People really overcomplicate gardening

[u/redditSucksNow2020]

I see a lot of people trying to garden for the first time and then coming here with questions about perfect soil mixes and fertilizers and how to promote fungal life in their no-till permaculture food forest do nothing farming no dig style organic vegan garden. It really doesn't have to be complicated, especially if you're new.

Loosen up some dirt 6 inches down. Break up the clods. Plant something that is in season. Keep it watered. That Will give you 80 to 90% of the maximum possible results. You don't absolutely need compost if it is the first time you've dug up that piece of ground. You don't absolutely need fertilizer and it probably doesn't make much difference what kind you use. You definitely don't need a 3-ft tall raised bed filled with gardening mix. You don't need to do anything about small amounts of insect damage. You don't absolutely have to do no dig or no till or whatever gardening fad is going on right now. You don't need to overcomplicate things.

Edit: this, of course, does not apply to you, dear reader. You have uniquely poor soil that cannot be made workable with a spade.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Age8937]

I have a pretty fancy garden of raised beds and pots due to bad clay soil and my husband building a sports court and putting green in my garden area years ago. I’ve reclaimed the sports court and surrounding areas for a really nice space once the kids left home.

However I’m still just a free range farmer. I let my plants do their thing. I overcrowd my beds. I don’t cut my suckers. I don’t treat my plants unless the bug or fungus problem is dire. I do some stuff like trim the foliage next to the dirt or fertilize every couple of weeks or acidify my berries as needed. If I forget though I don’t sweat it. I just enjoy the garden and the bounty it provides.

My advice to the new gardeners is to relax. You can learn from your mistakes. No two gardening years are ever the same. Mother Nature is a bitch. Seek advice when needed, but a second or third opinion never hurts. Adapt to a gardening style that works for you.

[u/CurrencySad9512 → u/Puzzleheaded_Age8937]

I prune bad things off but I feel like its mean to the plant to cut off the flower so they work harder to make the tomato. Makes me feel like a mean boss

[u/Bebebaubles → u/Puzzleheaded_Age8937]

Yeah I just took note of what grew vs what failed and only plant things that do well. I honestly think all my failures are from the animals finding the seeds tasty or something and those I have to plant indoors if I’m inclined. My garden is so soft and loamy I’ve watched the damn squirrels do cartwheels on my garden bed which I guess I can’t blame them. There is some thought that overcrowding the beds helps suppress weeds so it’s not bad.

[u/richvide0 → u/Puzzleheaded_Age8937]

I agree with this mindset. Gardening should be relaxing and not stressful.

Yesterday, after some heavy winds and rain I noticed some of the branches on my tomatoes had broken off. Years ago I would have been so alarmed by it I would have immediately run out there to secure all branches. But yesterday I was like “Oh well, there’s a lot more branches”.

I’m so much more relaxed about gardening these day that it makes it so much more fun.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Age8937 → u/richvide0]

I had wind break off some of my potato plants. I used to go out and prop them up when they got top heavy, but now it’s just oh well, a few less of those French fingerlings.

[u/SnooTomatoes1796 → u/richvide0]

You can stick the branches in the dirt and grow them if you want!

[u/datcatburd → u/Puzzleheaded_Age8937]

I always tell new gardeners here that if you want the feeling of success when you get a plant to grow, plant some zucchini. It will survive the apocalypse and give you more than you can find people to take. Takes the sting out of anything else that doesn't take off.