Let’s get gardening

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Spring is the time when people begin thinking about setting out their garden.

Rosie Lerner, retired Purdue Extension consumer horticulture specialist, provided several helpful tips for individuals who want to get started in gardening.

1. Start small. Lerner said this is one of the most important pieces of advice she can give. Individuals need to think small. You can always go bigger. Individuals are also less likely to get burned out if they start small. “Gardening is very fun and rewarding,” Lerner said, but it also comes with weeds, insects and sometimes very dry weather, which means plants will need to be watered.

2. Think ahead. Lerner said that when individuals are deciding what they want to plant in their gardens, they should reflect upon what their favorite vegetables are — those are the ones they should plant. It will help keep up one’s motivation to continue caring for and looking after their garden. Lerner said this includes learning how to prepare soil, how far to set plants apart from each other and the right time to plant certain seeds.

3. Make sure soil is reasonably dry. Lerner said individuals need to make sure the soil is fairly dry before starting. Working with the soil before it’s completely dry can ruin the structure of the soil. Lerner said now is a good time to start thinking about protecting the soil and planning out one’s garden since not many plants are in the ground yet.

4. Gather supplies. Lerner said this is the time when individuals should go to garden centers and get seeds or decide if they want to start their garden with transplants. People should do their research ahead of time and learn as much as they can about growing vegetables.