A common question I have been sent recently is: How do I get into vegetable gardening?

Now I have been gardening on and off since I was a teenager. For many of those years I was a tomato and pepper girl, only growing those two things. Eventually I ventured into things like cucumbers and eggplants, and now I am able to grow most of the produce my family eats in the summer. This wasn’t something I just did one day and was successful overnight. Oh no no no, it took a lot of practice and trial and error.

So how can someone start gardening? Well here is the guide for you.

Consider Container Gardening

Container gardens are a great space saving way to grow certain varieties of produce. Things like common herbs, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and strawberries do very well in containers. You can use just about any container you have available to you. Terracotta pots are very inexpensive and are a great container to start with, you can also use old storage totes with drainage holes drilled in the bottom, or even new fabric grow bags!

Many nurseries or hardware stores often sell “Pre-potted” vegetable plants ready to go! These plants are already in a decorative pot with a tomato cage and all you have to do is take them home. Once you master being able to keep a tomato or pepper plant alive, it is my belief that you can then move on to other forms of gardening.

Hydroponic Gardens

Hydroponic gardening is not something I have personally tried, but I do know many people who enjoy it! This form of gardening doesn’t need soil, but it does need nutrient rich water and adequate light. This option might be great for individuals who do not have any outdoor space to rely on. There are whole kits online that can help you get started. I have linked a few below at different price points to help you along.

Indoor Garden Hydroponics Growing System: 10 Pods Plant Germination Kit Aeroponic Herb Vegetable Growth Lamp Countertop with LED Grow Light – Hydrophonic Planter Grower Harvest Veggie Lettuce

iDOO Hydroponics Growing System Indoor Garden, 12Pods Plant Germination Kit with LED Grow Light, Auto Timer, Fan, Adjustable Height Hydrophonics Planter for Herb Veggies, Grower Gardening

Sjzx Tower Garden Hydroponics Growing System,Indoor Smart Garden,Nursery Germination Kit Including Smart Plug，Water Pump(No Seedlings Included)

Raised Garden Bed

If you’ve been a long time follower of mine, you would know that we have raised garden beds. Now they aren’t as raised as the picture above, but they still count. This is my preferred method of gardening. I don’t have to deal with tilling the soil or ground pests like moles. I do still deal with weeds, but that is due to how low my beds are to the ground. You shouldn’t have any major weed issues if yours are higher. A great benefit to raised garden beds is that… well… they’re raised. No couching down too far, you have more control over the nutrients of the soil, and crop rotation is much easier. The downside is, if they’re made out of wood, they tend to decay faster. For our next garden we will be using metal raised beds since they last much longer.

Let’s Talk Seeds

More seasoned and experienced gardeners typically start their seeds indoors in mid January or February, that way by March, April, or May, they will be ready for the outdoors. I am not one of these gardeners.

I find that starting your seeds is one of those skills that takes time and circumstance to master. At this point in our lives, we do not have the space to get little seedlings started. I tried to start last year’s garden from seed on a windowsill, but they never germinated or they died as soon as I put them outside. Now, this could have been caused by a number of factors: 1. I could have gotten a bad batch of seeds. 2. I didn’t “harden” my seeds off. Hardening off your seeds involves exposing them to harsher elements or larger containers so they get stronger, and I just didn’t have the time for that.

I also didn’t have the space for grow lights or fans that many gardeners use to ensure strong healthy plants.

There is NOTHING wrong with buying your plants from Lowes, Home Depot, or your local nursery.

A lot of what we see online these days are very experienced gardeners who have concerns about seed and plant health, as well as quality, and things like GMOs and Pesticides. There is nothing wrong with being concerned about those things. But for the beginner gardener, I want you to know that you don’t need to trouble yourself with that! Start small, it takes time, practice, trial and error, and patience.

We all have to start somewhere, and if you have the desire, and if you have read this whole blog post, then I truly believe that you are ready to start your own garden this year!

xoxo,

VIctoria