We are in for such a treat today. Our very own Katie Hobson is back on the blog, and this time she’s teaching us all about gardening.
Yes, Katie is my (and Michael’s) Executive Assistant & she is just SO good at her job. She keeps us organized, in-check, accountable, and we really don’t know what we’d do without her. If you’re just getting to know Katie, be sure to check out her interview on the blog here.
A few weeks ago Katie came to our house to help me get my garden going. When we moved into our house Michael surprised me with some raised garden beds where I could plant my own herbs. Think mint, rosemary, chives, dill, you get it.
But since I’m just so fucking pregnant I asked Katie to come help me. As she puts it, her green thumb runs deep because she comes from a farming family. But I’ll let her tell you all about that.
In this post, Katie is going to share her tips & tricks for starting your own garden, AND keeping it going (the hardest part).
With that, let’s welcome Katie back to the blog.
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Hi hi, my name is Katie Hobson, you might know me as Lauryn & Michael’s Executive Assistant, but what you didn’t know is that I’m an avid gardener.
I was raised in a third generation farmer home in the valley of California, so the green thumb runs deep in my family. Here are some of my key tips & tricks to starting & maintaining a garden. I’ve had a beautiful garden on a big spot of land, and I’ve also had a tiny patio garden on an apartment patio—so these tips will work for you regardless of your geographical location is. Let’s get into it:
10 TIPS TO HELP YOU START GARDENING:
♡ WHERE TO START (BEGINNER V. ADVANCED):
Starting a garden from seeds is tedious and requires a lot of attention and care, definitely geared towards the more advanced gardener, but not impossible for a beginner.
If you want an easier route, snag the mature plants, or transplants, at your local gardening store. A huge tip…they’re only going to have transplants that are in season! You have a better shot at success using a more mature plant, but be sure to pick one that looks strong and healthy.
The hardest part of gardening is getting the plant to the mature phase, and with this method—that part is done. This saves you a lot of time and gets you a jumpstart to harvest.
♡ ONLY PLANT WHAT YOU LOVE & WHAT IS ALSO IN SEASON:
Make sure you’re hyped about what you’re planting and that it’s the right time to plant it. You’ll get more out of your garden experience by being thoughtful of what goes into it initially.
If you’re passionate about your garden and tend to its needs, it’ll flourish. Which means you’ll have a good yield, aka lots of constantly ripening things to eat. I tell my husband I’m like a damn garden, tend to my needs—it’s that easy, lol.
Set yourself up for success by planting seasonally and researching what your zone is, find yours here.
♡ RESEARCH YOUR GARDEN PICKS:
Find what grows well in your area using the Farmer’s Almanac (my #1 go-to reference). Get creative with your harvested goodies—look for fun and fresh recipes, make future plans for your fruits, veggies & herbs…get excited!
Once your garden takes off, you’ll have lots of food to utilize while it’s fresh. I love to pickle peppers and cucumbers, or freeze your fresh herbs in olive oil using an ice cube tray to toss into a pan to create a yummy sauce. Genius, I know.
♡ KNOW YOUR SOIL:
There are lots of textures and types of soils. Some are more favorable for gardening and some are not. It comes down to how the water runs through it.
Too much clay? Too much rock? Too much sand? If your soil isn’t suitable to plant right into the earth, consider a raised garden bed or some super cute pots instead. You can always create your own perfect soil situation that allows for water retention AND drainage. It’s key to a great garden.
♡ WHEN TO PLANT YOUR GARDEN:
Depending on your season, some spring/summer plants aren’t ready to go in the ground until the last freeze passes while other fall/winter plants are more hearty and ready to party in the cold. The Farmer’s Almanac will help you forecast the weather and plan accordingly.
Pick your local garden center’s employees’ brains too, they’re always a
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