Shelby’s gardening 2025

[ducks4you]

Here's the deal: just like those of us who own livestock have to deal with "deadstock" (thx, @baymule ,) you are GOING to kill plants! Those plants can be eaten/cannibalized by your New plants by composting.
Agreed with @flowerbug, try not to make expensive mistakes.
My purchase of a zone 10 gardenia Could have been a $75.00 mistake, but it was instead a $16.00 clearance mistake bc I couldn't keep it alive inside during the winter.
A current University of Illinois College of A.C.E.S. couldn't keep Hers alive, either, so I'm in good company.
Contrarywise, my $9.00 box store clearance Magnolia Jane has grown into a 13 ft lovely small (cultivar) front yard tree that shields us from the street when leaved out and has showy blooms every Spring.
Study and asking questions saves a Lot of trouble. I just learned on "Mid American Gardener" that some vegetable companies speed up then slow down the growth of their box store small vegetables, and that if you do that with cauliflower you are liable to lose it.
THEREFORE, best to start it myself indoors for steady growth.
Little things like that, that you learn from study.
Also, these are just PLANTS that EVERYBODY eats, so don't beat yourself up on mistakes.
Celebrate all small victories!!

 

[Blueberry Acres]

I usually get really hyped up about gardening and then end up quitting, so I thought this might help me.

Pretty much everyone does. Browsing the garden catalogues and making lists in winter is a lot different than ripping out weeds and rolling up hoses in summer!
It gets easier with time, in my opinion. You learn what methods work best for you (I prefer a sprawling cottage garden that cuts down the weeding and pruning, rather than have neat rows of plants that I feel the need to keep perfect), what times of the day you feel better gardening (I've grown to love summer evening weeding!), and how to enjoy a garden rather than stress about how it looks.

I'm excited to read about your journey, @GodlovesU!

 

[akroberts]

Tomatoes are fairly forgiving plants. That's probably the only plant that I haven't ever killed. If you need anything, advice wise, we're all here for you and so happy to have you here.