By Clare Broderick, Founder of Greener Cleaner LIVING, LLC
April is Earth Month and there’s no better time to embrace the joys of gardening. Whether you’re a novice gardener or a seasoned green thumb, time working in the garden is an opportunity to nurture life, promote sustainability, and reap the rewards of homegrown goodness. Recognizing that all gardeners learn as they go, we wanted to share tips to make your first veggie garden a fun and bountiful process.
And since some of the best advice is given by those who have learned by trial and error, we asked some seasoned vegetable gardeners to share their tips to help you get started and set the stage for a successful vegetable garden – whatever the size.
Our fearless gardening experts are:
Karen Campi, a life-long gardener and prominent advocate for health and wellness, is the VP of Marketing and Community Affairs at Campi Dental, and a board member of WEforum Group.
Dante Marino, an avid gardener for over 30 years. He enjoys gardening year-round and is always trying out new plants each season to expand his pantry output. He also enjoys helping friends and relatives design beds and select plantings that work for both their yard and their lifestyle.
Debbie Allen Gries, a School Garden Educator for public schools and gardening blogger. She loves watching her students happy in the gardens, learning and trying new things.
Clara Borders, the Head of School at Mastro Montessori Academy in Shrewsbury, NJ, and with WEForum, has developed the Elementary Curious Gardener Summer Program to provide a green education to students through working in the garden.
Here is a compilation of their “Essential Tips for New Gardeners:”
Debbie: If you’re new, start with a few easy crops. Peas are a great starter plant, but you need to get these into the ground pronto. They’re a GREAT plant to grow with young children. Did you know you can eat every part of the pea plant, including the leaves and flowers? The plants produce peas within 2 – 2 1/2 months, another reason it’s a great plant for impatient little gardeners.
Clara: Know your zone. Monmouth County falls within USDA Hardiness Zones 6b to 7a, which means you can grow a variety of plants suited to these zones. Start Early. Begin planning and preparing your garden beds as soon as the soil becomes workable, typically around late March to early April:
Planting Schedule:
- Early Spring (March-April): Cool-season vegetables like lettuce, spinach, kale, and peas can be planted directly into the ground.
- Mid-Spring (April-May): Transition to warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash once the threat of frost has passed.
- Late Spring (May-June): Consider planting herbs like basil, cilantro, and dill, along with annual flowers for vibrant colors.
Dante: Refrain from planting annuals and warm-season vegetables until Mother’s Day. That is the benchmark that I’ve used successfully for over 30 years.
Karen: Local garden centers can be great resources for finding out what grows best in our area. Also, consider planting native plants and heirloom varieties; they’re often more resilient and can be a unique addition to your garden. Try something different, I planted artichokes last year and they were so much fun to watch grow and delicious grilled.
Dante: Make sure all planting beds are clear of debris like leaves, twigs, etc. Add enough organic materials to enhance the soil including manure, peat moss, and fresh topsoil. Work that into your planting beds evenly.
Debbie: The soil is so important. Start your garden off with a good foundation of a mix of compost and good soil, preferably organic to start off.
Karen: Practice companion planting. This is a method of planting different crops in proximity for pest control, pollination, providing habitat for beneficial insects, maximizing the use of space, and to otherwise increase crop productivity. For example, planting basil near tomatoes can help to repel pests and improve the flavor of your tomatoes.
Dante: All plantings need to be watered and fertilized when planted. Fish fertilizer is great for tomatoes. I recommend a few drops mixed in with the dirt before you place the plant in the hole. Certain plants will need to be staked to grow (tomatoes, seedlings) or as they grow to keep upright or will need a trellis behind them (beans, cucumbers, wisteria)
Clara: Apply a layer of mulch around plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Organic options like straw or shredded leaves work well.
Dante: Stay on top of any surface weeds as they might choke off the plants and limit growth. Use homemade weed killer (White Vinegar, Dawn, Salt) – it’s safer for you and for the environment.
Clara: There’s a big benefit of dandelions: contrary to popular belief, dandelions serve as vital nectar sources for bees early in the season. Consider leaving some in your yard to support local pollinators.
Dante: Where necessary, dead head fading blooms and cut off dead leaves to encourage future growth. Use a sharp clean clipper.
Debbie: If you’re growing tomatoes, a great beginner tip is to give them at least 4 feet between the centers of the tomato plants. You’ll get more tomatoes if you plant fewer with more space, rather than more with little space.
Clara: Ensure plants receive adequate water, especially during dry spells. Water deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth.
Karen: Water is vital, but too much or too little can harm your plants. The best time to water is early in the morning or late in the afternoon, reducing evaporation and making the most of the water you use. Consider setting up a rain barrel to collect rainwater for your garden—it’s eco-friendly and can save on your water bill or driplines.
Clara: Encourage children of all ages to participate in spring gardening activities and watch as they reap the countless benefits of this rewarding outdoor experience. Here are just a few: hands-on learning, responsibility, nutritional awareness, physical activity, stress reduction, and bonding opportunities!
Karen: Keep a garden journal. Document what you plant, when you plant it, when you fertilize, and when you harvest. This record-keeping can be invaluable for planning next year’s garden, as it helps you remember what worked well and what didn’t. Plus, it’s a great way to see your progress over time.
Dante: Get your hands in the dirt and Have Fun!
With over 25 years of marketing and PR expertise, Karen Campi is the VP of Marketing and Community Affairs at Campi Dental, where she has played a key role in shaping the brand as a cutting-edge dental practice. Leading Campi Cares, she channels her passion for community engagement into impactful initiatives. Karen’s influence extends beyond Campi Dental as she serves on the board of WEforum and is a prominent advocate for health and wellness. She embodies the spirit of a dedicated leader, community advocate, and passionate champion for comprehensive well-being.
Debbie Gries has been a School Garden Educator for public schools for more than 10 years. Her favorite veggie to grow in her school gardens with her students: peas. She loves watching her students happy in the gardens, learning and trying new things. She loves to help, so feel free to email her for more tips, especially if you want to grow peas this spring! deb.gries@gmail.com For more gardening tips and to follow school garden adventures, please visit her brand new blog at gardentheocean.com.
Clara Borders is the Head of School at Mastro Montessori Academy in Shrewsbury, NJ and is responsible for the overall functioning of the school with a commitment to ensuring that the academy continues to provide students with an authentic AMI Montessori education. Ms. Borders has worked with WEForum to develop the Elementary Curious Gardener Summer Program to provide a green education to students through working in the garden, composting, learning about pollinators, inspecting beehives, harvesting honey, etc. Through her career, Ms. Borders has gained a deep understanding of child development and the value and importance of Montessori education as well as the importance of working with their hands in nature and through gardening. She continues to share her expertise to local Monmouth County families through Mastro Montessori Academy.
Dante Marino has been an avid gardener for over 30 years. Tending to his various gardens is his passion. He enjoys gardening year-round and is alway trying out new plants each season to add to beds and to expand his pantry output. Not everything always works but he continues to learn something new every year. He also enjoys helping friends and relatives design beds and select planting that work for both their yard and their lifestyle.
