Tired of being cooped up indoors? Sick of the limitations on activities and gatherings and looking for an excuse to get outside? Then why not start a garden this year?

To help new gardeners get the process going, experienced gardeners from around the Columbia Basin chipped in tips and advice.

Jerry Harrod, of Moses Lake, said the most important thing for a gardener at the beginning of the season is not to jump the gun on planting. Harrod said he’s guilty of it himself, but you don’t want to rush the season.

“If you think you’re going to plant corn and get a jump on it, that’s not gonna happen,” Harrod said. “That corn comes up when it wants to. That’s my biggest fault right there. Just get your garden ready for when the time comes.”

With planting corn, he said, you want to plant one row and wait a few weeks before planting a second, so all of your corn isn’t coming up at the same time.

Surrounding your garden in flowers, such as lavender, is something Harrod said he does every year and can deter some pests.

He said the last frost in the area typically falls around April 15. You can check the package of seeds you’re planting for information on growing zones and when you need to get the seeds in the ground. If you do plant too early, you’re just going to be replanting in a few weeks after the seeds have rotted, he said.

Easy plants to start with are tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, he said. Zucchini is very productive, so you will only need a plant or two unless you’re supporting livestock.

Harrod recommends yellow crooked neck squash because they’re good to eat.

Green beans are a very productive plant for this area and are easy to grow.

Harrod said a gardener should not be afraid to try some unique things or plants.

“Experiment,” Harrod said. “Plant things like okra and different things.”

He avoids growing potatoes just because they are so easily accessible in the fall from local growers.

Harrod said the best part about having a garden is growing enough to give to your neighbors.

“There’s a lot of people in your neighborhood that will appreciate a fresh garden,” he said.

Find some good recipes, because the fun of a garden is making good stuff, he said.

Korbi Ashton is a former neighbor of Harrod’s who reaped the benefits of his bountiful garden.

Ashton said the best thing about gardening is being able to help the next person. She said her front yard is typically filled with flowers, and she will have people come by saying, “I wish I could do that.” She said she’s gotten accustomed to taking a cutoff of one of her flowers and giving it to the person and letting them know, “Now you can.”

“How awesome is it to teach someone to grow something?” Ashton said. “It’s not as hard as everyone thinks. If something dies, just try again.”

Ashton said the best advice she can give gardeners starting out is to find out what kind of dirt they are dealing with at home. With warmer weather the last few days, she said now is a great time to just go out and start digging around and find out what you’re working with.

While she’s in the process of moving, she said her former house at Pelican Point had nothing but rock a few inches into the soil.

“For the first couple of years, what we did was just pay attention to the ground and mix in peat moss and manure to just get a healthier dirt,” Ashton said.

For plants to start with, she said she recommends staying away from tuber plants such as dahlias because they can be more maintenance than other plants. Ashton said you have to dig up tubers each year and store them in a dry, dark place.

She said she doesn’t deal with digging up her tubers each year, but just gets some new ones from Jerry Harrod each April because he stores his each fall.

She likes bulbs and perennials that will come back on their own.

“I always, always choose a perennial over an annual,” Ashton said. “I’m not one of those people that like to plant a different flower each year. I like it to just come back and prune it and keep going.”

Gardening can also be a family activity. Ashton likes to get her kids involved with everything from the very beginning in the garden. She said it’s nice to turn working in the garden into a family activity everyone enjoys.

Heather Gessele is the co-owner of Wild+Roots houseplants and cut flower business in Moses Lake. Her advice for new gardeners starts with making a list of what you want to plant and how many of each.

Once you have an idea, she said, the rest of the garden can come together by finding plants that pair well with what you’re growing.

“There’s tons of great layouts on Pinterest for raised gardens,” Gessele said. “And most of all, plan to have healthy soil and fertilizer.”

Gessele said she has a fertilizing schedule planned, but it’s important to start with healthy soil if possible. Prevent pests where you can, especially squash bugs, she added.

“For seasoned gardeners, look into bees,” Gessele said. “Bringing bees onto our property has helped the success of our gardens so much.”

A lot of times, gardeners can get overwhelmed by planting too much to handle. She suggests starting with staples like tomatoes and squash and radishes.