Plants are like people, but better. Each type of plant has a unique “personality” and likes different things (water, sunlight, soil type, different hats, etc.). Some plants like it hot and sunny, while others like it cooler or moister (or both).
It’s fun, but meeting the needs of your seedlings can take a bit of experimentation (and internet research) to learn what works best for a particular type of plant.
Sun
Plants are pretty magical, as they harness energy from the sun and, through photosynthesis, convert that energy into their tissues.
(Try eating sunlight. We bet you can’t. Also we bet you look foolish trying to eat sunlight. Plants win this round, okay?)
Because plants need the sun to grow, many of them, including most fruits and veggies, need a good amount of direct sun during the day. Mmmm. Tasty, tasty sunbeams.
Have a shadier plot? Research which plants prefer shady conditions if you have less light available. (Also, stop hatching shady plots. You are not the supervillain you think.)
Water
Plants also need water. Just as a fresh beverage keeps you from wilting in the sun, plants rely on there being a good amount of water available nearby to stay proud and healthy. In many places, it may be necessary to water your garden regularly in order to keep plants happy.
Consider your water sources. If they’re not close to your garden plot, it will be important to figure out a system for transporting water to your garden.
Water conundrum! Don’t forget, while you’re out tilling the soil this summer, you need water too. Stay up to date on staying hydrated.
Nutrients and soil
You need to eat as healthy as possible to stay at peak health, right? On a similar level, plants need nutrients, and lots of them.
In larger farming operations, different nutrients cycle through the soil as different plants grow. This is what they mean by “fertile” soil — nutrient-rich bounties of growth for new plants.Trusted Source
You might need to add nutrients manually if your garden isn’t already part of an annual crop rotation cycle (and if you’re reading an article about gardening basics, that’s not altogether likely — although if accomplished farmers are also tuned in, welcome!)
However, there’s a huge range of plant nutrients available to buy online.
Unless you have experience (or special abilities we don’t know about), you won’t be able to tell if soil is fertile just by looking at it. Luckily, there are loads of DIY testing kits out there to show you how acidic or alkaline the soil is.
Even once you have the testing kits, how do you know what to look for? Well, acidity for most plants should be between a pH of 6.1 and 7.0.
Almost like 60s throwbacks, some plants, like rhododendrons and heathers, like a bit of acid. A pH of 5.1 to 6.0 is great for these leafy friends. For those that don’t, you might need to add a bit of lime (the stone, not the fruit.) Any pH lower than this could use some lime too, as this means it’s highly acidic.
Highly acidic soil means that all those yummy nutrients dissolve and flow away from the soil. Bacteria also cannot break down organic matter (aka manure) below 4.7, so the plants get even less food.
Imagine watching a pancake wash away in the rain, only to lose all your pancake-making implements at the same time. That pain is what plants go through in acidic soil.
Too alkaline, however, and plants have less access to vital minerals like phosphorus, manganese, and iron. Acidifying agents like sulfur and iron sulfate can brings this up to your plants’ high standards.
If you live in an urban environment, you might also want to test the soil for lead, especially if you have little ones that play in the garden and roll in the mud.
This is less important in terms of growing veg, although doesn’t help, according to research.Trusted Source
Really, though, this is a basic safety concern. Urban living can expose people to more lead traces in the soil. Luckily, you can also buy lead-testing kits online.
Whatever type of testing kit you buy, make sure you check the instructions to get the most accurate results. This seems like a lot of testing, but in reality, it’s a couple kits, the right nutrients, and you’re pretty much good to start growing.