Vegetable
Gardening
for Beginners

Growing your own vegetables is a great way to have fresh food over the summer. Starting a garden is easy and doesn’t take a lot of time to begin or maintain.

Getting started
Location! Location! Location! Plants need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight so the amount of space available may help determine the type of gardening method you use. For the beginning gardener a container or raised bed garden is easy to get started. Container gardens are also a good option for balconies and small yards.

Good Soil is a Must
For plants to grow the roots must have room to stretch and loose soil is the key. Raised garden beds are great for loose soil because it has not been compacted like the ground soil. Nutrients are found in all soil but not all soil has the correct nutrients to foster plant growth. To make sure you are using the correct soil for your garden contact a local nursery.

What to Plant
Deciding what to plant in your garden is fun because there are a lot of options available. Most gardens includes tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, but you can also grow zucchini, green beans, and lettuce. Think about what vegetables you like to eat and plan to include those in the garden. Once you decide what vegetables you want to plant then you have to decide how many plants you need. Most new gardeners over plant but that is alright. If your plants are producing more than you can eat, then share with neighbors, friends, and family.

When to Plant
When to plant depends on the predicted last frost and what you are planting. Tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are planted in early May. Lettuce, spinach, and carrots are planted earlier in the year. There are multiple resources online to help determine when to plant the vegetables that you want.

Plants!
Finding transfer plants, plants that have already started growing, is easy. You can find plants at major box stores, home improvement stores, and local nurseries. Make sure you select a plant with a strong stalk and green leaves.

Caring for your plants
Water is the most important thing to remember as your plants grow. The soil should be moist on the top. During the hot days of late spring and summer you will need to water daily. If you have the raised garden bed be sure to weed it a couple times a week.

Sources

• www.almanac.com/vegetable-garden-planning-for-beginners
• www.thespruce.com/deciding-what-vegetables-to-grow-1403401
• www.thespruce.com/planning-and-starting-a-vegetable-garden-1403184
• www.thespruce.com/growing-vegetables-in-containers-1403373
• pixabay.com/p-1561565