5 Tips for Gardening When You Are Disabled

While I don't pretend to have the greenest thumb in the world, every spring, I get in the mood to play in the dirt and do some gardening. Maybe it is the thought of growing my harvest, perhaps it sees all the garden supplies at the home improvement stores, and perhaps it is just a way to reconnect with my childhood and my father's love of gardening.

Whatever the reason, I enjoy my time outside in the spring and summer months. There is something about stepping away from the computer and into nature. And hopefully, being able to enjoy some delicious food at the end. (Albeit I'm impatient, that last part is a tough one for me, but I try to focus on the growth and not just the getting.)

Unfortunately, gardening and my disability don't always work together harmoniously. I've had to set up my garden and manage the process so that it won't hurt me physically, is as accessible as possible, and I will have the energy to keep up with it. So I wanted to share a few tips and tricks that have worked for me over the years in the hopes that it might help you with your gardening aspirations. Keep in mind this list is not meant to be comprehensive in any way, and so I will link some articles with additional information at the end of this post.

Gardening tip #1) Plan your garden menu

Only plant what you will eat. And by that, I mean both in quality and quantity. If you don't like eating tomatoes, don't plant them. Additionally, if you want jalapeños but only eat them occasionally, maybe think of a milder pepper. Odds are you will have a bountiful harvest, and if you won't eat, or don't have someone to share your crop with, then a lot will go to waste. And that IS not what we are going for here!

Gardening tip #2) Get a lift up!

For physically challenged folks like myself, raised bed or container gardening is a pretty accessible way to garden. If bending, kneeling, and ground-level activities are challenging or not doable at all, no problem! Just bring the garden surface up to your level. There are considerations with this method, of course. You will need a large and robust enough container to hold the dirt and crops you will plant, and you need to make sure you have adequate drainage. This year I am using square plastic milk cartons a neighbor got rid of and lined them with burlap. So far, they are making great homes for my tomato and pepper plants.

Also, did you know that you can plant tomato plants hanging upside down! This might be a good option for you that avoids the ground altogether.

Gardening tip #3) Go easy on the watering (watering stakes or drip systems can help)

Don't overwater! Watering in containers can be tricky. While it's easy to under-water because the soil will dry out quicker, I've had the most problems with over-watering. Because the bottom of the container limits the root system of the plant (as opposed to in the ground where it can go deeper), it is easy to flush the nutrients of the soil right through the dirt past the roots, and so they are not able to benefit from the nutrients. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for crops, and overwatering can drain it out of the soil. If you start to see a lot of yellowing of the leaves of your crops, that can be an indication of over-watering. Once your plants have matured, and especially once they are bearing flowers and eventually fruit, you can back off the watering some. Just watch out for extreme hot spells. You will need to compensate for those. Let the water stay with the soil. That is where it is needed most.

Gardening tip #4) Let mother nature help spread the love :)

Add flowers! Now, you might be thinking, flowers to my vegetable garden?! Yes, because you want to enhance pollination. And bees love flowers. They will pick up pollen from the flowers and then, in the process, buzz over to your garden crops and spread some of their love there. For the most part, where a flower sprouts, a vegetable will follow. Let the bees be your helper in the garden. (But obviously, beeeee careful if you have a bee allergy) pun intended I couldn't resist!

Garden tip #5) Get rollin’!

Let wheels be your friend in the garden as well. Because I can't lift or carry things very easily, I love using wheels whenever and wherever I get the chance. One of my favorite and most used items in the garden is what I call my "dirt bucket." It is just a Rubbermaid heavy-duty bin that we have attached four caster wheels. When I go to the garden store, I limit myself to buying only the heaviest size bag I can lift (which generally means I have to buy more than one, but that is okay), and then when I get home, I immediately empty one or more of the bags into my dirt bucket. Then, when I am gardening, I can wheel it in and out of the shed or around my backyard as I need it.

BONUS TIP! Lastly, one more bonus tip. If I could say anything about gardening if you have a disability, it would be to keep it simple! Take it from me; it is easy to get swept up in the garden store, looking at all the fun and cute tiny plants. (Also, don't go to the vegetable section of the garden store when you are hungry). Keep in mind that all of those plants will require a lot of dirt, watering, and care. So don't feel like you are limiting yourself by starting small. Small is good. It will be much better if you have a small and very successful garden, especially if you are new to gardening, which will help you have a more extensive garden next year. It is like with most things in life, you learn by doing. Hopefully, these tips and advice have given you some new ideas, or at the very least, let you know you aren't alone if you have a disability and like to play in the dirt as I do! 🙂

For more tips and insights on successful gardening when you have a disability, check out these additional resources:

https://newmobility.com/2021/03/10-step-guide-to-accessible-gardening/

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/accessible/gardening-with-disabilities.htm

https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/planting-and-maintenance/accessible-gardening-techniques