How Does Your Garden Grow

The end of a cold winter in many areas can leave a landscape looking dark, dull, and dead. A growing garden, however can add beauty,
color and life to any setting. Now, whether you’re interested in growing flowers, vegetables, or plants, there are a few secrets on how to
grow a healthy garden.


Since many of us were not born with a “green thumb”, there are some helpful, do-it-yourself gardening tips that will lend a hand in
planting your garden. As with a growing baby or animal, the success of your garden depends on the proper nutrients, proteins and care
that is provided. While the gardens you might view on television or in magazines seem only for the “experts”, it’s very possible, with a
little research and by following certain key guidelines, to grow a garden that your neighbors will envy.


Two of the key elements, besides water and climate, of growing a healthy garden are seeds and soil. The size and type of seeds and
the soil temperature requirements can vary and each variety of plant has its own needs in order to germinate properly.

For instance, some seeds require a certain amount of light, while others need darkness in order to grow properly. Larger seeds may

store more energy, while smaller seeds may take longer to develop, since they have limited food storage and require more special
attention. Some seeds for growing summer vegetables require specific cold wet time periods to stimulate germination because they
have genetically coded dormancy periods.


A more in-depth knowledge of growing a healthy garden would include the understanding and research of three important minerals for a
plant garden: Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. Each of these minerals has its own processes that collaborate with the soil to
produce plants. Another good and inexpensive investment for growing your garden would be a soil thermometer.
While trial and error may be your starting place in growing your first garden, you too, by doing your gardening homework, will be able to

answer the question, “How does your garden grow?”