Since this thread was started by a new gardener, here are some of my favorite
gardening tips:
Start small and close to a door, pref. on the way to the car ("best fertilizer
is the footsteps of the gardener," Chinese). Gardens are easy to forget/avoid
until they are part of your routine.
Imitate Nature... minerals predominating below, organic mulches/composts above
(mulch above compost), mulches continually added.
Compost: balance nitrogen-rich materials (manure, grass clippings, etc... these
will stink if wetted and piled) with carbon-rich (leaves, straw... these smell
musty if wetted and piled, break down slowly), keep moist (tarp?) or just add
to garden surface as needed to maintain 2 - 3 inches.
Supply nitrogen boosts as season progresses to keep growth up (manure tea,
blood meal, fish emulsion, manure mulch, etc.). Weak, frequent applications
work better than strong, infrequent ones.
Check for pests and deal with them early. Can hand-pick cabbage worms (usually
under leaves, medium holes) or use Safer insecticidal soap (or encourage wasps
which kill them); slap flea beetles (lots of tiny holes, black fleas under
leaves jump away when disturbed) onto white cardboard covered w/ half-and-half
dish soap and oil, repeat daily for a few days; mow around gardens for up to 25
yds to keep grasshoppers away.
Can't have too many greens.
Under-mulch drip saves time, water, slows salinization effects.
Let soil dry to an inch or so before watering... if plants wilt during heat,
check soil moisture, sometimes they just can't keep up w/ the heat and will be
fine when the sun's a little lower (30% shade cloth will help this -- if
they're wilting a lot when soil is wet, suspect over-watering or salt).
Use rainwater to avoid/repair salt problems. Accumulation of salt is a major
hurdle to sustainable gardening in arid/semi-arid areas.
Mix veggies together free-form, w/ shorter ones on side toward sun, to take
advantage of interplanting benefits as well as minimizing/confusing pests.
Learn to eat grasshoppers.