Garden plan.
You could just walk out into your yard, plant a seed, water it, and see what happens. Or you could plan ahead, and end up with a beautiful garden full of delicious produce.
You don’t need to be an expert to get started. You just need to know some basics. For example, do you know that most vegetables need six to eight hours of direct sun a day? And that different vegetable plants have to be spaced a specific distance apart? And that the average family only needs a few tomato vines?
Look at the space where you think you’d like to garden. Beginning gardeners should start small -- 100 square feet or less, hopefully with a southern exposure, and on higher ground for good drainage. Also, you’re going to need access to water. If you plan to get a hose, find one that won’t leach lead and other nasty chemicals into the water.
Once you’ve done a quick assessment, make sure it will work for you: Can you actually grow fruits and vegetables where you live? Could you grow in several small spaces? What about planting in between your flowers?
If not, could you use a friend or relative’s backyard or a nearby community garden. You might be able to use containers in a sunny spot on a fire escape or your back porch. Get creative.
Here are some helpful resources to get you started.
Title: How to Start a Vegetable Garden in 6 Steps
Author/Source: Garden Design Magazine
Description: Learning how to start a vegetable garden doesn’t need to be daunting. By following some basic guidelines, you can be well on your way to harvesting your own lettuce or cucumbers for that summer-fresh salad.
Title: Do You Know How to Garden the Organic Way?
Author/Source: Scott Meyer
Description: A four-minute video, demonstrating the most important things to consider when making an organic vegetable garden.
Title: Knowing Where to Start Is Half the Battle
Author/Source: Joe Lamp’l
Description: This website by a veteran vegetable gardener provides free guides, videos, podcasts, and a blog on the basics of gardening. You can also subscribe to receive weekly emails.
Title: New to gardening? Start here!
Author/Source: National Gardening Association
Description: A list of free resources to help you get started gardening, from the premier gardening organization. They also have a learning library; the largest plants database in the world; online tools such as gardening calculators, climate information, maps, and group seed swaps; and a searchable garden knowledgebase.
Title: Vegetable Gardening for Dummies, 3rd Edition
Author/Source: Charlie Nardozzi and the Editors of the National Gardening Association
Publisher: For Dummies, March 2021
Description: This book by PBS’ Garden Smart former host provides basic information on how to plant, care for, harvest, and enjoy the fruits of your home garden. It offers advice on planning a garden, environmentally friendly ways to combat pests, and tips on preserving foods grown at home.
Title: The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food
Author/Source: Tanya L.K. Denckla
Publisher: Storey Publishing, 2003
Description: A classic gardening text. Ch. one For Starters, Ch. 2 Vegetables, Ch. 3 Fruits and Nuts.
Title: The Garden Primer
Author/Source: Barbara Damrosch
Publisher: Workman Pub., 2008
Description: Tips on planning a vegetable garden including fencing, succession planting, interplanting, and crop rotation. Chapter Seven, pp. 241-248.