Gardening In Social Isolation

With rumors swirling around that the stay at home order may extend now until the end of June you may be starting to go stir crazy at home. If you have never tried gardening, now may be to the perfect time to explore a new and incredibly rewarding hobby. The benefits of gardening are twofold with the first being, of course, the satisfaction of seeing something grow from a seed into a mature plant and the second being the opportunity to provide food for your family in uncertain times.

Soil

Good soil will provide your garden with the foundation it needs to produce delicious vegetables. If you are planting in large pots or raised beds, be sure to talk to the experts at your local garden supply store about what type of potting mix would be best for what you are trying to grow. If you are planting directly in the ground, make sure to have plenty of compost on hand to mix in with the existing soil.

Sunlight

Most plants need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight if not more each day, so the location you choose for your garden is very important. That’s not to say if you plant in a shadier area, or live in a part of the island that is more cloudy that your garden will not produce, but you may have to choose shade-loving vegetables or cope with a smaller harvest.

Water

Frequent watering, especially as the temperatures begin to rise in spring and summer is essential for keeping your plants healthy and ensuring a bountiful harvest. Try to water your plants at least once a day, or once every other day. If you have time, do all the watering in the early morning or late evening as to avoid any of the water evaporating before it has a chance to be absorbed.

Soil, sunlight, and water are the key components to any garden, and we hope that you decide to try this new hobby during Hawaii’s continued stay at home order. If you prefer to have an indoor or window sill garden you can also try microgreens and herbs!

Photo by Benjamin Combs on Unsplash