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Can I plant a garden in just plain dirt?

Im a beginner in gardening, and Im only 14, so I cant really go in a car and drive to the store to get some soil. So is it possible to plant things such as watermelons, apples trees, flowers, etc. in just plain dirt? If so, how deep should I plant the seeds, and how many times a day should I water it, and how much water? Also, I get my seeds from the actual fruti, no package. One more thing: Where do I put the mulch?

Public Comments

1. i plant my garden in 'dirt'...each pkg will give you instructions on how deep to plant your seeds....good luck
2. Yes it is possible to plant stuff in just dirt, except you need to find mulch to put on top such as wood chips, grass clippings, or leaves. Theres also household wastes that are good to replace fertilizer such as fish bone, overdue milk, anything that will decompose. For fruit trees, you should buy the tree unless you want to graft your own trees which will take many years to bear fruit. For flowers and vegetables, most seeds do well 1/2 inch in to the ground. make sure you clear out all the weeds/grass, loosen up the soil and water your plants once in morning/ once in evening.
3. I have heard that one should cover seeds with as much soil as the size of the seed. So very tiny seeds need little or no covering while larger seeds should be a little deeper. when you water, be sure you put enough water on to thoroughly moisten the soil. You don't want the soil to be swampy though. Keep soil evenly moist and not allowed to dry out. Depending on the temperature and weather -- including humidity and how windy it is -- that will determine how often you have to water. Water the seeds in well; you really can't use too much water unless you wash them away. Then check the garden plot several times a day for a while until you get a feeling for when the soil will dry out. Tune in to the weather conditions and you will soon learn how often you need to water. You can overwater plants -- usually this is when you water too frequently and not that you water with too much water at any one time. this is usually a problem however with plants that are more established and have roots down deep where it never really dries out. Young sprouting seeds have shallow roots and are easy to dry out! Once the seeds have sprouted, you still have to watch them carefully until they grab hold and start really growing. After they root in a little they will be less sensitive to failing but will still need some water. You don't say where you live but I have sprouted in Michigan seeds from avocados and citrus. Those are not cold hardy here tho and I have to bring them in for the winter. So I put the seeds in pots and sunk the pots in the ground for the summer, lifting them in the fall. Go for it -- have fun with it !! :)
4. You can try to find neighbors/friends with extra seeds or plants. I usually give lots of extra seeds/plants to friends. You should water the plants when needed. The soil needs to have both water and air. Put mulch around the plant but don't have it touch the plant.