Tips for Gardening at Home with Your Family

As the home of America’s Farm Fresh, we're partial to veggies and fruits just picked from the garden. We think you and your family will feel the same once you experience how fun and fulfilling (not to mention flavorful!) it is to grow your own produce at home.

Planting a vegetable garden is a great, hands-on activity for the whole family. Kids especially love digging in the dirt and keeping an eye out for mini sprouts and emerging fruit buds. It's also full of teaching opportunities, like where our food comes from, why it's important to take care of the land and how to cook and eat healthy with the foods you grow.

You don't need acres of land to have a garden. In fact, even a sunny window sill will do for some plants. To help you get started, we've rounded up a few tips and tricks for gardening at home – whatever your space. So, roll up your sleeves and let's get growin'!

Planting A Plot Of Land

Plan out your plot. Before you start digging into your yard, it’s important to know where your utility lines are by calling your suppliers to have them marked. Once you identify a safe area for your garden, measure the space and divide it up into sections based on the types of produce you’re planting. This can be a great math exercise for older kids!

Remember to consider how much space the fruit or vegetable needs to grow. For example, zucchinis and pumpkins need lots of floor space to crawl, while green beans and cucumbers need to climb. Use yarn or string and some stakes to rope off your sections while planting to easily visualize your plan.

Nourish Your Soil

If you’re going to plant right in the ground, it’s important to loosen up the soil so that your plants can root appropriately. A hoe, metal rake or specialty tool such as a rototiller will do the job. If you notice your soil is very dense or clay-like, you might need to mix in some garden soil and extra nutrients to help your plants acclimate and grow strong.

You can buy a soil testing kit to help you find out exactly which nutrients your soil needs – and can usually remedy by adding household items like eggshells (calcium) and coffee grounds (nitrogen). Pay special attention that no chemicals from lawn treatments will get into your garden.

Get Digging

This is one of the most kid-friendly parts of gardening! It’s important to dig the right size hole for your seeds and seedlings so that they can strongly root, but also break through the soil. Seeds should only be planted two-to-three times their width below the soil — typically anywhere from 1/8 inch to 1 inch underneath the soil. While maturing seedlings and plants can go a little deeper – about 6 to 12 inches. Pay attention to specific recommendations for each plant

Guard Your Harvest

Having your garden in your yard allows for plenty of space to grow, but it also leaves it vulnerable to hungry wildlife. Keep an eye on it and consider putting a temporary fence around it or planting a border of marigolds to fend off leaf-eating insects like beetles.

Planting In Raised Beds

Start with the right dirt. If you’re not planting in your yard, you’ll likely need to buy some garden soil that has some extra vitamins and nutrients in it. You also want to make sure you fill your garden box enough so that your plants have enough room to root — typically 8 to 12 inches. If you’re building your own garden box, you’ll also want to be mindful of the type of wood or materials selected. It’s important to choose one that won’t leak chemicals into your soil and is meant for being in contact with the ground or dirt.

Room To Grow

Just like on land, you’ll want to space out your fruits and veggies, which can be a little more challenging when you’re restricted to a certain size bed. When dividing up your space(s)keep in mind the sunlight and water requirements of each plant and group accordingly. This information should be easily found on your seed packet or plant tag.

Also, consider grouping similar vegetables together (all varieties of peppers, etc.) for easier harvesting. Some plants also complement each other. For example, planting basil next to your tomato plants helps keep bugs away.

Label Your Plants

Once you’ve mapped out your garden beds and planted your seeds or seedlings, be sure to write down, or better yet, label your spaces. Consider using popsicle sticks, rocks, or other items around the house to label each row. Make it a craft and let the kids have fun with it!

Gardening Inside

Find a sunny spot. Vegetables need at least 4-6 hours of sunlight per day, while fruits require 8-10 hours per day. Consider setting up your garden on a window sill or a table in front of a big window that gets consistent sun. Try to find a spot where your kiddos can help water and watch them grow.

Pick Your Pot

Depending on what you have available and the size of your sunny spot, the next step is to pick your container. Many home improvement stores have a variety of gardening pots to choose from. Pick your container depending on the size of your plants — herbs can survive in smaller containers like glass mason jars, while fruit trees and peppers need a bigger pot. Carrots, garlic, salad greens and scallions are among the best indoor plants to grow. Tomatoes also grow well in pots, but they need a lot of sun, at least 10 hours per day, so it may be best to keep them outside on a patio.

Let It Flow

It’s important that your pots have holes for water to drain because indoor plants take longer to dry out than their outdoor friends. You’ll also want to use potting soil versus garden soil in your containers because it’s less dense and allows for quicker drainage. Make sure to put somesort of pan or tray underneath them so you avoid ruining any floors or tables with dirty puddles.

Recycle & Repurpose

If you don’t have any pots to use, recycle some items you already have at home. Wash out a plastic yogurt tub, cut the top off a milk jug, or use toilet paper rolls to house your seeds. You can also upcycle the produce itself and before you toss your scraps from dinner, consider saving the pit of an avocado, a celery stalk and seeds from your various fruits and veggies to start growing a plant of your own.

Tending to Your Garden

Drink up!

Whether you’re planting indoors or out, be sure to water your plants to help them grow. Pick a time each day for you and your kids to water your garden — or put a sticker chart on the fridge to help them remember and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Take Care

Small hands are great for the jobs that help your plants thrive like pruning, weeding and mulching. Make sure to remove dead leaves or branches and pull weeds that compete for nutrients and sun. Mulching your garden, with something as simple as grass clippings, can help keep your garden weed-free.

Share Your Garden

Take photos of your garden each week so your family can see the progress made once your garden begins to flourish. Getting your garden on at home? Tag @bobevansfarms in your photos on Instagram and post with #BobsFarms!