How to Start a Vegetable Garden

Growing vegetables doesn't have to be a monumental task. In fact, if you have a sunny location and good soil, you're halfway there.

When the temperature warms up and nights are consistently frost-free, it's time to get started planning your garden. Here is a step-by-step guide to get you started:

Click image to download my tri-fold guide to starting a successful vegetable garden.

If you feel intimidated by vegetable gardening, just remember that humans have done it for thousands of years. Growing your own food is as natural as eating it. You can do it!

Locate a sunny spot. Remember to start small and work your way up. That way, you're more likely to have gains instead of disappointments.

Start with cool weather spring veggies like lettuces, greens, and cabbages. Kale and green leaf lettuce are a great choice. If you're just getting going in the summer, try any variety of locally grown peppers. Invest in excellent garden soil the first year and mix with plenty of organic matter -- manure, compost, etc. You can cut back, cost-wise, on additional soil in subsequent years.

Buy transplants (not seed), they are much easier to work with for newbies.

Don't step in the garden -- ever. Work around it. Packed soil is a plant killer.

Make inexpensive plant markers.

Get kids involved by making plant markers with the ends of plastic forks and permanent marker.

Cucumber vine trellis.

That's hubby -- Howard. He hates gardening with a veritable passion, so I was really tickled that he helped out. I have a feeling he was motivated by all the pickles we're going to make with the cucumbers.

This year, I attached cut plastic fencing to two small ladder-style trellises. Then, I used a rubber mallet to hammer them into the soil (this is easier as a two-person job, so my husband helped out) in my raised garden bed. Finally, I planted a cucumber transplants in front of the trellis. I'll be send updates of how they do.

The most important thing to do, when starting a vegetable garden, is talk to a neighbor or other local gardener about what grows easily in your area. Follow their advice, unless it sounds too complicated -- there's no need to get too fancy. Find someone who can offer practical advice for beginner gardeners. Then, get your hands dirty and have fun!

#HomeGarden