Thinking about growing your own food, but feel totally clueless about gardening? You are not alone. The good news is, you don’t need green fingers to start an edible garden.
With just a few simple steps and some patience, anyone can grow herbs, vegetables, or salad greens at home.
Whether you’re working with a backyard, a balcony, or even a few pots, these tips will help you get started the easy way.
REASONS FOR STARTING AN EDIBLE GARDEN
There’s never been a better time to start an edible garden. With rising food prices, growing your own can save money. But the benefits go far beyond the budget. Gardening leads to a sharper mind and reduces stress, offering an escape from screens and daily pressure. Plus, there is something deeply satisfying about harvesting your own food, no matter how small your space.
START SMALL
The biggest mistake beginners make is starting with more than they can handle without any knowledge. You do not need to grow a big variety. Start with a handful of easy-to-grow options that you already eat at home. Prepare one bed at a time (or plant in a few pots). You can expand as you go. One successful crop is one you no longer have to buy.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPOT
Most edible plants require sufficient daily sunlight. Find the sunniest spot you have, whether it’s a patch of ground, a patio, or a sunny windowsill. Be careful of walls that get a lot of sun as this will generate extra heat. However, some crops, such as lettuce, do not like extreme heat and will do better in shady spots.
USE COMPOST-RICH SOIL
Good soil equals happy and healthy plants with much fewer pests. Use compost to enrich your soil with nutrients, improve drainage, and boost plant health. You don’t have to mix it into the soil. You can add it on top of your existing soil.
ADD MULCH TO COVER YOUR SOIL
Mulch is a soil covering that helps lock in moisture, reduce weeds, and keep soil temperatures steady.. Use straw, dry leaves, bark chips, nut shells, seedless dried grass clippings or any other organic material. The best part is that mulching will also help you water less.
WATER CONSISTENTLY, NOT CONSTANTLY
Plants require regular watering, but it is important not to overwater. Stick your finger into the soil and feel. If it’s dry about a knuckle deep under the surface, it is time to water. Water deeply to encourage deep root growth.
START WITH SEEDS OR SEEDLINGS, BOTH ARE FINE
Seedlings (small young plants) give you a head start. Seeds are cheaper and offer more variety, but take time to reach the stage where you can plant them in the garden. Mix and match depending on your patience level and see what you enjoy the most.
PLANT ACCORDING TO SEASON
Just like there is a season for fireplaces and blankets and one for ice cream and swimming, there is a season for plants. Just because the shop sells cucumbers or cauliflower all year does not mean they should be planted all year in your garden. Knowing when to plant will set you up for success.
NEVER STOP LEARNING
Read the seed packet. Ask questions at your local nursery. Google the plant. Join vegetable groups on social media. Learn about different gardening principles, including permaculture if you want to keep things organic. The more you learn, the better your garden will grow, even if you are winging it at first.
BASIC FEEDING NEEDS
You’ll often see NPK on fertiliser packaging. It stands for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), the main nutrients plants need to grow. A higher number indicates a higher concentration of that nutrient. A fertiliser labelled 20-5-5 contains four times more nitrogen than phosphorus or potassium.
Nitrogen helps leaves grow strong and green, and phosphorus supports healthy roots and helps plants form flowers and fruit. Potassium strengthens them and improves the quality of the harvest. You can get a general, all-purpose fertilisers that will give your veggies everything they need to thrive.
ALWAYS BE PATIENT
Part of the gardening journey is learning to wait for things to happen at nature’s pace. That green tomato might stay green for weeks, but one day, it will suddenly change colour and you can soon enjoy the fruit of your labour.
DON’T PANIC, EVEN IF THINGS DIE
It’s normal to lose a plant or two, not just as a beginner gardener. Keep going, learn from it, and celebrate the ones that do grow. Gardening is about progress, not perfection.
HELPFUL ONLINE RESOURCES FOR BEGINNER GARDENERS
There are plenty of local growers in South Africa with websites and resources on edible gardening. Livingseeds Vegetable Gardeners is just one useful Facebook group. They focus on organic (no pesticides), and have a wealth of free resources under their ‘Files’ section, including what to plant by month and pest disease cards. They also offer free training days at their farm.
YouTube is also a treasure trove of resources. One of my favourites is the American Anne of All Trades, with her informative videos on lazy organic gardening.
Have you recently started growing your own food? Tell us about your biggest challenges or most successful crops.
