Garden & Animals
Gardening
Soil matters more than plants, and your light decides what is possible
The commonest beginner mistake is choosing plants first and a location second; the order runs the other way, starting from how many hours of sun the spot actually gets. Soil comes next, because compacted ground defeats any amount of watering. In year one grow a few things known to be forgiving and learn the seasons.
First stepCount how many hours of direct sun your patch gets, choose three easy plants that suit that number, and keep them going for one season.
Which way inbold marks where the branches differ
| Effort | Where | |
|---|---|---|
| Balcony GardeningEverything lives in pots, so watering works nothing like a garden | Light | At home |
| Vegetable GardeningYou get to eat it, but the calendar dictates everything | You will sweat | Outdoors, free |
Same on every branch: Cost to start Under $50 · Going deep $300–2k · Alone or with people On your own · Without a teacher? Self-taught · One session takes 1–2 hours
Why people take it up