How to Start a Vegetable Garden from Scratch

Starting a vegetable garden can bring fresh food to your table and offer a fun outdoor activity. Here’s how to begin:

Select the Right Location

• Most vegetables need at least six hours of sunlight daily.
• Choose a spot close to a water source.
• Ensure the area has good drainage. Avoid areas where water collects.

Prepare the Soil

• Loosen the soil with a shovel or spading fork.
• Remove grass, weeds, rocks, and debris.
• Mix in compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil texture. Add 2-3 inches for heavy soils and 3-4 inches for sandy ones.

Choose Your Vegetables

• Pick vegetables your family enjoys eating.
• Consider easy-to-grow options for beginners like lettuce, kale, cucumbers, radishes, cherry tomatoes, and green beans.
• Check which varieties grow well in your area. Ask neighbors for advice.

Planting

• You can start with seeds or young plants. Seeds are cheaper, but plants save time.
• Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost.
• When planting, dig holes twice as deep and wide as the plant container.
• Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart for good sunlight and air circulation.
• Water plants or seeds after planting.

Container Gardening

• If you have limited space, use containers.
• Five-gallon buckets work well. Drill 10-15 holes in the bottom for drainage.
• Fill the bottom with gravel and top with planting soil.

Garden Care

• Water when the soil is dry about 1/2 inch below the surface.
• Add a drip irrigation system or soaker hoses.
• Use vegetable fertilizer as directed.
•  Protect plants from pests with fences or netting.

Additional Tips

• Start with a small, manageable garden. A 4×4 foot raised bed is a good size.
• Plant according to your growing zone.
• Consider planting in blocks instead of rows to maximize space.
• Avoid walking in the garden when the ground is wet to prevent compacting the soil.

Starting a vegetable garden requires some work, but fresh vegetables make it worthwhile.