Planting

~Step 3: Planting~

• How to plant from seed:

  • Check the seed packet for more information on soil depth, water amount, planting time, and amount of sun.

  • Dig a hole in your soil based on the depth recommended from the soil packet. Put your seeds in each hole, and cover the holes loosely with soil. You don’t want to pack the soil tightly!

  • Make sure to plant your seeds during the month(s), season, or temperature/weather that is recommended by the seed packet.

• How to plant in a pot:

  • Make sure to pick a pot that has a good amount of space from the plant and its roots to spread and grow.

  • Pick out a pot with good drainage holes and fill it with a good soil, like loam. 

  • Dig out a recommended depth and place your plant in. If you have more than 1 plant, make sure to evenly space them out based on their needs. Cover the plants loosely with soil.

  • Move the pot to a place that is recommended by the planting instructions (Ex: sunny, shade partial sun, etc.)

• How to plant pre-potted plants into the ground:

  • Choose a spot that meets the requirements for the plant, such as the correct weather and temperature.

  • Dig a hole for the plant that is at least 2 times the volume of the pot.

  • Gently take the plant out of the pot, ensuring you don’t rip off stems or roots. If needed, loosen up the root ball.

  • Make sure the root ball is level with the hole in the soil and place the plant inside the hole. Cover it gently with the remaining soil that was dug up, and add a good amount of water. Make sure to add mulch to retain the water, improve soil health and keep out weeds.

• Companion planting:

  • Companion planting is when someone strategically plants 2 plants together that will benefit each other and the environment around it, attract crucial animals, and keep pests away.

  • To find out about different plants that can help each other, start by researching different combinations of companion plants.

  • Some things to consider while using methods of companion planting:

    • Make sure the plants have similar water needs

    • You can use tall plants or trees to provide shade for other smaller plants.

    • Interplanting (growing more than 1 plant near each other) can help to confuse pests. (Ex: planting a non-edible plant near an edible one)

    • You can plant slow growing plants with fast growing ones to maximize space, and shallow root plants with deep root plants to maximize soil nutrient intake.

  • Examples of companion plants:

    • Garlic, marigolds, leeks, and mint can repel different types of pests

    • Nasturtiums, Calendula, and lavender can attract pollinators and other beneficial animals.