6 New Gardener Fail I Made
It’s my first year gardening. I just finished half a season and am entering my very first Fall/Winter garden season! Zone 9b doesn’t really have Fall, but we have mild winters that is likely Fall Weather for many places!
I have spent hours researching and learning about crops, companion planting, pests, plant diseases, etc but that didn’t stop me from making a ton of mistakes. Let’s be honest, there’s so much to learn and some things, we won’t even know we are doing it wrong until its not working. Gardening is a lot of trial and error. Sharing 6 Gardening Fail I Made In My First Year!
Not Planting Mint & Lemon Balm In A Container
I love mint. It is easy to grow (after killing two this summer, I found that it loves water) but is a very invasive plant. It multiplies by its roots, also called runners, that will spread, sprout, and grow mint everywhere! Before you know it, it’s taking over your raised beds and is spreading onto the next and by your neighbor.
Lemon Bee Balm, while not as invasive as Mint, also spreads pretty quickly. You can be sure I was so surprised to see new lemon bee balm babies 6 inches away from the mommy plant! Let’s Just say, I had to painfully dig them both up.
Planting Cool-Loving Plants In The Middle of Central California Summer
You know how I said I have done hours of research? It’s because I killed a dozen of lettuce planting them in the middle of summer. You know, cool-loving plant in 115 degrees weather. Don’t even ask how many cilantro plants I killed this summer!
Planting Late In The Season
When I started my garden this year, I had no idea about planting zone, frost dates, or anything about soil! With that being said, I planted Luffa in September just for the seedling to be severely damaged by the frost in late November. And Oh! how about the peppers I transplanted outside in late October?
Having the wrong type of soil or mixture
Oh you know, grabbing the all-purpose soil and putting that directly in my new raised garden when I should have used something specifically for raised garden — this mix will have a different consistency to allow water retention and nutrition benefits for the plants since it will be above the ground. Now, I play around with peat moss and perlite!
Overwatering and Underwatering
I did a lot of research, but not the correct research, or at least waited to finally research after I failed. Part of this mistake was not having the correct soil, but also not knowing when to water… and buying a pretty planter with no holes and overwatering?
Not Pruning The Plants
I left my eggplant and tomatoes and they went wild! Removing new suckers — new stems sprouting between nodes that will create a new branch. Removing the lower leaves on your tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers allow better airflow. Also, pinching the first blooms encourage the plant’s energy to focus on growing instead of fruiting which allows for a better harvest.
Gardening is never perfect and there will be plenty of mistakes but is absolutely rewarding. Come learn this whole gardening with me!
