Have you ever thought about starting your own garden? If you have, now is the right time to do it. Gardening is not complicated or difficult. It will take some of your time but when you see how beneficial it is, you'll want to expand even more. Growing your own veggies, herbs and colourful flowers is rewarding and satisfying. And who knows, it may turn into something bigger.

Growing Trays

Growing trays is one of the most practical ways to start your own garden. They're a good choice no matter if you’re planting flowers, veggies or fruits. Plus, they’re easy to transplant when the seeds have reached an appropriate size. These practical and efficient seedling grow trays will make sure your seeds grow into strong and healthy plants.

They can be made of several different materials, but the two main ones are plastic (polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene) and polystyrene foam. Polystyrene is very resistant to high temperatures and it won’t deform its shape during the hot days. Polyvinyl chloride or PVC is not very stable and can decompose if exposed to high temperatures for a long time. Polypropylene is hard and can break easily during colder months. The foam trays are lightweight and can be reused if you disinfect them properly.

The tray’s thickness can vary from 0.6 to 1.2mm. The thinnest ones are for one-time usage and are good for manual sowing. The thicker ones (0.8-1.2mm) are better for machine sowing and they can be reused. The depth is usually between 3-5cm. More depth means more root growth. There are also special trays that can reach up to 11cm in depth.

The shape of the hole can be either round or square. The round one has a smooth inner wall which is good for the roots. The square one has corners that guide the roots to grow downwards. This raises the substrate capacity by 30% more than with the round ones. This means even water distribution and better root growth.

These trays come in several different sizes. If you’re a beginner, you might want to invest in smaller trays and upgrade as you go. The cell numbers vary from 6, 32, 50, 72, 105, 128 and more. One cell is around 540mm x 280mm, but this number can vary from one manufacturer to another. In general, a 50-cell tray is good for fruits such as melons, watermelons and pumpkins. A 72-cell one for tomatoes and eggplants and the larger ones for spinach, kale, cabbage, lettuce etc.

Seeds

Choosing the right seeds to start your garden is an important step towards becoming a successful gardener. Before buying the seeds, you should consider the garden’s exposure to the sun, layout, the soil’s mineral content and of course, how much rain you get throughout the year. The most important part is getting high-quality seeds from a reliable supplier.

Harvest season is important as well. It takes longer for some seeds to provide a harvest. You must pre-plan it so it aligns with the ideal growing settings and harvest period for every seed you buy. The veggie seeds come in 3 varieties, heirloom, hybrid and open-pollinated. Hybrid seeds are usually larger than the others and are made by a plant breeder.

The open-pollinated seeds are commonly made from other veggies as a result from cross-pollination. Cross-pollination happens because of winds and natural pollinators. Heirloom seeds are passed down from one gardener to another and are often more than 50 years old. Also, make sure you check how pest and disease-resistant the seeds are. Otherwise, you might have a lot of problems growing them in the seedling grow trays.

Pick the Right Locations

When beginning your own garden, the location is an important consideration. If the location is bad, you’ll get bad veggies. For optimal growth, a lot vegetables normally need 6–8 hours of sunshine. However, some leafy plants need a bit of shade to grow properly. Finding the right balance can be the key to a successful garden.

If there is water gathering in your soil, plant veggies in a raised bed or elevated row. This way you'll get better drainage. If the soil is too damp the roots have a big chance of rotting. If you live in a windy area, make a shelter for the plants, don’t leave them fully exposed. Also, avoid areas with high foot traffic, it can be damaging to the plants.

Finally, always make sure the soil is rich in nutrients. Your vegetables will grow weak and brittle and they may even dry up or not grow at all if they don't have all the nutrients. There's also the possibility of a harvest not happening because of the bad soil. Prepare in advance and add lots of organic matter before planting the seeds.

Consider the Plot Size

It's wise to start lightly if you've never planted a garden before. Don't start with too many plants. Buy one propagator and see how the seeds develop. Experiment with seeds on a smaller plot and see which ones grow best. They are a long-term investment that takes some time to grow properly. Starting small is good, so you don’t get overwhelmed and feel like you’ve failed.

Buy Gardening Tools

Once you get your seeds, it’s time to buy some gardening tools. They will help you plant, harvest and maintain all the fruits and veggies you get. Pruners are a must. They help you cut down unwanted growth and help you remove the fruits and veggies from their stems. A trowel will keep your hands clean when making holes. You can also use it to add a layer of dirt or make ridges.

A water hose is also a garden tool. A hand weeder can get rid of unwanted weeds inside the plot and around the plants. Some other tools you can invest in are a shovel, wheelbarrow, rake, dibber, watering can, gloves, how, sharpener etc.

Prepare for Pests and Diseases

• Keep the weeds at a minimum;
• Build a tall fence;
• Extend the fence underground;
• Be prepared with soapy sprays against insects;
• Water the soil instead of the leaves;
• Water the plants in the morning;
• Remove sick leaves and plants as soon as possible.