Wellness Through Doing: Gardening
At a time when we are all indoors practicing social distancing, it's nice to know there are outdoor activities we can still enjoy, especially gardening.

Gardening has been shown in studies to:

  • Burn calories

  • Reduce risk of heart attack and stroke

  • Improve confidence and self-esteem

  • Reduce stress and promote happiness

  • Improve hand strength and mobility

  • Lower risk of dementia

But where to start? The helpful video below from Whispering Roots shows how to start your seeds for outdoor planting.
FAQ
I've never gardened before, can I do it?
Gardening takes a little bit of time and a little bit of love, but anyone can do it. There are many garden centers and nurseries in the Omaha metro area to call for tips and advice. There are also many websites featuring expert information and even tips from other amateurs who've gone through the same experience!

Where can I get supplies right now?
The following Omaha garden centers are offering online, delivery, and curbside pick-up of gardening supplies. Please contact the store for more information.


What are some good online resources?

  • Burpee.com offers a comprehensive gardening advice center with quick start guides on everything from soil choice to container planting, as well as tips on how to grow certain vegetables and flowers.


  • The Old Farmer's Almanac hosts a comprehensive planting calendar for the Omaha area, helping you know what to plant and when. The site also offers a free downloadable PDF book on how to start a vegetable garden. The book can be downloaded here (you must sign up to receive email updates to get the PDF).

  • Cornell University has lists of crop information that includes ideal conditions for growing, expected height and size of the crop, details on species and special uses, and more. They also have best growing tips for flowers as well as information on designing a flower garden by both texture and color.

  • Garden Answer on YouTube has videos on every gardening topic you could imagine, from beginner's tips to fertilization to pruning and irrigation.
What should I grow?
Some good vegetables to plant in late April/early May include:

  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Kale
  • Onions
  • Peas
  • Peppers
  • Potatoes
  • Spinach
  • Tomato

But what about flowers? These early-blooming flowers will brighten up the Spring:

  • Alyssum
  • Bachelor’s Buttons
  • Bloodroot
  • Calendula
  • Cleome
  • Cosmos
  • Daffodils
  • Daylilies
  • Lilac
  • Marigolds
  • Nasturtiums
  • Pansies
  • Snapdragons
  • Sunflowers
  • Tulips
Happy gardening!
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