Creating a green space at home is a decision that not only benefits the design, style and decoration of the property, but is also another step towards committing to caring for the environment. This is best explained if we consider that by having some plants we can purify the air, refresh the environment and prevent the spread of dust.
Before starting the project of having a garden at home, we must know that there are certain details that allow us to grow these fruits or vegetables. Specifically, there is a great difference between “planting” and “sowing”, that although in the two processes we obtain a plant, each one has specific characteristics that influence the successful care and maintenance of the garden.
How to start a garden at home?
Sowing the seeds.
Planting the already grown plants.
We are going to begin to specify the measures to follow when using the seed sowing process, where we must bear in mind that patience and perseverance will be essential to ensure that these germinate. Above all, do not let yourself be won over by frustration, since around 65% of the seeds will not germinate due to different circumstances. This is natural and does not mean that you are doing something wrong. The only thing to consider when not all the seeds germinate is to re-sow and continue the garden process.
Now, to get the seed out of the ground and become a seedling or baby plant, it is vital to know how the seeds germinate and grow. In the first instance, you must choose high-quality seeds, purchase them from an accredited brand and that these can be adapted correctly to the area and environment of our home.
Another aspect of seeds is that their germination occurs under specific conditions on the conservation of humidity in the soil, oxygen level, light and the appropriate temperature for their growth, although these factors depend on each type of seed, for example There are seeds that need light to grow and germinate, although most require keeping them underground for total darkness. However, to start sowing a space where there is light most of the time is recommended.
So, to achieve the successful germination of the seeds, it is important to take care of the different elements mentioned, since if the soil is very humid or compact, the seeds cannot breathe due to the lack of oxygen. Similarly, if the ideal temperature range for the type of species is not preserved, they are damaged or simply do not germinate. In any case, here you can consult germination to understand everything that happens before a seed can germinate.
Sowing a seed step by step
In the process of sowing seeds you have to be patient and follow the following steps:
To start, it is essential to wash your hands properly before touching the seeds.
The substrate must be moistened very well, evenly, as dry areas will hinder the germination process. A test to see if it is ready is to perform a test verifying that it can be easily dissolved by touch.
If sowing is to be carried out directly into the ground, a hole must be made in the soil twice the size of the seed, for example, if the seed measures 3 mm, the hole must be 6 mm from the surface of the the soil or substrate. It is important that the soil is removed because this will soften it and can be “aerated” for better germination.
Then, we must place 3 seeds from the chosen envelope. If the seed is very small, we can help ourselves with a wooden stick or tweezers to place it in its place, always taking care of it. Larger seeds can be placed only on the substrate so as not to make their germination process more difficult.
Now we must cover the holes with earth. We are going to place a layer of earth delicately, with the help of a wooden stick, or gently with your finger, without pressing too hard to let it breathe.
Afterwards, the sowing must be watered very carefully so as not to move the seed from its place, preferably with a watering can or spray bottle with water. Be careful not to pour too much liquid.
When the seeds have already germinated, it will be necessary to leave only the strongest or healthiest in the place and remove the other two weaker ones.
For indirect sowing in the seedbed, the instructions must be followed correctly, following steps 2 to 6 of this list and waiting 10 to 20 days to see the seedlings. The peat moss and germination compost mixture should also be placed in each planting hole.
Once they are strong, with a stem and several small leaves visible, they must be placed directly on the ground, with great care and a distance between one seedling and another, taking as a reference the size of the fruit it will have. Taking care of this space is important, since each germinated seed will need its own nutrients, so separating them correctly will help them not to compete with each other for nutrients, water and air.
The simplest crops to start a garden by sowing the seeds are:
Pea.
Lettuce.
Spinach.
Basil.
Onion.
Cilantro.
Parsley.
Garlic
Carrot.
Asparagus.
Planting seedlings or plants
To start with a garden or make it grow, it is best to plant the species that are already grown or seedlings, which are baby plants, since by doing so we make sure that 95% of them develop.
It must be remembered that these plants come from seeds that have already germinated, which means that they conquered that first great challenge. Consequently, the care processes are less intense and specific, since these species have already produced their first leaves in the case of the seedling or are already mature, as is the case with the formed plants.
The planting process is also recommended because we can select the different plants already grown, with flowers of the color we want, the size and many more characteristics to decorate our home.
In this sense, it should be mentioned that the steps to plant are very simple, since we only have to do the following:
Make a hole in the ground, directly in the garden, the size of the base of the pot that contains it.
Then, we must place a bed of compost soil as a base to receive the root of the plant, nourish it and help it grow more.
To remove the plant from the pot, you have to be very careful, place it upside down and grab it from the lower part of the stem so that it is easier to remove it, without damaging
its leaves. We can loosen the soil and roots a little by inserting our hand into the container, trying to make it lose the shape of the pot in order to release the roots a little.
It is also important to take care that the root is not exposed to the air for a long time and proceed to water carefully.
It should be noted that some of the easiest options to grow to start a garden for the first time are:
Vegetable.
Tomatoes.
Peppers.
Strawberries.
Eggplants.
Lettuce
Chard.
Spinach.
Aromatic and medicinal plants:
Peppermint.
Rosemary.
Thyme.
Basil.
Mint.
Chamomile.