Being home more gives us lots of time for happy hobbies. If you were born with a green thumb and you’re craving some homegrown goodness, there’s never been a better time to get back out in the garden. With a little patience, you can end up with the freshest produce and herbs. The best part is—you don’t have to own acres of property or a house in the country to up-level your gardening game—we’re here to show you some simple tips and tricks for making gardening easier.
Storage Tips & Tricks
Whether you are gardening on your patio or balcony, or in your backyard, you need a few key tools at your fingertips, but storing your gardening tools can be tricky especially if you’re working with limited space. Tip: Invest in a five-gallon bucket to do double or triple duty; you can store your tools in the bucket when you’re not using them, move dirt when you’re working in your garden or even flip it over to use as a seat! (No more spending hours hunched over and kneeling in the dirt.) Need a simple way to keep your twine tangle-free and easily accessible when you’re ready to tie up plants? Keep it in an inverted pot. Just stick the ball of twine under the pot and feed it through the water drainage hole when you’re ready to use.Simple Seedling Starters
Sprouting seedlings is the first stop on the gardening trail, and all it takes is a little creativity. Instead of going out to buy a seed starter kit to plant in, try using citrus rinds from oranges, grapefruits and lemons. They’re a great size for housing your seeds while they begin to grow, and these homemade starters will fit snugly on windowsills – the perfect spot for sunshine. No citrus? No problem. Use a paper towel or toilet paper rolls instead. Cut them down to two-inch pieces and lay them on a waterproof tray. When the seedlings sprout, there’s no need to remove the biodegradable cardboard; just plant the whole thing, ensuring the cardboard is completely submerged in soil. If you’re planting in pots, a thin layer of crushed California walnut shells in the bottom will help aerate the soil and provide adequate drainage.
Pest Control Pro
Take one more step out of the planting process by using natural products you have around the house to promote better plant growth. For instance, a spot of chamomile tea in a spray bottle or a teaspoon of Epsom salt to a half-gallon of water will control the fungus that often attacks young seedlings. Just give your seedlings a spritz to encourage growth. Additionally, next time you boil or steam veggies, save the water, let it cool and use it to water your garden plants for extra nutrients. Just like plants need some nutrients to soak up, so do you! Don’t forget to take a break from your hard work and munch on some tasty walnuts. This crunchy little nut is a satisfying snack, and with its earthy flavor, what better food to nibble on while you’re gardening? Try your hand at this savory Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Hummus. Got a sweet tooth? You may be more inclined towards this recipe for Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt Walnuts. With the complementary flavors of cocoa powder, honey and sea salt, it’ll surely become your go-to gardening snack.
Creative Composting
The quality of soil you plant your homegrown food in is imperative to its success; luckily for you, composting can easily improve that quality. Whether you’re using a small indoor composter or you’ve got a large area outside, they both can do wonders for your plant life. The first step is knowing what type of soil you have so you can give it the proper nutrients. Try out a simple soil test to categorize your soil as alkaline, acidic or neutral. This trick will help you to better understand which nutrients will benefit your plants the most so you can grow the best produce possible.
These easy hacks will help you garden your way to success from your own home – no matter if that involves a large backyard or a small patio garden – and a handful of California walnuts makes a delicious, convenient snack along the way. Better yet, that fresh produce you’re growing will make the freshest-tasting salads and pair wonderfully with walnuts for your pesto or summer smoothies!
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, you can create a flourishing garden in nearly any setting with the right know-how. Just have fun and grow to your heart’s content!
