How to Start a Vegetable Garden

We’ve seen a lot of lockdown trends come and go in the last year: sourdough starters, whipped coffee, and Tiger King, to name a few.

Thankfully, more health-focused trends, like how to start a vegetable garden, are sticking around.

According to one survey, 26% of Americans flexed their green thumb in response to the pandemic.

And interest isn’t expected to disappear once people are out of their homes, either.

“There’s something very magical about having your own garden,” says Liza Moiseeva, gardening expert and co-founder of Brightly. “Instead of going to the grocery store to pick up your favorite veggies, you have a supply right outside your door.”

If you’ve been bit by the gardening bug, follow these steps to learn how to start a vegetable garden.

1. Work With What You’ve Got

Many people think a vegetable garden needs to be a traditional in-ground garden bed in order to count.

But the truth is, a vegetable garden can be as simple as a few pots and containers on your balcony or patio, or even a combination of in-ground and potted plants.

So don’t get discouraged if your “green” space is limited to a window sill.

“Any vegetable can be grown in a home garden provided the garden site has enough light, space, and good soil,” says Julie Weisenhorn, M.Ag., associate extension professor of horticulture at the University of Minnesota.

If you don’t have access to the outdoors, there are even hydroponic gardens you can buy that let you grow plants in a smaller space, like an apartment.

2. Befriend Gardeners

Gardening newbies should take advantage of the free or low-cost resources in their area.

Weisenhorn suggests starting with your county’s extension master gardener website.

Many websites answer frequently asked questions, list classes taught by volunteer gardeners, and offer space to ask your own questions.

Your local garden center is another great spot to get the lowdown on home gardens. Staff members are usually avid gardeners themselves.

3. Test Your Soil

If you’re digging up your yard to build a garden, test the soil before buying your seeds or plants so you know what you’re working with.

A soil test will tell you how acidic or alkaline your soil is, as well as which nutrients might be missing.

Remember the pH scale that runs from 1 to 14?

If your soil is under 7 it’s considered acidic (also called sour), whereas above 7 is alkaline (sweet). Anything between 6.2 and 7.2 is considered nearly neutral.

This information can help you decide which plants to grow “and what amendments and fertilizer should be added to benefit your new garden plants,” Weisenhorn says.

Most prefer nearly neutral soil, but some prefer more acidic.

Some colleges, universities, and local cooperative extension offices have soil testing labs that will analyze your sample for a fee.

You can also test on your own with an at-home kit from your local home and garden store.

4. Prepare Your Soil

You’ll want great soil with lots of fertilizer when you’re starting a new vegetable garden.

Organic potting soil is often a good choice because it has all-natural ingredients like fish emulsion and bat guano that can help your plants grow.

Potting soil that isn’t organic is more likely to have chemicals and fertilizers that are less healthy. You can also look online for any compost that local businesses or your city may be giving away.

Prepare your soil when it’s not too wet or too dry: a small amount in your hand should crumble and break into small clumps. After you till or spade the soil, rake the planting area right away.

5. Opt for Low-Maintenance Plants

When deciding what to grow in your home garden, go for easier options your first time around.

Herbs are a great place to start.

“Most herbs grow well in full sun, tolerate dry soil, and don’t need much fertilizer,” Weisenhorn says. “Buy herb plants from a local greenhouse and plant them in containers on your deck or patio, or interplant them with flowers.”

Consider basil, rosemary, sage, cilantro, lavender, dill, chives, and fennel.

Edible flowers like pansies, anise hyssop, and daylilies are a good option for any size garden.

Meanwhile, leafy greens like kale and Swiss chard can tolerate a little shade, and many are “cut-n-come” varieties, “meaning you can cut some leaves and the plant will continue to produce,” Weisenhorn says.

If you have space, consider warm season veggies like peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and melons. These need large containers or a trellis.

Once you’re more comfortable with gardening, Moiseeva suggests trying your luck with trickier veggies like cauliflower, broccoli, celery, carrots, and onion.

6. Consider Plants vs Seeds

Once you’ve decided what to grow, it’s time to visit your local greenhouse. They can be a helpful resource as you learn how to start a vegetable garden.

You have two options: Start your vegetables from seeds, or buy plant “starts” or seedlings. Young plants are easier, but seeds may give you a greater variety of choices and cost less.

Plants

Weisenhorn suggests buying plants if you’re working with minimal real estate, and/or don’t have time to baby seeds.

Try to keep things simple for your first garden, but choose at least two or three different varieties so you can keep things interesting and test which work best in your soil and climate.

Cool season crops need to mature before the weather gets hot. These can often be sowed right when your garden’s ready and may be good choices if you want to start with plants instead of seeds.

They include lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and more.

Seeds

“Starting seeds takes longer,” she says. Most seeds have to spend six to eight weeks sprouting indoors in a tray before going in the ground, Weisenhorn adds.

But if space isn’t an issue and you don’t mind the challenge of starting seeds, feel free to give it a try!

If you start with seeds for warm season crops, it’s typically best to grow the seedlings indoors for about six weeks before the last frost in your region, since they have a longer growing season.

Then plant them after the last frost is over. These include tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.

If you’re still unsure, get advice from the staff at your local garden center.

7. Get the Right Tools

While you’re stocking up on plants, be sure to collect any tools and equipment you’ll need to build and care for your vegetable garden.

That includes soil and/or fertilizer.

According to Weisenhorn, the tools any gardener needs include:

Washable gardening gloves
A trowel
A hand pruner
A watering can and/or garden hose and nozzle

Other tools you may need will depend on what you’re planting.

Get stakes or poles for climbing plants like beans, cucumbers, and squash; pots or containers for small plants; and sturdy cages for tomatoes.

“If you have a big outdoor garden, you’ll probably also need a hoe in order to cultivate the soil and get rid of any weeds that pop up,” Moiseeva says.

You’ll also need a shovel if you’re digging up your yard and/or hefting a lot of soil.

8. Plant Away!

Once you have your plants, soil, tools, and know-how, it’s time for the fun part: Planting your home garden.

Fill up your pots and containers, dig your garden bed, and set up your trellis or stakes.

Be sure to set up your plants where they can get the right amount of light and shade (check the plant labels for details).

As your plants grow, remember to water and fertilize them as needed.

Keep in mind that certain plants — like tomatoes — need specific fertilizers, Weisenhorn says. Read the label and follow the directions for use.

9. Keep a Close Eye on Your Plants

Much of the legwork is done, but you’ll want to closely monitor and nuture your plants.

For each species, research its particular needs, especially watering. If leaves are yellowing or dropping, you may be underwatering or overwatering your plants.

Many mature vegetables need about an inch of water per week, with one good soaking early in the morning rather than multiple, light mistings.

Keep a lookout for weeds too, and lightly stir the top of the soil regularly to discourage them.

Fertilizer can also be a plus, just follow the directions closely. Too much fertilizer can actually hurt your crops.

You may also need to build a fence to deter rodents or rabbits, or use a light cover to protect younger crops from insects. Remove diseased plants and pick off bigger pests as you find them.

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