Garden Tips and Tools that I am loving this year

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   This year, we have put in the largest garden we have ever done, all thanks to my goal to have something growing all year round and because of the garden workshop that I helped to put on.  I am finding so much joy in watching the little plants that I grew from seeds turning into food producing plants!  Not only that, some of the people who were able to take my little plants home and put them into their own gardens have been messaging me and sending me pictures of their plants, showing me how well they are growing.  It is amazing!  All of these little plants seem like little miracles!
​     My garden is flourishing and I thought that I would share with you some of the new tips that I've learned and some of the products that I've discovered that are helping me to be successful.  (And also, maybe a few things that I wish I had!)

       One of the first things that I've converted to this year is saving seeds, starting transplants with your own seeds, and the red cup method of starting them!  Believe me,  I have tried many different containers to use as little pots to start my seeds, but I've found some to be too small, and some like peat pots and paper cups, grow mold.  The red cups haven't failed me and this method also helps me not to over water, (thanks to the clear cups that go with them)!  This is an inexpensive way to start your garden right and I explained it on this post.  Right now, the red cups are available on Amazon for a great price, so go ahead and stock up for your gardening needs, as well as for summer picnics and barbecues!  The clear ones are also on sale. Not quite as good, but better than my grocery store. 

     My legs and back are getting too old to be bending over my garden for very long to do the weeding and pruning.  So, I ordered this garden stool and it has been a game changer for me!   This one comes with a kneeling pad and gloves with claws on the fingers as well!  I am loving it. The pockets on the sides hold my spades, gloves, clippers and anything else I might need! Mine came in pink, but this one is similar. 
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     I have developed an addiction to ordering seeds.  There are just so many amazing varieties available on line that you can't usually find in the home store.  For example, this year I've put in Patti Pan Squash and San Marzano Tomatoes.  I've ordered a bunch of other varieties now that I can't wait to plant in the future.  My favorite seed company is SeedsNow.  Everything I have ordered from them has germinated well and they arrive at my house quickly after I order them.  Not only that, they always have freebies included in my order, they have a loyalty program and a subscription program that I have been highly enjoying! If you need to order seeds, give them a try!  They have heirloom seeds that are fine to be saved after you grow them so that you can plant them again!  
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     Soil is probably one of the most expensive things you need to deal with when you start a garden.  If you are starting plants from seed, it is especially important to have good starting soil that is clean and has great drainage and the nutrients your young plants will need.  That is why I have relied on Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix.  I did try a couple of other varieties of starting soil, but I found them too chunky for my young starts and my plants didn't seem to thrive as well.  Amazon has a great price on my favorite soil, and I have ordered and reordered it many times.  Good soil is worth its weight in gold. 

     Do you see that green, plastic mesh fencing?  That stuff is so durable and you will be able to use it in your garden again and again.  I don't mean simply to fence in your garden, which you can do, but for many other uses as well.  This is going to be a tip and a tool that you won't want to miss.
     A number of years ago, after realizing that tomato cages are terrible for holding up tomatoes, my husband came up with an ingenious idea.  We purchased a roll of this fencing and we strung it horizontally above our tomatoes as they grew.  We gently guided the tomato vines through the holes of the fencing and as the plants got taller, we added another level of the fencing.  The tomatoes stayed up straight and tall, the heavy tomatoes rested on the fencing until we harvested them.  It was a great idea!  The cool thing is that we saved that fencing and we have been using it again and again in our garden.   
     Last year, we used some of it to go over a trellis for Armenian Cucumbers to climb on.  In the Fall, my peas climbed on that same trellis.  This year, we also have used some of it for the pole beans to climb on.  This has been a great investment for our garden. 

Last year's Armenian Cucumber on the trellis. You can see the peas up in the top graphic.

     Something that my husband got for me a few years ago were my garden pruners.  I love them and don't go out into my garden without them.  There is always something that needs pruning or harvesting and these are just perfect!  They are tough and sharp.  They cut through a rose stem with no problem.  I keep mine clean so that they won't spread disease or rust.  

     A couple of years ago, I made myself a garden apron that I still use out in the garden.  I especially love it when I am harvesting because it keeps my hands free.  I posted the tutorial online. 

     As much as I love my apron, I would love to get a Harvest Basket, or Garden Hod,  to use in conjunction with it.  This year I'm expecting a large tomato harvest, as well as squash.  I don't think that my apron will be able to hold all of that without squishing anything!  Besides, the look of these baskets is so beautiful, I think it would just amp my gardening experience because of that!  Does that sound crazy?  I believe that enjoying the experience of gardening helps with the success of the garden, don't you?  I love this wooden style shown below. 

     I generally use raised beds to plant my garden, but this year my desire to plant so many things exceeded my amount of space in my beds.  So, for the first time in a long time I planted an in the ground bed.  I did amend the soil, but I am finding that the grass and weeds are making it into that bed quickly and it is hard for me to keep up with them.  I've decided that I need a new hoe.  I am very familiar with this hoe style called the Hula Hoe from gardening in my youth and that is what I think I need for my in the ground bed.  It is on sale for a good price right now, so I've added it to my cart! 

     Last but not least, I am loving my gardening journal!  I have pages to draw out where and what I am planting.  I keep track of my seeds and supplies.  I record what works and what doesn't.  It is a handy little tool that will help me to be successful gardening as I progress with my goals!  You can get your own copy from our Etsy Shop! 

     Do you have any gardening tools that you absolutely cannot do without?  Please drop me a line and I will probably try it out because I am enjoying trying all of the new gardening tools right now!  I hope my tips and tools will help you out as well!  Happy Gardening!