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How to Start a Garden, Starting a Vegetable Garden, Making a Vegetable Garden

How to start a garden

Learn how to start a garden in the backyard, or on a porch, deck or patio. Easy tips for starting a container, raised bed, vertical or backyard row garden for growing fresh vegetables at home.

Use our free online Garden Planner to help plan your garden. Choose the size you want, and the vegetables, and you're ready to get started!

Design Your Own Vegetable Garden Layout Using our Free "Vegetable Garden Planner" Software!

Learning how to start a garden is a great idea these days. You’ve seen other people start a garden, so why can’t you? Actually starting your own home vegetable garden isn’t really so difficult if you understand a few basics.

As there are so many benefits to growing some or all of your own vegetables, many more families are giving it a try for the first time.

Even a small home vegetable garden grown in pots or containers on the porch or patio can provide enough vegetables to make a difference.

Fresh home grown vegetables have much more flavor than those found in the grocery store, and will also save you money.

Also, gardening is a great activity that the entire family can enjoy together...and it's free!

Download Free Garden Planning Worksheets, Garden Diary, Zone Chart, Or Planting Guide


Click Here to Download Sample "Square Foot" Garden Design


square foot garden

Finding the Perfect Spot for Starting a Vegetable Garden

You will need to choose a sunny location for your garden, with a source of water nearby.

Your garden can be:

  • a traditional backyard row garden "in the ground" in your yard or planted in groups in your flower bed
  • or it can be a container or vertical garden on your porch, patio, deck, or window box
  • Container gardens are the easiest to start, and do not require digging or rototilling.

    You can purchase decorative containers, or recycle containers that you already have on hand.

    What to Grow When Making a Vegetable Garden?

    Start your garden by growing a few vegetables that you and your family enjoy eating such as lettuce, green onions, carrots, and tomatoes.

    Easy Tips for Starting a Garden

    If you only want to try growing one vegetable in a pot, try growing a tomato plant.

    One plant can provide an abundance of fresh delicious tomatoes for your family to enjoy.

    It is sometimes best to start small, and expand your garden the following year as you see how easy it is to grow a home vegetable garden.

    How to Start a Garden in the Ground

    How to start a gardenOnce you know which vegetables you want to raise, and know where you want to plant your garden, the next step is preparing the soil.

    For beginners, an "in ground" garden 8 by 10 foot size or smaller is a good start.

  • Your chosen location must have a lot of sunshine, good drainage, and be located away from tree roots which will take water and nutrients away from your garden.
  • Also, the soil may need to be amended to provide the conditions your plants will need.
  • It is always a good idea to add compost, mulch, humus, and well-aged manure to your garden soil.
  • Locate your garden with the rows running from north to south.
  • Plant taller plants on the north end of the garden, and shorter plants on the south end of the rows.
  • How to Start a Garden in Containers

    For container gardens, simply choose a sunny location on your porch, patio, or balcony and fill your pots with a good potting soil.

  • You can plant the seeds you have chosen directly in the pots, or purchase small plants from your local how to start a garden center.
  • Keep your containers well watered especially during hot summer weather.
  • Mix some pots of flowers in with your vegetables to add interest and color.
  • Choosing Vegetable Seeds and Transplants

    Lettuce, radishes, and green onions grow very quickly. They also like cooler weather, so can planted earlier than many other vegetables.

  • You can plant several crops 2 to 4 weeks apart to maintain a fresh supply of these vegetables all season.
  • Most other vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, peppers, cucumbers and squash take the entire growing season to reach maturity.
  • Use a Trellis or Cage to Train Vegetables Upwards

    Some of the larger plants, like cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes will take up less room in the garden if you provide a support for them to climb!

    Planting Time

    Download our vegetable garden planting guide.Vegetable Planting Guide

    Check with your local garden center when starting a vegetable garden, to determine the planting time in your area, or use our zone chart and planting guide downloads.

    Most garden plants will not tolerate frost, so need to be planted after all danger of frost is past.

    Some plants can be kept indoors in a sunny location to get a head start before being transplanted into your garden.

    Learning how to start a garden can be a great experience for the entire family. Planning and growing a vegetable garden at home is a perfect way to save money, eat fresh healthy vegetables at home, and connect with mother nature all at the same time! Keep your vegetable garden small and simple, and you will be more than happy with the results.


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