2. Know Your Grow Zone
Understanding your garden’s plant hardiness zone will ensure that you’re planting things that can actually grow within it.
Charles notes that a greenhouse can make more exotic options possible, as can bringing potted plants indoors at certain times of the year.
3. Grow With Purpose
Your garden should grow the way you want it to, so take the time to ask yourself what that looks like. What do you like to eat? What are you hoping to harvest? Are you gardening for bounty or beauty?
“I love tomatoes and green beans, and so those are things that I genuinely look forward to growing,” says Charles. “And so I’d ask people, ‘Well, what do you love in the summertime? What is that thing that you have to have?’ And so, you know, if you say, ‘I have to have strawberries,’ then that’s where we’re going to start.”
4. Eat Your Produce!
Don’t let all of that homegrown grub go to waste! If you’re not able to consume your fresh fruits and veggies right away, opt to cure, freeze, or otherwise preserve items.
Getting creative is also key—try soups, sauces, and more to utilize all that your garden’s growth has to offer.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Try Something New
From learning to prune to planting (and tasting!) new items, Charles considers gardening a literal growth opportunity for you and your plants. “I think that’s probably my favorite tip is just try something new,” says Charles.