You want to start a garden, but you’re not sure where to begin? Then you need a plan. A well planned garden will bring you much better results.
Starting a garden is one of the most rewarding things you can do. But if you’re new to gardening, it can be difficult to know where to start. In this article, I’ll set out 11 steps to help you create a successful vegetable garden.
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Before You Start A New Garden, You Need A Plan
With food prices expected to continue to rise, more people are turning to veggie gardens to offset the price of groceries. Taking control of your own food supply by growing vegetables is a smart move if you want to become more self-reliant. But if you’ve never grown food before, it can be daunting. So here are some tips you should consider to have a well planned garden and give that vegetable garden the best chance of success.
1) Start With A Journal.
A well planned garden starts with keeping records. Whether you buy a garden journal/planner or you just keep records in a notebook or in an online app, you need to keep good records.
By writing down what you planted, and when you planted it. Where you purchased your seeds and what variety you planted, and so much more, you will start to see patterns of what works best for your garden.
Keeping records paints a picture and leads you down the path to a beautiful garden.
Related>> My Garden Journal.
2) Find The Right Spot.
Location, Location, Location.
Before you start a new vegetable garden, you need a plan. You don’t want to choose just any spot. You need to pick the best place for a garden. There are some things you should consider when choosing the best place to put your vegetable garden.
Your garden vegetables need sun. Is your garden going to be in the shade most of the day? You don’t want it too far from the house, yet you don’t want it right in the traffic flow of your backyard. How close is it to a water source? These are just a few of the things to plan for when laying out your veggie patch. Check out a few more.
Related>> 10 Tips – How To Pick The Best Place For A Garden.
3) Decide What You Want To Grow.
There are a few things that you need to consider when you are deciding what to grow in your vegetable garden:
- What grows well in your area? Every area has things that grow better in their area. The length of the season, the amount of rain you receive, and the amount of humidity are only a few of the factors that affect this.
- What your family likes to eat. Don’t waste time and space on things that won’t get eaten.
Related>> What To Plant In Your Vegetable Garden.
4) Keep It Small.
Now that you have this big long list of what you want to grow, you need to cut it down – for now.
A small, well tended garden will produce a lot of food. In fact, it will produce more food than a poorly tended, weed infested, large garden.
So do yourself a favor and start small.
Related>> Start An Instant Garden, Build And Plant The Same Day.
5) What Kind Of Well Planned Garden?
You could have a ground level, row garden. A Lasagna Garden or a raised bed garden. Do a little studying and decide which is the best type of garden for you.
You might also start your garden in containers. You can grow quite a bit in containers while you prepare your soil.
Related>>Start A Vegetable Garden From Scratch
6) Prep Your Soil.
No matter what type of garden you choose, you will need to do some soil preparation. The soil is what feeds your plants so your plants can feed you, so this is not a step to skip. The healthier your soil is, the healthier your plants will be. And that leads to fewer pests and diseases and a lot less work for you.
Related>> How To Prepare Awesome Soil For Your Vegetable Garden.
Related>> What Is Composting? And Why Your Garden Needs Compost.
7) Plan Ahead For Weeds.
All gardens will have some weeds. But if you plan ahead, those weeds can be very manageable. If you let them take over, they will be a lot more work and may make you give up.
Related>> 12 Ways To Make Weeds – Go Away!
8) Plant At The Right Time.
There are some vegetables that need to grow in cooler weather and some that like warm weather. If you plant them at the wrong time, they will not thrive and will probably die. Because of this, you will also need to know what your first and last frost dates are.
Related>> 12 Best Hot Weather Vegetables.
Related>> 22 Best Cool Season Vegetables To Grow In Your Garden.
9) Take Care Of Your Plants.
Make sure your plants are well taken care of. Do they have enough water? You can use mulch to help your plant’s roots. Don’t forget to feed your soil. Compost is a wonderful place to start. Checking regularly for pests and diseases will help you get ahead of problems.
Related>> Mulch For Your Vegetable Garden.
Related>> Keep Bugs Out Of Your Garden, Naturally!
10) Plan For The Harvest.
There are so many beginning gardeners who are so excited to grow their own vegetables but they forget to plan what to do with all that produce when it is ripe. Then it sits in the garden and goes to waste.
Collect some recipes and learn when that produce is ready to be picked.
Related>> Sauteed Swiss Chard And Tomatoes.
Related>> Marinara – Make The Perfect Sauce.
11) Keep Learning.
A well planned garden doesn’t just happen. Every year that you garden, you will learn things. The more you keep records, the more you will learn. Keep reading and taking classes and keep observing and writing it down. You will keep acquiring valuable knowledge to make your garden better and better every year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start a garden if I have never grown vegetables before?
Start small and keep it simple. Choose a sunny location, grow a few vegetables your family enjoys eating, and focus on healthy soil. A small, well planned garden is much easier to manage than a large one.
How much sun does a vegetable garden need?
Most vegetables grow best with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Leafy greens may tolerate a little less, but fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers, and squash need plenty of sun.
What vegetables are easiest for beginners to grow?
Some of the easiest beginner vegetables include lettuce, radishes, green beans, zucchini, bush beans, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes. Choose crops that grow well in your climate and season.
Should I plant in the ground, raised beds, or containers?
All three can work well. Raised beds warm up quickly and are easier to manage. In-ground gardens can be budget friendly and productive. Containers are great for patios, balconies, or small spaces.
When is the best time to plant a vegetable garden?
That depends on your local climate and frost dates. Cool-season crops grow best in spring or fall, while warm-season crops should be planted after danger of frost has passed.
Related>> The Beginner’s Garden Jumpstart
Your Well Planned Garden.
Planning a garden and laying out all your garden ideas in your garden journal before you turn over that first shovel of dirt will give you a head start on a successful garden. Make your garden a well planned garden so it will bring you more joy and, oh yes, more vegetables.
A vegetable garden can bring you security, good nutrition, and joy. When you bite into that first ripe tomato, you will know that it was worth every bit of work you put into it. And you will be enjoying your well planned garden for years to come.
Learn More:
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners: How to Start a Garden Successfully
The Beginner’s Garden Jumpstart
How To Start A Container Garden Like A Pro
10 Fastest Vegetables To Grow In Your Garden
10 Tips – How To Pick The Best Place For A Garden.
Happy Backyard Homesteading!
I believe everyone can grow at least part of their own food! Let me show you how.
Mary is a gardener, backyard homesteader, and duck wrangler. She is also the owner and writer of LifeIsJustDucky.com and AGoodWordADay.com. (for daily devotions) Mary is passionate about helping others expand their backyard homesteading skills and learn to be more self-sufficient, no matter where they live.
Thanks for the great advice! I’m starting my garden in SWFL too, and finally trying to tackle my terrible soul!
Soil is our biggest challenge. We have none. It’s all sand 🙂 Check out this gardening book. It’s the best one I’ve found on gardening in Florida. I found it very helpful. Especially with when to plant. https://amzn.to/2Ba5P7l
Nice job Mary 🙂
Anne, Thanks so much for checking it out! Come back and visit anytime. Or better yet, sign up for the e-mails so you don’t miss a thing.