Getting Started: 9 Simple Steps for the Beginner Gardener

In these days of global pandemics and crazy uncertainty, many are turning to gardening to ensure they have fresh produce for their families. Does this sound like something that has been on your mind but you are unsure how to begin? It can be overwhelming at first, but if you know where to start, you will find success. In this post, I’ll lay out 9 steps to begin your very own backyard garden to have healthy, organic produce for your family.

1- Consider what you would like to plant. Will you be planting flowers for a cutting garden or for show? Will you be eating what you plant? Do you want a dedicated bed for your edibles, or would you like to incorporate them in your landscape design? Begin by creating one area and plant a few key elements. Start small and add more garden space as you gain confidence. If you are a new gardener, stick to vegetables that you know your family will eat. Once you have successfully harvested these foods, then add new vegetables and different varieties each season. Don’t feel like you need to plant something simply because you see others planting it.

2- Location, location, location!

Spend time observing the sun in your yard. Most plants will need 6-8 hours of sun a day in order to produce. Watch the patterns of sunlight and pay attention how they change seasonally. Do you want the garden right out your kitchen door to make it easier for cooking? Consider where your watering source is located. If you don’t have automatic irrigation installed, think about where your hose hook-ups are because you will be hauling your hose across your yard if it is not near your garden bed.

3- Improve your soil. Be sure your planting area is free of grass. Dig it all out and then add a 2-3 inch layer of organic matter. This could include a rich compost, dried leaves, wood chip, or old manure (fresh manure may burn seeds). You can either till this in and mix it with your existing soil or leave on top to be mixed organically by earthworms. 

4- Choose your plants. Your success in germination and harvesting will depend upon planting the right plant at the right time for your area. In order to do this, find out what hardiness zone you are growing in by visiting the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map and enter your zip code. Once you know your zone, you can visit your local extension office website to find growing calendars and information specific to your zone. Much of the frustration associated with gardening is because people are unaware that they are not planting at the correct time for the plant they are trying to grow. Once you begin to consult a growing calendar for your area, you will find your black thumbs turning green.

5- Plant your plants and seeds. If you are a beginner, the easiest method is to buy established plants from your local garden center. These are called transplants. Remove them from their plastic containers by popping them up from the bottom, being very careful not to damage the main stem of the plant. If the roots are dense, be sure to untangle them a bit by loosening them with your fingers before setting them into the hole. (Your transplants should have depth and distance planting recommendations on the tag or container the plant is in.) Gently pat the soil around the plant and water in, being sure to soak the soil all around your new plant. If you are planting from seed, also known as direct sowing, follow the directions on the seed packet to know the depth and distance recommended for planting your seeds. Be sure to keep your seeds moist in order to have successful germination. Remember, a dry seed is a dead seed. 

6- Just add water. Your garden will require a little more water when everything is freshly planted than it will once everything is established. Monitor the moisture in your soil at various times throughout the day by sticking your finger in the soil about  two inches. If it is dry, it will need water. Again, be sure that if you have direct sown seeds, the soil should never be dry while it is germinating. In hot climates, this may require multiple waterings per day. Keep in mind that wind and sun will dry out your soil quickly, so monitor carefully. Water slowly and deeply to be sure that your soil is soaking in the water and it is not just pooling or running off. If you are able, install an automatic irrigation system for your garden. Having a system that takes care of this task will be a game changer for you in freeing up time and taking away one extra task. Automatic watering will also help your plants to produce better and bigger fruit.

7- To retain moisture and prevent an excess of weeds, add a top layer of mulch to your garden beds. You can mulch with woodchip, straw, hay or pine needles.

8- Maintain your garden by pulling weeds as soon as you see them pop up. If left to grow, these pesky weeds will rob your plants of water and nutrients that are meant for you vegetables. Afterall, weeds are plants too. They are looking for water and nourishment from the soil just as your tender vegetables are. 

Monitor for bugs and insects that will harm your plants and pick them off as soon as you see them. Squish them or drop them into a bucket of sudsy water. If you choose to use insecticides, exercise caution. Since you will be eating these plants, choose organic methods of pest control, keeping in mind that you don’t want to harm beneficial insects such as bees, ladybugs and praying mantises.

9- Lastly, harvest and enjoy the fruits of your labors! Be sure to harvest ripe vegetables and fruit and don’t leave it to over ripen in your garden or you may attract unwanted pests such as birds, mice and other bugs to your garden space. Share your bounty with your neighbors and feel the joy that comes with producing your own healthy, organic food for your family.