A major aspect to growing outdoor gardens is to prepare the chosen area. The area of your choice must receive direct sunlight for a majority of the daylight hours. This is critical if you hope to produce plenty of fruit. Once the area is chosen, you must consider whether or not it is a high traffic area. Young kids who play in the yard might have the potential to damage the plants if they are located near their play area. The same can be said for pets as well. Proper water drainage is another important issue. If the location is in a low-lying area, then the plants might have the potential to drown or wash away during heavy rain storms.

Fencing is important to prevent predators from harming the young plants. Burrowing animals like rabbits are able to dig underneath fences to get to the plants. The fence base must be buried at least 1-3 feet under the ground to prevent this from happening. If you hope to protect the plants from deer, then you must also consider the height of the fence. Other tactics are used to ward off predators by scaring them away. Similar to a scare crow, a cut-out of a dog or a person can ward off these animals. Birds-of-prey, such as owls and hawks ward off rabbits. Deterrent cut-outs like these can work wonders.

Although outdoor plants have the potential to produce the most fruits and vegetables, you must start them indoors if you are growing them from seed. Many people make the mistake of placing seed outdoors, and then they wonder why the plants are not growing. Often, the seeds are washed away by rain. In other instances, birds eat the seed before it has time to germinate. The best option is to germinate the seeds indoors, within a dark place. Seeds should be placed between damp paper towels in order to ensure that they sprout roots.

Once the seeds have sprouted, you must use a process of transplanting before they are moved outside. As the plants grow, they need to be moved to steadily larger cups and pots to account for root space. During this process, careful fertilization monitoring is essential so that the young plants do not start to burn. If you follow the right process for an outdoor growing season, then your garden will become successful.

Once the seeds have been germinated, you need to transfer them to soil. Once you do, they will show young sprouts or shoots. This is when your herb garden is most vulnerable. Take care when watering the sprouts so that you do not wash them our or drown them. Lightly mist them with a spray bottle to make sure that they get all of the moisture that they need. Additionally, you need to make sure that they do not get too much sunlight during the early stages of life. Care for your sprouts the way you would care for anything else that is fragile.

Consult online guides and grow books so that you understand when to transfer your new plants to larger pots. If you wait too long to do so, they might become what is called, “root-bound.” This condition is characterized by the roots becoming entangled. They often cut one another off, and this does not allow water or nutrients to reach the plants. When you do transfer them, take care not to touch the tender roots with your bare hands. Handle them with care, and they will grow up to produce plenty of herbs.

Rabbits are ravenous for small seedlings and shoots. They can wreak havoc on a young garden before it even has a chance to bear fruit. You will know if rabbits are in your garden when you notice your plants no longer have leaves or stems. Put a fence which goes underground to keep rabbits out. It is important that it goes underground because rabbits can dig as well. However, deer love to eat plants from gardens too, and fencing does not always keep them out because they can jump. Having a dog outside will keep deer from entering.

Some birds settle into gardens and destroy the plants inside them. If you want to prevent this from happening, then simply erect a coyote or dog decoy. This decoy will scare them away for sure. Owl decoys are equally effective. Smaller birds and rabbits are naturally afraid of owls and the danger that they pose. Putting this type of decoy out will ward them off.

Perhaps the best option, however, is to simply build or buy a greenhouse for your plants. A greenhouse is a great choice because it not only protects the plants from predators, but it also protects them from the elements of nature, such as high wind or heavy rain. There are many different do-it-yourself greenhouse build videos on YouTube. It is possible to make a smaller ones to meet your needs within the confines of your own backyard. Protect your edible plants from predators so that you can enjoy them.

Fox Farm fertilizers are some of the most popular in the world. This company makes both synthetic and organic fertilizers, but it is known for its organic options. Check out their website and you will see the many different options that they provide. For example, they have a bat guano mixture which is great for a variety of herbs and other edible plants. They also sell packs which are used together to help plants to grow at various stages of their lives. Consult one of their experts to determine which one of their products is the right one for you to choose for your given growing needs.

One of the best batural fertilizers is worm castings. Worm castings are produced as worms make their way through the soil. Some people add earth worms to their gardens for this reason. The castings are rich in nutrients that plants need, such as magnesium and calcium. In addition to providing castings, earth worms also serve to aerate the soil as they move through it. Many different popular fertilizer companies have worm casting mixtures that you can apply to your soil to make your plants grow tall and healthy. This type of fertilization is great for herbs such as sage and rosemary.

Mulch and manure are great fertilizers. Manure which is produced by horses and cows is the best choice. The main problem, however, is that it stinks, so it is really only suitable for outdoor edible plant gardens. If you do decide to add it, you will see an immediate difference. Mulch, otherwise known as compost, is derived from dead leaves and plant matter. It essentially turns into a nutrient-rich soil over time. Create a compost pile in your backyard, and add to the pile throughout the year so that you have plenty of it once the growing season arrives.

Tomatoes and peppers are some of the hardiest plant choices for beginners. Both plants are tolerant of dry weather or poor watering habits. Some of them are able to recover nicely if you over water or over fertilize them. These plants allow you to gain confidence as you see the fruits of your labor take shape. Tomato plants come in many varieties. Some are bush tomatoes, and they stay small. Cherry tomatoes often grow on these plants, and they are used for gourmet salads. Peppers are great summertime plants because they prefer dry environments.

However, you must be careful with the choices you make in regard to your garden. One of the tougher things to grow, is the watermelon. Some people will disagree, but consider the fact that you must tend to them often. They require watering, even if they are outside. Many watermelons rot if they are not turned. They gain a yellow-brown color on one side if left on one side for too long. If you do choose to grow watermelons, then make sure that you have a nice irrigation system in place.

Another tough choice is lettuce and cabbage. Both of these plants are great for salads and garnishments, but they do not grow in hot or mild weather. You must grow them indoors, and replicate their natural environment, unless you live in a cooler area of the world. They also tend to go bad quickly once picked. Only grow enough of it to use. Otherwise, you will have plenty of lettuce on your hands, and no way to use it before it goes to waste.

Green beans are certainly a great choice for beginners, and they are interesting to grow as well. These plants have long vines which wrap around fence posts and other structures. This makes them perfect for places with limited space. Choose your edible plants wisely so that you can get the most bang for your buck. This will allow you to share what you grow with all of your friends.

One advantage is that you can choose to go the purely organic route. Organically grown foods are free of pesticides that commercial growers use to keep bugs away. Many people become sick from pesticides that do not get completely washed away from the plants that they consume. If you grow your own edible food, then you control the environment. This allows you to stay away from harmful pesticides. It also allows you to use organic fertilizers, such as bat guano or worm castings. This is widely regarded as the healthier way to raise plants for consumption.

Other times, fruits such as tomatoes, are given harmful hormones. They are given these to increase their size on a mass scale. However, if you are growing them for yourself, you can use other means to get larger tomatoes. If you stay away from commercial fertilizers and hormones you will be much more satisfied with the final results. Always check the back of the fertilizer bottle to determine what exactly you are buying before you use it on your edible plants. Those who fail to do this run the risk of getting very sick over time. Some of these fertilizers are harmful to pets as well.

Perhaps the most important advantage to growing your own edible plants, is that it allows you to save money. Consider how expensive it is to go to the grocery store every few days. You probably do not leave without spending at least $100.00. Growing your own food allows you to produce exactly what you need. The food will stay fresher longer as well, and you will not waste food in the process. Organic food marts are quite expensive, so grow your own organic foods to cut costs.

Some people find it highly interesting to cross breed certain plants to achieve a new type of vegetable, herb, or fruit. This is certainly popular within the realm of tomato plants. There are plenty of exotic varieties to choose from because people experiment with the best types to cross breed. This leads to unique fruits with vibrant colors, large sizes, and different shapes. This also makes them more marketable if you choose to sell them at your local market. Growing your own edible plants has many advantages, and it really comes down to trying it to find out how it will benefit you the most.