The Top 6 Gardening Myths Debunked

Photo: Chia-Ming Ro

How many of you have wanted to start your own home garden? The pandemic has made gardening especially popular, as it’s a pleasant pastime you can do at home. Lauren has been honing her gardening skills this past year, and it’s inspired us to do the same. Gardening is definitely something we’ve been interested in trying over the years, but always had a reason that held us back. Whether we didn’t have enough space or enough time, there was always a gardening “myth” that stopped us. However, today we have a contributor that’s here to prove that gardening at home can be possible, no matter the issue. Gardening Consultant Chia-Ming Ro of Coastal Homestead has been helping Lauren with her own garden, and is on the site today to debunk the top 6 gardening myths she hears about all the time—along with a few easy tips to help your home gardens flourish. Take it away, Chia-Ming…

Despite what a lot of people think, gardening is possible in a variety of spaces and climates. You don’t need to have a large backyard or ample space and time to get a garden, big or small, growing at home. I’ve heard these myths from people before, but today, I’m here to tell you that you can grow beautiful plants at home. All it takes it takes a little planning and practice to find out what works for you and your plants.

1. I Don’t Have A Green Thumb

It’s okay, we’re not born with it. Everyone starts somewhere, so don’t beat yourself up about not having a green thumb or being an expert gardener. Start small and work your way up from there. Starting with herbs like mint, rosemary, or thyme are great ways to get a small {yet mighty} garden growing.

Photo: Chia-Ming Ro

2. I Don’t Have A Lot of Space

A container garden is the perfect way to start growing plants if you’re limited on space. You can practice square foot planting or intensive planting to have a productive and delicious harvest. In one square foot, you can easily plant one of the following:

• 6-8 radishes
• 4 leafy greens or lettuces
• 4 strawberry plants
• 1 pepper plant
• 1 tomato plant
• 1 eggplant plant
• 1 cucumber plant

You definitely can make a home garden work in your space, it just takes a little time and planning to achieve.

Photo: Chia-Ming Ro

3. I Don’t Get Enough Sun Exposure In My Home

This is a common concern for a home gardener. Even plants that need 6 to 8 hours of direct sun can still grow in partial shade, however, know that your plant’s production may not be as great as having full sun exposure. Soil, water, and variety can also influence your plant’s production too. Furthermore, the sun’s exposure patterns change throughout the year, so it’s best to take notes of how the direct sun {unobstructed} hits throughout the day too.

For reference, here’s a quick guide on sun exposures for plants:

• Full Sun = 6 or more hours of direct sunlight
• Part Sun = 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight, more PM light
• Part Shade = 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight, more AM light
• Full shade = less than 4 hours of direct sunlight
• Quick tip: herbs and leafy greens can be grown in 4 to 6 hours of sunlight
  
  

Photo: Chia-Ming Ro

4. I Don’t Have A Big Budget

Don’t fret if you don’t have a large gardening budget. There are cost-effective ways to begin gardening, such as:

• Purchasing inexpensive seeds
• Propagating cuttings from friends. Green onions, basil, and rosemary are a few examples of plants that can be propagated.
• Using reusable foods containers or plastic pots that have drainage for your plants.
• Checking your local groups that often give pots away.
• Allocating the bulk of your budget towards the best soil and compost you can afford.
  
  

Photo: Chia-Ming Ro

5. I Don’t Have Much Time

If you’re someone who doesn’t have a lot of time, try focusing on plants that require minimal time and care. Microgreens are great plants to start off with, since you only need a seed packet, a bit of water, and a spot on your counter so you don’t forget to keep it moist. 

I’ve found that if you plan correctly and set up a garden in an area you frequently walk past, you’ll be able to do little tasks a few times a week, versus a big weekly overhaul, which can feel very daunting.

Photo: Chia-Ming Ro

6. I Have To Follow The Seed Packet Instructions

The back of a seed packet is a guideline for the best practices to grow that particular plant variety. However, seed packets do not factor in micro climates, so the guidelines may or may not work for you depending on where you live. I like to think of packet instructions as a recipe. Sometimes, you can stray a bit from recipe instructions and still end up with an amazing dish.

However, that being said, if you stray from the back of a packet, you can still have production, but your plants might not be as productive. The best thing to do is to align your conditions with the packet instructions and experiment! This is the best way to learn about your growing environment and what works best for your plants.

I hope these tips and debunked gardening myths help you all start your own beautiful gardens, no matter how big or small.

Have you started a home garden?

Let us know in the comments below, and to learn more about Chia-Ming and Coastal Homestead, click here, and to visit Chia-Ming’s Instagram page, click here.

XO Team LC

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