When you finally find your dream home, one of the biggest benefits will be having a place to plant your own garden. 

After all, the Willamette Valley is home to many fantastic farms, and after visiting one, you might be inspired to start your own mini version with a backyard garden!

If you're new to the hobby and don't have much experience in the garden, your plants might not grow how you want. Don't worry. Here are a few easy plants to start with that will grow with just a little care and practice!

1. Cucumbers
   The main thing to remember about cucumbers is to water them once a week - more if it's really hot. Without proper moisture, they'll still grow, but they may have a bitter taste. Other than that, just make sure they get plenty of sunlight, and your cucumbers will flourish.
   
   
2. Sweet Asylum
   These beautiful, fragrant flowers come in snowy white as well as shades of pink and purple. Bees like them, which means they propagate well. They do best in a little sun, but they'll still grow in the shade and even a light frost.
   
   
3. Strawberries
   The taste of homegrown strawberries beats the store-bought variety any day. Put them in a planter or a small pot, water them regularly, and give them at least six hours of sunlight per day. They'll yield their delicious, sweet fruit from spring all the way through autumn.
   
   
4. Marigold
   There's no flower easier to grow than marigolds - and there are few that are as pretty. They'll thrive in both wet and dry conditions and can survive both heat and cold. For the best results, give them a heavy watering once a week.
   
   
5. Tomatoes
   The main thing tomatoes need is a metal cage to support them as their heavy fruit grows. Other than that, give them direct sunlight and water them once a week, and you'll have delicious, vine-ripe tomatoes better than anything in the store. One caveat: if you plant both tomatoes and strawberries, keep them far apart. They don't grow well together.
   
   
6. Jade
   These plants thrive on neglect. They store moisture in their leaves, so they'll survive weeks without being watered. Give them direct or indirect sunlight, or even shade, and they'll survive for years. Not only are they pretty, but they're also great for the environment, absorbing high amounts of CO2.
   
   
7. Zucchini
   The difficult thing about zucchini is getting it to stop growing. Give it a few hours of sunlight and water it daily, and you'll have zucchini all summer, not just for yourself but plenty for your friends and neighbors too.
   
   
8. Begonias
   These beautiful flowers come in a variety of vibrant colors. They grow well in both sun and shade. Water them every few days, and they'll grow well. They're particularly good in window boxes and porch planters.
   
   
9. Herbs
   Most herbs are really easy to grow. Basil will thrive as long as temperatures stay above 50 degrees. Parsley tolerates a wide range of temperatures. Sage will thrive in a drought. Most common herbs are fairly low maintenance. The only one to be careful of is mint - not because it's difficult but because it grows TOO well. It grows in virtually any condition and can take over the rest of your garden unless you keep it carefully contained.

Even if you don't have much experience growing things, you can still have a beautiful, thriving garden. If you're ready to find a home in Corvallis or Albany where you can plant that garden, contact us. Our real estate agents will help you find the perfect home to meet your needs.