how to prune basil to ensure lush, vigorous growth. Pruning basil correctly will help the plant to grow bushy and longer. Basil grows easily. Taking steps to trim it properly and timely will enable you … Read more
A pomegranate tree or shrub can be a good choice if you want a fruit-bearing tree. They are suitable for beginner gardeners. Pomegranate trees are ideal first trees to start a small orchard. Growing a … Read more
The loquat tree, also known as Erioboytra japonica, produces juicy, sweet, tangy plum-sized fruits with a yellow or orange thin downy skin. Depending on the cultivar, their flesh can be white, orange, or yellow. The … Read more
The yucca plant is a popular ornamental indoor and outdoor shrub. Although it’s easy to confuse the names yucca and yuca, these are two different plant species. We’ll be covering the yucca plant here, which … Read more