When open signs are put out on weekends at gardening stores across the country, Kiwis flock through the doors in their droves. They then leave laden with bags of potting soil, seedlings, and other goodies needed to create top-producing gardens.

If you’ve never planted anything before, you might be jealous of their know-how to grow their own carrots, peas, potatoes, and other delicious produce. The truth is that anyone can grow fruits and vegetables themselves with a small amount of research. Here are some top tips for starting your own gardening journey.

Know When to Plant

You might assume you can plant any fruit or vegetable at any time of the year, but that’s not the case. Some plants grow better in some seasons than others, and some might immediately fail if they’re not suited to the elements.

Before you purchase seeds, gardening gloves, soil, and other gardening equipment, take the time to know what to plant at which time of the year. Many websites offer helpful planting calendars so you can get to grips with your climate and the fruits and vegetables to thrive within it.

For example, if you live in Auckland, springtime is the best time of year to plant cabbage, carrots, beans, spinach, tomatoes, potatoes, and lettuce. You might also choose spring as the best time to harvest some of these vegetables from previous growing cycles as well.

Your climate and whether or not you have a greenhouse can often determine what you plant and when. If you’re not sure, consult your local gardening expert.

Prepare Your Soil

It’s easy to believe that you can grow anything you like as long as you have soil. However, plants typically thrive in nutrient-rich soil. Take the time to purchase or create the soil you need, and you might be surprised by how many healthy vegetables and fruits you can grow.

Add compost, specially formulated garden mixes, and even sheep pellets to give your plants the best start to life. Adding a layer of mulch can also be helpful for ensuring your vegetables get as much moisture as they need.

Plant Seedlings

If you’re a novice gardener who wants to experience success with minimal effort, consider planting seedlings. Seedlings have already been given an excellent start to life at a garden centre, whereas seeds in packets rely on you to provide that healthy foundation from day one.

While seeds are undoubtedly the more economical option, you can learn how to be the best plant parent when you’re continuing someone else’s efforts with seedlings. Once you have some experience, you can try planting seeds the following year.

Planting seedlings is also straightforward. You can start by soaking your seedlings in plant tonic to prevent transplant shock and add a vegetable mix to your soil to ensure it has all the most appropriate nutrients. Dig a hole down to twice the depth and width of your plant’s root ball and gently loosen the roots before placing the plant in the pre-dug hole. Fill the hole with vegetable mix and press the soil gently around the plant’s base. Water your newly planted seedlings and water them regularly as they grow.

Start With Easy Plants

Not all fruit and vegetables are easy to grow. Fruit trees, for example, are much harder to grow than potatoes. If you’re new to the gardening scene, start with plants that thrive with minimal effort.

Potatoes, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, and spring onion, are all excellent beginner crops that tend to grow well even if you don’t have much gardening experience. You might try those before moving to more complex crops like aubergine, sweet potato, onions, and artichoke.

Know When to Harvest

You might assume that you can harvest your vegetables as soon as they appear large enough. While you can get away with harvesting some varieties when they look like those you’d see at the supermarket, others require more knowledge. Sometimes, your harvesting timeline can be the difference between a sweet vegetable and a bitter one.

You can typically harvest your potatoes when the foliage starts to die back between 120 to 150 days after planting them. Carrots are often best to harvest around 8-19 weeks after sowing, but you can leave them in the ground and harvest as you need them.

Beans typically need between 50 to 70 days to grow. Keep an eye on the calendar, as they can go from tender to tough in the blink of an eye. Harvest them while they’re still tender to avoid stringiness.

Grow Your Own Vegetables With Confidence

Anyone can become an experienced gardener. You just have to start. Talk to your local gardening experts about the best fruit and vegetables to plant, and you can be well on your way to a successful planting exercise in no time.