Gardenuity co-founders Donna Letier and Julie Eggers are teaching others how to cultivate a healthy lifestyle—one container garden at a time. Touting a homegrown approach to health and wellness, the Dallas-based online company aims to make gardening more accessible through its customized kits. Interested in growing your own herbs and veggies? Letier and Eggers are here to share their top five tips for the hopeful horticulturist.
Gardenuity co-founders Donna Letier and Julie Eggers PHOTO COURTESY OF GARDENUITY
1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Gardenuity’s Grow Pro specialists—like personal trainers, but for gardening—are a great resource for both new and experienced gardeners. As part of your Grow Pro membership, which is included in the price of each Gardenuity kit, specialists are available to answer any prepurchase and postdelivery questions you may have. Our Grow Pro technology helps you choose the right plant based on your location, tracks your local weather and sends you email notifications on how to best care for your garden during certain weather.
Herbal tea enthusiasts will love Gardenuity’s newest collection, the tea garden. PHOTO COURTESY OF GARDENUITY
2. Choose the right container. If you’re new to gardening, think about starting with a container garden. They come in a variety of materials and styles, each with its own pros and cons. We are big fans of the grow bag—they’re portable and breathable, plus they prevent roots from becoming rootbound and encourage root pruning rather than root circling. You can’t overwater with grow bags, and good ones are reusable season after season.
3. Pick the right plants. If you love the idea of instant gratification, we recommend starting with healthy, fully rooted plants. You want to select young, stocky plants because if the plant is too mature, your harvest may be limited. A good rule of thumb is to gently slide the plant out of its container to see if the roots are white in color and the top growth is in proportion to the size of the container.
4. Good dirt really matters. Soil is a living ecosystem and allows for the passage or retention of water and nutrients. Different plants have different needs, so be sure to choose the right soil for what you’re growing. Gardenuity’s matching technology takes out the guesswork by providing a customized compost made specifically for your plant collection.
Fresh herbs from Gardenuity’s cocktail garden are the easiest way to liven up your libation PHOTO COURTESY OF GARDENUITY
5. Don’t forget about nutrients. It’s important to know which nutrients your plants need—and at which stage of growth—in order to thrive. Nitrogen is vital for good stalk growth, while phosphorus helps plants capture and convert the sun’s energy, which affects growth. Potassium is important for roots and supports the plant’s ability to tolerate extreme temperatures. Calcium fortifies overall tissue, and magnesium helps boost production of chlorophyll. 2242 Monitor St., Ste. 140, gardenuity.com
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