Beginners Gardening Guide #7 : First Steps in Vegetable Gardening

Gardeners are motivated by many things, including their love for the process of cultivating and nurturing plants, enjoying their beauty and fragrance, and, where vegetable gardens are concerned, eating what they produce with their own hands. A vegetable garden is a satisfying way to put wonderful food on the table, or into jars or the freezer for later enjoyment. These basic steps will get you started on your way to becoming a proficient vegetable gardener.

The first step is to plan your garden’s size. For beginners, a 10X12 or 12X16 will be very sufficient. Most new gardeners are surprised at how much can be grown in a space that large. Starting bigger than this might lead to a garden you are not yet prepared to manage, and may cause more frustration that enjoyment.

Next, decide what vegetables you’d like to grow. Starting with those you enjoy most is the best idea, especially if they are among those that are hardy, good growers. This list includes: squash, radishes, cucumbers, carrots, beets, lettuce, tomatoes, lettuce, kale, and sweet corn. Check zone guides to make sure the vegetables you choose will grow well in your area.

Now it’s time to determine the garden’s location. The ground should be level, not low. A low spot might collect water and be too damp. It is also vital that your plot receive at least 8 hours of full sun per day, with afternoon sun being the most vital.

See our guide How to Start Your Garden for information on creating the bed itself. If you are starting your planning in the fall, here’s an alternate method of creating the bed. Cover the area you have chosen with 4-5 layers of newspaper, then add several inches of compost, or a top soil and manure mixture on top. This will serve to smother the underlying vegetation. Then, in the spring, the bed will be easier to till with a motorized rotary tiller or a hand shovel since the vegetation and its roots will be dead. The compost or dirt and manure will give what you plant a healthy start. If you use the traditional method of tilling raw ground, add compost or manure once all the existing vegetation has been removed. Rake out dead vegetation, and mix in the added nutrients very well.

Now it is time to plant your vegetables. Wait until the threat of frost has passed in your area. Local nurseries or farmers can inform you of the average date for that. On paper, plan out your rows. Large plants such as sweet corn require more room than small ones like carrots, so for the same amount of yield, you’ll need 3-4 times as many rows. Also, plan to plant one row of each crop each 7-14 days, so that they will ripen in sequence, prolonging the time in which you’ll have fresh produce, and also spreading out your work load if you plan to can or freeze some of your vegetables. This is not as important for tomatoes and peppers, since they tend to naturally stagger their production, and will keep providing you with fresh, ripe produce for 4-6 weeks. Keep in mind that nurseries sell tomato plants that have already been started, seed potatoes and onions, which is a great way to get them going more quickly in your garden.

Plant rows 1-3 feet apart depending on plant size. Beets need one foot maximum, while tomatoes enjoy 2-3 feet. Rows should run north/south for maximum sun exposure. Plant taller crops to the east so they won’t shade other plants from vital afternoon sun. Be sure to mark each row, and keep a log of what was planted in each row and the date it was planted. Keep the seed packages, or transfer the information about growing times to your log book, so you’ll know when to expect them to be ripe.

Once your first planting is done, water the garden very well daily for 3 days, unless nature does it for you. Water long enough to soak the soil to a depth of 2 inches. After 3 days, check the soil regularly, and if it is dry below 2 inches, water it thoroughly. Keep your garden watered and weeded, and free of pests (See our Guide), and you’ll be well on your way to enjoying the results of your labor!

A-Z Beginners Gardening Guides

• Beginners Gardening Guide #1 : How To Start Your Garden
• Beginners Gardening Guide #2 : Steps for Designing Your First Garden
• Beginners Gardening Guide #3 : Choosing the Right Tools for your First Garden
• Beginners Gardening Guide #4 : How to Keep Pests Out of Your Garden
• Beginners Gardening Guide #5 : A Beginner’s Guide to Planting Flowers and Trees
• Beginners Gardening Guide #6 :How to Choose What to Plant
• Beginners Gardening Guide #7 : First Steps in Vegetable Gardening
• Beginners Gardening Guide #8 : Maintaining Your Garden
• Beginners Gardening Guide #9 : Lawn Care for Beginners
• Beginners Gardening Guide #10: Blossoms for Every Season
• Beginners Gardening Guide #11 : Your Garden During the Fall
• Beginners Gardening Guide #12: What Steps to take as Winter Approaches
• Beginners Gardening Guide #13: Preparing for a Great Spring Start