new garden(er) needs advice

[moodswingmasta]

Hello, all.  I'm planning on starting a garden this spring, and was wondering if anybody has advice to give for an almost complete newbie.  I'm interested in procuring these guys to grow:
  Salvia Divinorum,
  Ipomoea tricolor,
  Nepeta,
  Damiana,
  and Papaver (Somniferum)
I've got plenty of room both outdoors in my yard and within a large assortment of pots to grow any of these plants, if it helps.
Any ideas on other plants to include or omit?  All help is welcome.

[Bushpig]

Hi and welcome, apologies for the delay in reply!

I think your list seems like a great place to start, try considering why you are growing those or thinking about growing others and I am sure you will beable to deciede if you want to add more to the list and why.  

Boooshpig

[Cassie]

Hi there, and welcome.
For complete newbies the first answer lies in the soil.
I'm a bit late to this thread but you should first dig over the area you want to plant and get the weeds out. How you accomplish this will depend on the types of weeds present.
If you are going to use pots, use good potting mix which has 'crystal rain' added. These are water-holding granules.
Once you have the soil prepared then you plant stuff ...
 :roll:
Using seed is more tricky than planting seedlings.
Seed should be sown at a depth of twice the size of the seed.
Seedlings should be soaked thoroughly in their existing pots or bags then tipped up gently while supporting the plant to remove them from there and then planed immediately while hadling the roots carefully.  You would normally plant to the same depth they were at, water well and firm the soil gently around them with the palm of your hand.
Cheers!