Follow these tips for starting a vegetable garden and you will be well on your way to gardening success! Depending on the space you have available, you might choose to grow a traditional in-ground garden in your backyard, or a raised bed, container, or hanging garden on your patio, porch, deck or balcony. When planning, pick a garden site with easy access to the three most important requirements a garden has which are plenty of sunshine, rich well-drained soil, and a source of water.
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Choosing Vegetable Seeds or Plants
When starting a vegetable garden, choose vegetable seeds or plants that are adapted to your region.
Deciding what to grow in a beginner vegetable garden can be as exciting as turning a kid loose in a candy store!
There are so many different varieties of vegetables to plant you could spend hours just choosing the line-up.
Narrow your choices to those plants that do well in your location.
Design Your Own Vegetable Garden Layout Using our Free "Vegetable Garden Planner" Software!
Then, if you have a limited amount of space available, start by growing only your most favorite vegetables such as tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, onions, peppers, carrots, and perhaps a few herbs.
You can branch out to more exotics as you gain gardening experience.
Fresh Vegetables, or Enough for Home Canning?
One deciding factor on which plants to grow when starting a vegetable garden, is whether you plan to eat most of the produce fresh or plan to can or preserve the majority of the harvest.
A good recommendation to save time and money is don’t plant vegetables you know your family will not eat.
For instance, it is a great idea to encourage them to try new foods that are nutritious, but if they have tried Swiss chard and will definitely turn their nose up if it is served at dinner, do not waste valuable garden space planting it!
How to Prepare the Soil for your In-ground or Container Garden
When planting an in-ground garden, much of the effort will be preparing the soil so that it is rich and loamy. If you are not sure what type soil you have, take a sample of your soil to your local garden center, and ask them which additives will be needed to amend your soil to the proper texture and balance.
Typically you will need to add compost, fertilizer, humus, and perhaps sand or vermiculite to create the best conditions for your plants to flourish. For container gardens, simply purchase a good-quality potting soil with conditioners and fertilizers already mixed into the soil.When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden?
Download our vegetable garden planting guide.
When starting a vegetable garden, gather all the information you can about planting times, and plants that are suitable in your particular climate.How to Water Your Garden
Vegetable plants, like people, are made up of mostly water. It is essential that they receive an adequate amount of water. Most plants need at least one to two inches of water a week while they are actively growing. This is especially the case during the active flowering and fruiting stages of growth.
Frequent shallow watering encourages shallow rooted plants that are susceptible to drought. To prevent this from happening when starting a vegetable garden, water deeply and less frequently.
Don't worry; you will get the hang of it in no time. The plants will let you know if they are being under-watered by wilting and looking forlorn!
When to Water Your Garden
When starting a vegetable garden, what time to water is as important as how much!
Water the vegetables in the early morning hours while it is still cool outside. Try to avoid wetting the foliage in the evening, in order to help prevent plant diseases such as mildew from occurring! (I learned this lesson the hard way!) Watering the garden in the heat of the day can burn the plants, so it is best to avoid this if at all possible. If watering in the morning is inconvenient for your schedule, the easiest method is to set up a sprinkler with a timer.
Planting a First Garden
Nothing is more exciting than planting your first garden. (Well,almost nothing. Maybe the birth of your first child.) It is amazing to see your first little seedlings push up out of the ground, and then grow bigger and bigger.
Plant the vegetable seeds that you have chosen, carefully following the directions on the back of the seed packet. You will likely plant more seeds than necessary, and then will need to thin your seedlings to the proper spacing recommended on the seed packet. Keep your garden free of weeds, as not only will it look better, but it will be easier for your vegetables to thrive when they aren't competing with weeds for sunshine, water, and nutrients in the soil. Some vegetables, such as tomatoes and peppers will be easier to grow from small plants rather than seeds. Go to your local garden center to choose the small plants you will need.Tip: Plant a few marigolds in your garden to add a splash of color, and to deter insect pests who for some reason don't like marigolds!
Find out which insects and diseases, if any, are problematic in your area and decide on a method of pest control to use if necessary.For Best Results, Start Small!
When starting a vegetable garden, start small and plant only the size garden you can reasonably take care of. On the other hand, do not worry about crops going to waste. There are always neighbors to share with who will be grateful to receive gifts from your garden. Devote as much time as possible to your garden and it will pay you back enthusiastically with a bountiful harvest.
Have Some Fun
The last tip is the most important for beginners so pay close attention; do not forget to have some fun when starting a vegetable garden! There is no time for stress or worrying while vegetable gardening. Enjoy the sunshine, fresh air, and interaction with mother nature. Don't be discouraged if your beginner vegetable garden is not a total success. Even avid gardeners have crop failures during some seasons. There is always next season to look forward to!
