A Beginner's Guide to Start a Vegetable Garden

Growing your own food may seem daunting at first, but once you taste garden-fresh vegetables with their sweet, juicy flavors and vibrant textures, there's no going back. If you're struggling to eat more plants, starting a garden is a wonderful way to change that.

‍

A home vegetable garden helps you eat more seasonal produce while reducing the packaging and transportation waste associated with supermarket shopping.

‍

Gardening is also an excellent exercise that gets you outside and helps you reconnect with nature.

‍

If you’re new to vegetable gardening, this step-by-step guide will help you start a vegetable garden:

‍

{{cta-join2}}

‍

Plan Your Planting for Your Space

‍

You don't need a big backyard to start a vegetable garden — even a small space or apartment can yield fresh produce. Before getting started, consider whether you'll use in-ground beds (great for large spaces with good soil), raised beds (excellent drainage and ergonomics), or containers (perfect for small spaces and beginners). Each option has its advantages, so choose what works best for your situation.

‍

There are some basics that you should get right for any growing method. Your growing space needs 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily, as most vegetables require this amount of light. Choose a location protected from strong winds that could damage young plants. Also, ensure you can easily reach all your plants for weeding and harvesting.

‍

Also read: 15 Easy Vegetables to Grow in Pots

‍

Choose The Right Crops

‍

The next step is choosing which crops to grow in your vegetable garden. This decision depends on two key factors: what can thrive in your local conditions and what you enjoy eating.

‍

The U.S. is divided into hardiness zones to help gardeners determine which plants will flourish in their area. Check out this article to find your area's plant hardiness zone.

‍

You can also contact your state's Cooperative Extension Service for advice on which plants grow best in your region. After identifying suitable plants, consider which ones you and your family will actually eat — there's no point growing food that won't make it to your table.

‍

Some plants complement each other well in the garden. This practice, known as companion planting, can be another factor in deciding what to grow.

‍

Get Plants or Seeds

‍

If buying a whole plant seems an easier way to start, then do that. Otherwise you can try and purchase seed packets. They are less expensive than individual plants. Be patient, and plant more seeds than you need in case some don't germinate. You can always ask your gardener friends about their experience with different seeds. They might even share spare seeds or plants from their gardens. You can also find free seeds through Buy Nothing Groups and local libraries, many of which maintain seed collections.

‍

Prepare Good Soil

‍

This one is a given. Your plants need nutrient-rich soils to grow. Even if you have all the right conditions but the soil quality is poor and lacks the required nutrients, the plants won’t survive. Also, the soil must drain well. Wet soil can lead to wet roots which will start rotting soon. If you live in an area with rocky soil, make sure you till and remove the rocks. This will allow the roots to grow better and support plant health. Adding compost to your soil will improve its quality while keeping food waste out of landfills. If you're new to composting, check out Commons' Guide to Composting.

‍

Learn As You Go

‍

It's easy to forget each plant's water and sunlight needs, as well as their harvest times. Trying to memorize all these details can become overwhelming and discourage you from continuing. A better approach is keeping a gardening journal — a living record of your garden where you can track everything from seed planting to harvesting and pest management. Check out our article on How Journaling Can Make You a Better Gardener

‍