If you love to cook this is the time to think about starting your vegetable garden. The best part about growing your vegetables is that you can enjoy them any time of the year. Your garden doesn’t have to be big and if you are a beginner, it shouldn’t be too big at first so that it doesn’t overwhelm you. You can start with just a few plants or seeds and grow from there the next year.
The Basics of Planting and Growing a Vegetable Garden
The most important thing to remember about planting your vegetable garden is that different plants have different needs for space between plants, sun, soil type, temperature, watering, and nutrients. For example, some plants like tomatoes require a lot of heat while others like lettuce need more shade.
There are many different ways to plant your vegetable garden this article will focus on the basics of planting and growing a vegetable garden.
Pick the Right Location
Picking the right location to plant your garden is the first step. The biggest consideration is sunlight. Vegetables need at least 6 hours (and preferably 8) per day of full sun to thrive. You’ll need to make sure that the space you choose receives this much light every day, preferably throughout the entire growing season.
Shade from nearby trees can reduce your sunlight, and shade from structures like sheds or houses can prevent your vegetables from getting enough sunlight as well.
You’ll also want to choose a location that’s relatively flat or level. This will help prevent water from pooling in different areas which could leave some of your plants without enough water, or flood others with too much of it. It will also make it easier for you to move around in your garden and work on it without having to deal with lots of uneven surfaces.
If you have young children or pets that might be tempted to play in your garden, you might want to choose a location near your house where you can keep an eye on them while they’re outside. If there’s no good spot near your house, then consider building a fence around part or all of your garden to keep pets and kids out of it.
Choosing a Plot Size: Start Small!
If this is your first foray into vegetable gardening, start small. Choose a site that gets at least six hours of sun each day and has access to water. (If you’re using containers, choose one that’s the right size for the vegetables you want to grow.)
To keep things simple, pick just two or three vegetables to grow in your first year and add more plants each year as you gain confidence and experience.
And don’t worry if your yield isn’t huge! That first harvest — no matter how small — will taste so delicious and will feel so good that you’ll be hooked on vegetable gardening.
Choosing Vegetables
When beginning a vegetable garden, choosing the right vegetables to plant is one of the most important steps. Beginners should start with vegetables that are easy to grow, low maintenance, and thrive in local growing zones.
Here are the top 10 easy vegetables:
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
- Peppers
- Lettuce and other salad greens
- Radishes
- Beets
- Carrots
- Chard, Spinach, or Kale
- Peas
The following five tips should help you get started planning a vegetable garden:
Know your local planting dates
Even if you live in a place with mild winters, you have to observe the seasons. Planting too early or too late can cause problems with the harvest, so do some research on the optimum time to plant the seeds in your area.
Have your soil tested
Soil is an essential part of growing vegetables. It has the potential to make or break your garden. Having your soil tested can tell you what type of nutrients are in it, whether it’s acidic or alkaline and its overall fertility level. Find out how to test your soil by visiting your local cooperative extension office and asking for a soil testing kit.
Choose vegetables that will thrive in the space you have available
Choose vegetables that will thrive in the space you have available. If you have enough room for only a few pots, select vegetables that require minimal space, such as salad greens. Squash and peas do well in containers.
Don’t plant too many crops at once
If this is your first garden, start with just a few plants or seeds that you know you’ll use. Don’t make it hard on yourself by trying to grow 20 different things all at once! Make sure that if you’re planting more than one item in a container, they’re compatible (for example tomatoes and basil can grow together). And don’t forget—you can always scale up next year!
Research companion planting practices and try them in your garden
Some plants are natural allies and grow better when planted next to each other. Research companion planting practices and try them in your garden.
Where and When to Plant
When you are ready to plant, follow the steps below.
Where to Plant
Choose a sunny location that will be relatively easy to work with. Your vegetable garden should receive at least six hours of sun per day, and preferably more. If you have poor soil, consider creating raised beds and filling them with high-quality topsoil or potting mix.
When to Plant
The best time to plant varies according to your climate zone and the types of vegetables you plan to grow. Early Spring (March or April) is generally time for cool-season crops such as lettuce, spinach, cabbage, peas, and root vegetables like carrots and potatoes. Later in spring (May or June), after the last frost has passed, it’s time for warm-season crops such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, and corn. Consult your local plant hardiness zone for specific planting times for your area.
Here’s an infographic for an additional 7 Steps to Grow a Food Garden:
12 ESSENTIAL GARDEN TOOLS FOR THE BEGINNER
Gloves
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, gardening gloves are very useful. They protect your hands from sharp objects in the garden and can help prevent blisters. Ideally, purchase a pair that fits well and has breathable fabric. Longer gloves are usually more protective than shorter ones.
Pruning Shears
The sharp, clean-cut of pruning shears is an essential tool for removing dead and dying plant material. They can also be used to shape a plant or hedge into the desired form and keep it maintained. Pruning shears are available in manual or power-driven models. Power-driven pruning shears are more expensive than manual, but they require less time and effort to use.
Trowel
Trowels are a must for any gardener—and for good reason. They’re perfect for scooping soil out of the container to make room for new plants, mixing soil and fertilizer together, and moving plants from one place to another.
Transplanter
Transplanters are the perfect tool for moving plants from one location to another. The long narrow blade allows you to dig a small hole without damaging plant roots; the pointed end of this garden tool makes it easy to break up soil clods and eliminate air pockets.
Hand Rake
This tool is great for loosening soil, removing weeds, and working fertilizer into the soil. It’s also handy for smoothing mulch and leveling planting areas.
Weeder
Not only does weeding help to keep your plants growing healthy, but it also reduces the risk of spreading diseases from weeds to your plants.
Cultivator
A cultivator is a great tool to help you take care of an existing garden. It has a long, sturdy handle with angled tines on the end. You can use it to break up the soil, remove weeds, and even plant seeds.
Spray Bottle
A spray bottle is an essential piece of equipment for any gardener. It can be used to water delicate seedlings; apply diluted fertilizer and pesticides; or mist the foliage on houseplants.
Gardening is a relaxing hobby and it can also be a rewarding one. It can also cost a lot of money if you’re a beginner. Purchasing these gardening tools one by one can be a very expensive and tiresome task. We have reduced the effort to get you started in gardening and added bonus items, which most other stores do not include in their packages.
We recommend you to buy Grenebo Gardening Tool Set: 9-Piece Heavy Duty Gardening Tools on Amazon!
This stainless-steel gardening tool set is robust and rust-proof, and it is composed of high-strength SK-5 carbon steel. Grenebo gardening tools come in a set of 9 pieces with one storage bag. It contains the above-mentioned 8 Essential Gardening Tools for beginners.
By investing in these essential gardening tools, your shed will house everything it needs to keep your garden beautiful and growing.
Also, here’s an additional guide to start growing your vegetable garden! Happy Viewing and Enjoy!