I’m no gardener. Like, really not. Which came as a bit of a shock to me, honestly. See, my parents are both quite good at this sort of thing. They’ve renovated a couple of houses, almost from scratch, and they have a massive garden they share with friends — it looks like a professional setup. So I kind of assumed I’d be good at it too. Gardening, renovating, all the wholesome grown-up stuff.
Turns out… nope.
Last year, when planting season rolled around, I realized I knew very little. I don’t know why I was so surprised, but I was. I thought it would come naturally — like some kind of inherited superpower. But gardening isn’t magic. It takes time, and care, and knowing what you’re doing (which I absolutely did not).
So here are a few beginner-friendly tips — from someone who’s still figuring it out, and messing it up with love.
Start Small (Really Small)
Even if you have a garden, don’t go big straight away. A single planter on a windowsill or balcony is already a win. Last month, I got a planter from Lidl and it made me so happy. We planted basil, parsley, radish, and — for fun — a single garlic clove to see what would happen.
Last year, we planted strawberries. They did great — but the slugs thought so too and ate most of them. So, a few weeks ago, I replanted them in a fabric pot and placed it on a table, safely out of the slugs’ way. I wasn’t feeling too optimistic, but now our strawberries are in bloom, and it feels magical. Manageable magic.
Use What You Have
« Use what you have » is my motto. You need a few tools… but not necessarily proper tools. No need for a shopping spree. I personally use my son’s gardening tools — because he has some and I don’t. And honestly? They do the job just fine.
Don’t Forget to Water (You Will Forget to Water)
It’s easy to forget, especially when the excitement of planting wears off. Try setting a reminder on your phone, or making it part of your routine — like checking the weather or having your coffee. Your plants will thank you, silently.
My indoor plants are close to the kitchen, so I leave a spray bottle on the counter, a pretty spray bottle I bought from my nephew’s school fundraising sale. A cute reminder to keep the plants hydrated.
Plant What You’ll Enjoy
This might sound obvious, but it makes a big difference. Whether it’s something you’ll actually use — like herbs you cook with — or something that just makes you happy to look at, grow what you love. Personally, I don’t care for roses. I prefer wildflowers and useful plants. There was already thyme growing in our garden when we moved in, and last year we added mint — an easy one, too easy, actually. It spreads, so maybe keep it in a pot. Learn from me. At this rate, I could make mint tea for the whole neighborhood.
My son loves raspberries, so we invested in a raspberry plant as soon as we moved in. It even produced a couple of fruits last year, which felt like a major win.
My mother also came last spring and planted a few leftover plants from their garden. While we did get a few tomatoes, I couldn’t help but feel we could’ve done better — maybe it was a bit too much for beginners like us. We just didn’t have the reflex to check on them enough.
Oh, and we had a butternut — just a single butternut.
Think About the Bees (and Less Grass to Mow)
When you’re planning your garden, don’t forget the bees! They play a huge role in pollination, so try planting some flowers that attract them. Don’t cut everything down, and try planting flowers. We have wild strawberries popping up all over the place. While they’re not the tastiest, they stay low to the ground and, honestly, keeping them means less grass to cut. Plus, the bees seem to love them, so it’s a win-win. It’s a small, easy way to contribute to the environment while keeping things manageable in your garden.
Accept the Learning Curve
As you can see, I’m still learning. Our first harvest was minimal, but every little sprout felt like a win. Gardening isn’t about instant results. It’s slow, kind of messy, and deeply satisfying once you stop expecting perfection.
If you’re a beginner too, you’re not alone. And if you’re using your kid’s spade to plant garlic in a recycled yogurt pot — you’re still gardening. It counts.
Side note: A few days ago, we spotted a hedgehog in our garden. I’m really hoping it sticks around and helps keep the slugs away. Fingers crossed!
