So you decided to start on your gardening journey. How exciting! But now you want to find the right game plan. We have an easy beginner’s guide for you on some fundamentals about gardening that we think will help you get started. So let’s do this!

1. Preparation is key!

If you want your first garden to be successful, planning ahead is key. Determine what your goals are with this garden, and ask yourself these questions: why do I want to start a garden? What do I want to achieve? The second thing on your list should be conducting research and educating yourself, and you’ve come to the right place to help you get started. We also have a few recommendations for you: stock up on some beginner books, create a Pinterest board dedicated to gardening with your favorite articles and tips, and follow some Gardening blogs (like ours!)

Pro tip: If you can, start keeping records of your progress early. Get a garden journal for easier note-keeping or just take pictures of your garden to help keep track.

2. Choosing the right vegetables

Remember to grow what you love, what are you the most excited to plant? Start there! Next, figure out what your climate region is, here at USDA Hardiness Zone Finder, and find out which are the best vegetables to grow. Choosing the right vegetables will depend on your geographic area and the type of soil you have (which we’ll talk about more later). We also have a list of the easiest vegetables to get you started with here.

Pro tip: If you love to cook and want to test the waters first, the best thing to do is to start an herb garden. They are much easier to manage as well as a great way to get into gardening. Herbs take less time to grow, are less likely to be bothered by pests, and need less fertilizer.

3. Get your Soil Ready!

One of the most important aspects of gardening is soil preparation, so do not skip on this. First, you’ll have to remove the sod, here’s 4 ways to do so.

Next, figure out what type of soil you have, its nutrient levels and its pH levels. This will  help you figure out what vegetables will thrive in your soil, and what nutrients it needs. You can do this by conducting a homemade free soil test with a mason jar and some dish soap here, or you can just buy a soil testing kit at your local nursery or here.

Your soil is usually made of these 3 specific types of material:

• Clay: it feels sticky to the touch. Pros: it holds water and nutrients more strongly. Cons: it restrains water and air movement. It needs to be watered less frequently.
• Sand: it is the opposite of clay soils. Pros: air and water can travel more easily. Cons: it drains fast so it needs to be watered more frequently.
• Silt: it is very solid and packs together tightly, meaning it inhibits air circulation and drainage.

You want to find even ratios of these 3 soils to create a loamy soil. This is ideal for growing veggies and fruits.

If you do not have good soil, don’t worry! You can easily fix this with compost or by using a raised garden bed. For a deeper explanation on soil types, Eartheasy has an awesome, informative article about it here.

4. Getting the right nutrients

Your veggies will need nutrients to grow big and strong. After figuring out what type of soil you have, now you are ready to add certain nutrients that your soil needs. Make sure you are adding quality nutrients to your soil. Here is a list that goes more in-depth.

Another great way to add nutrients is by adding organic matter to it, like compost or green manure.

5. Let it Shine!

The ideal spot for your garden is under full sunlight. Remember that most vegetables need 6-8 hours of full sun each day. Take the time to figure out what spots in your garden are partly shady, mostly shady or have full sunlight throughout the day.

Some vegetables like lettuce, kale, spinach, chive and chard will tolerate partly shaded conditions, but others like tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, peppers, beans, squash, and corn will only thrive under direct sunlight.

6. Getting your essential equipment

Imagine you’re getting ready to get things rolling. You’re excited to start the day, you have your goals set, you filled up your watering can, but you soon realize you forgot to get that shovel to start. Now you have to delay the process, go purchase the shovel, and come back to start all over another day. Don’t let this be you! Make a list of all your essential tools before you start planting. We have a great guide we found from Forbes here, that we believe can help you make that process easier!

7. Watering Habits

All your veggies will need water to survive, but it’s very important to know how much they each need. Make sure not to overwater and keep track of how often you are watering your plants. Here’s a wonderful watering guide for your vegetables that is very useful. Also remember that to minimize evaporation, you should be watering in the early morning.

Pro tip: An easy way to check if your plant needs to be watered is to stick your finger inside the soil and see how moist or dry it is.

 8. Start small and slowly expand

Starting your own garden can be very exciting, but it is important to remember to take it slow, plan ahead and have a realistic plan for how much time you want to spend on your garden daily.

You do not want to overwhelm yourself with too many things at once. Starting slow can help you have a better idea of how many vegetables you and your family will be consuming, which will eventually lead to you getting the hang of how much you should be planting. Remember, it is better to have a small well-maintained garden than a big one that overwhelms you, or that has been neglected.

Be patient and remember that it takes time to get the hang of it, but with time and patience you will get there!

Pro tip: If this is your first time gardening then consider getting seedlings instead of seeds. Seeds can take a lot longer to grow, and require more work. You can buy seedlings from your local nursery that professionals have already started for you. Be sure to do research as some seedlings do not like the transition and it might be better to plant them.

9. Include the family!

Make this a family activity you all can enjoy. Get your kids some kid-friendly tools and ask them what they want to see growing in their backyard and include them in the decision-making process. They will love to be included and they can learn about gardening with you. Here we have a list of kid-friendly tools to help your little ones get started.

10. Enjoy the fruits of your labors!

Starting your own garden might seem like a daunting idea at first, but you will quickly realize how much joy it will bring to you and your family. Take the time to enjoy the fruits of your efforts, and don’t forget to take pictures to document it and look back on your progress. It will be very rewarding!

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