It goes without saying that gardening is a skill – and like all skills, it takes time to master the art. Even with all the right planning and preparation, a freak storm could wipe out all of your hard work. This is why perseverance is key.

"Give yourself time to learn the best practices to follow, study up on your favourite plants and network with other gardeners to learn about crops and varieties that grow well in your area," suggests GrowVeg. "The garden is a great teacher. In a few seasons, you’ll go from being a newbie to an old hand."

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