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Many different seeds -

The first thing to know about chaos gardening is that it requires you to throw your expectations to the wind. It is about planting many different seeds and letting whatever grows, grow.

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Many different seeds -

The most popular technique for chaos gardening is to mix all your disused seed packets together and spread them randomly across the soil.

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As involved as you like -

Another thing to know about chaos gardening is that it can be as involved or as hands-off as you like.

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As involved as you like -

Many chaos gardeners let the rain and birds take care of watering and pest control, for example, while others prefer to water their gardens and/or use fertilizers.

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Healthier gardens -

A great benefit to chaos gardens is that they are often healthier than traditional gardens. This is because, by their nature, they tend to have a higher level of diversity.

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Healthier gardens -

In addition, the plant density of chaos gardens tends to deter pests and foraging animals. This can mean a lower level of stress for the gardener.

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Tips -

Now for some tips on how to get started. The first step to take is to gather all your old, unused seed packets together.

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Gather your seeds -

It doesn’t matter the background of the seeds; they can be seeds that you don’t know how to plant, or ones that have exceeded their suggested plant-by date.

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Gather your seeds -

If you don’t have any seeds on hand, you can buy new seeds in a variety of species and plant types. Be as adventurous or as cautious as you'd like.

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Sort your seeds -

If you want to boost the chance that your chaos garden will succeed, you might consider sorting your seeds into complementary groups.

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Sort your seeds -

Sort larger seeds, such as beans or squash, into a separate pile and consider planting those first. While this step is not compulsory, it can expedite the process.

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Sort your seeds -

It is also a good idea to avoid seeds that do not flourish in your area’s climate. These may end up just taking up valuable space.

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Soak your seeds -

Next up is germination. Place all your seeds on a large baking sheet lined with paper towel and douse with warm water until all the seeds are wet and the towel damp.

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Soak your seeds -

Leave the seeds in a warm, dark place for around a day. After that, you may choose to discard any seeds that have not yet sprouted, although that is not a must.

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Select a site -

While your seeds are germinating, take some time to find a site for your chaos garden. Consider whether you want to keep it contained or let it run wild.

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Select a site -

There is nothing wrong with dedicating your whole space to a chaos garden, of course. Just bear in mind that there is no guarantee that it will grow.

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Till your soil -

Consider that most plant species tend to grow best in soil that is around 60°F (16°C). In many areas, this means the best time to plant is mid-March.

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Till your soil -

When it comes to the actual planting, use a hoe or hand tiller to churn up the soil and create random pockets that are around 0.75 in (1.9 cm) deep. Toss your seeds into those furrows.

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Till your soil -

If you don’t fancy digging, you can ditch it altogether and spread 0.5-1 in (1.3-2.5 cm) of compost over your gardening space. This will be just as effective as a planting medium.

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Distribute your seeds -

While you do not have to be precise about where you throw your seeds, it is a good idea to distribute them as evenly as possible. That is to say, try and hit every area of your garden more or less evenly.

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Distribute your seeds -

If you are looking for an easy way to distribute your seeds evenly, try mixing them with a few handfuls of potting soil before throwing. This will make the mixture more diluted and random.

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Distribute your seeds -

You can also try putting your seeds in a colander or fertilizer spreader and using that to spread the seeds across your space.

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Water the soil -

Once you have distributed the seeds, it is time to moisten the soil. Use a hose or watering can to make things damp, but be careful not to flood your garden.

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Water the soil -

Dampening your chaos garden has the added benefit that it will make the seeds ‘stick’ to the soil, and means they are less likely to blow away in the wind.

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Help your garden -

When it comes to tending your chaos garden, you can be as involved as you wish. Some people tend to theirs like any other garden, while others let Mother Nature do her thing.

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Help your garden -

Bear in mind that tending to your garden makes it more likely to thrive, while taking a more hands-off approach allows hardier plants to thrive.

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Observe -

It is a good idea, however, to take notes of which plants are thriving. After a few weeks, when the greenery hopefully starts to come in, take a note of what is doing well.

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Observe -

You may decide to include more of those types of seeds next year to make for an even more successful and luscious garden.

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Harvest the vegetables -

Don’t forget to harvest any vegetables starting from a month or two after planting. Bear in mind that your plants are randomly distributed and therefore won’t bear fruit at the same rate.

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Harvest the vegetables -

Once a week or so, take some time to hunt through the foliage for mature vegetables. Make the most of whatever you find to cook up a tasty homegrown meal!

Sources: (wikiHow)

See also: How to get exercise in by gardening

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