Growing your own vegetables is a rewarding hobby, even for beginners. I grow chilies, tomatoes, and many other things in my garden; trust me, the test is better than buying them from outside.
Therefore, the number one benefit of starting a vegetable garden is that you’ll always get fresh, nutrient-dense produce that will be far tastier and healthier than store-bought vegetables.
Besides this, Starting your own vegetable garden can also save you money on groceries. Plus, gardening is a nice hobby as it’ll get you outdoors, which is good for releasing stress.
Overall, vegetable gardening is sustainable, satisfying that I highly recommend trying, especially for those who want a sustainable lifestyle.
Choosing a Garden Location
The first step to start a vegetable garden is to pick the right spot, where your vegetable can thrive.
Assessing sunlight exposure
Sunlight exposure is crucial because most vegetables require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day; some vegetables need even more.
Once you know the sun patterns in your space, it’ll help you select the right spot, whether it’s a balcony, backyard, or other space
Leafy greens, herbs, and cool-weather crops can tolerate a bit less sun (4-6 hours), while tomatoes, peppers, and other warm-weather veggies need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight to grow smoothly.
Evaluating soil quality
Good soil is the foundation for a thriving vegetable garden. You’ll want to test the pH and nutrient levels to see if any amendments are needed.
Aim for a rich, well-draining loamy soil – not too sandy or heavy with clay. For a vegetable garden compost is an excellent way to enrich the soil.
Considering accessibility and layout
You’ve to place your garden in an accessible area which makes tending to it much easier. For example, there needs to be a water source and proper sunlight, as I’ve said before.
On my balcony, I currently have a rectangular area where I grow chilies, coriander, etc.
That’s why a square or rectangular layout with defined beds or raised planters is often the most efficient use of space. This allows you to maximize the planting area.
Preparing the garden bed
You’ve to clear your garden when you want to grow food, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a bed or in-ground garden.
The area should be cleared of grass, weeds or other garbage. Dig the soil in order to loosen it. Compost and other organic materials should be added to improve the soil’s fertility.
I’d recommend you build raised beds if your soil isn’t of high quality. Besides this, This can help in drainage as well. As I mentioned, you have to select a suitable layout to make the most use of the space you have.
Also read: Raised Bed Gardening vs. In-Ground Gardening: Which is Better?
Best vegetables to grow for beginners
Although, it’s completely your choice what type of vegetables you want to grow in your garden. But, here are my choices for a beginner or new garden. These vegetables are easy to grow and also need to be available in almost every kitchen.
Best Beginner-Friendly Vegetables:
- Tomatoes: Easy to grow, versatile, and a must-have vegetable for many kitchens (Although tomato is a fruit).
- Zucchini: Prolific producers that are hard to kill, so it’s a great option for small spaces like balconies.
- Green Beans: Quick-growing, require minimal maintenance, and are loved by many.
- Lettuce: Grows well in containers, matures quickly, and adds fresh greens, which I use in salads.
- Radishes: Extremely fast-growing, it’s perfect if you’re an impatient gardener.
- Carrots: Relatively low-maintenance and fun for kids to harvest.
- Spinach: Thrives in cool weather, perfect for spring and fall gardens.
- Peppers: Flavorful and relatively easy to grow, work well in pots or grow bags.
- Cucumbers: Vining plants that produce abundantly with proper support.
- Herbs (e.g., basil, parsley, chives): Grow well in containers and add great flavor.
- Beets: They tolerate a variety of soil conditions and are easy to grow.
- Green Onions: Regrow from kitchen scraps; no special soil is needed.
Factors to Consider
If you want to grow vegetables in your garden, there are some sectors you have to consider:
Climate and growing season
Adjust planting times based on your local frost dates and growing season because most vegetables have different climate requirements and seasons!
Cool-weather crops like lettuce, spinach, and radishes thrive in spring and fall.
Warm-weather favorites like tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini excel in the summer.
Available garden space
Tomatoes, zucchini, and vining crops do best in larger gardens or raised beds. On the other hand, Herbs, lettuce, and radishes are perfect for container gardening on a balcony.
Carrots and beets need a bit more depth, but can work in raised beds or deep pots, too.
Personal preferences
Being a gardening enthusiast, I really love the satisfaction of growing my own food, I don’t know why but they test better than buying fun stores.
Although most vegetables are easy to grow, I mostly grow vegetables, which my moms use on a regular basis to make foods. For example, coriander, tomato, chillies, etc.
That’s why, depending on your preference, you can also grow vegetables that you need the most, for example, lettuce, if you love having salad.
When to plant a vegetable garden?
Let’s know a few more things regarding starting a vegetable garden:
When to start seeds or plant seedlings
Well, it depends on the season; for example, cool-weather crops like lettuce, spinach, and radishes can be directly sown outdoors a few weeks before your last frost date.
Warm-weather veggies like tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini are best started indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost, then transplanted outside.
I’d suggest checking the seed packets, because growing vegetables totally depends on season, when you need them, etc.
Spacing requirements
If you’re growing leafy greens and herbs, they can be planted 6–12 inches apart.
- Root vegetables like carrots and beets need 1-2 inches between plants.
- Tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini require 18-24 inches of space between each plant.
Although, they can be grown in less space too but not properly, because Spacing allows plants to grow without competing for resources.
Planting depth and sun exposure
Most seeds should be planted 1-2 times deeper than their diameter. For example
- Carrot seeds (small): These should be planted very shallowly, about 1/4 inch deep.
- Peas (medium): These can be planted about 1 inch deep.
- Beans (larger): Plant them about 1 to 1.5 inches deep.
Leafy greens and herbs can tolerate partial shade, while tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.
I recommend you check seed packet instructions for the ideal planting depth and sun requirements for each crop, because it’s different for everyone.
Watering techniques and frequency
You need to provide water deeply, and you can aim to moisten the soil 6-8 inches down.
Plus, they’re not not indoor plants, that’s why you can establish a regular watering schedule, where you’ve to provide about 1 inch of water per week.
You can also adjust the watering frequency as needed based on weather, plant growth stage, and soil conditions.
Most importantly, I provided the water in the morning or evening to minimize evaporation; you can do that too.
Vegetable Garden Care
When you want to start a vegetable garden, it is important to know how to take care of it so that your plant can produce healthy vegetables. Here are some important things you need to know:
Watering schedule and methods
Most vegetables generally need 1-2 inches of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation.
You can also consider to use an irrigator hose or soaker irrigation system to supply fresh water straight to root. I personally prefer this method since it reduces the amount of water that evaporates.
As I’ve said before, it is important to check the soil moisture on a regular basis and soak it in, particularly on dry, hot days.
Weeding and mulching
Stay on top of weeding to prevent competition for nutrients and water, if you don’t remove weeding, your main vegetable plant can’t grow as it should.
You can also apply 2-4 inches of organic mulch, such as wood chips or straw. This will help suppress the weeds and retain soil moisture.
Mulch also helps moderate soil temperatures and improve soil structure over time.
Fertilizing and amendments to soil
You can feed your veggies by using a balanced slow-release organic fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks.
You can also work on compost or manure that is well-rotted frequently in order to replenish the nutrients of your garden and improve the health of your soil.
Monitor plant growth and leaves for signs of nutrient deficiencies to guide your feeding schedule. For example, leaves may start turning yellow, and you can also see changes in leaf shape, size, texture, growing patterns, etc.
You can take a few steps, like adjusting the fertilization, based on these observations: for example, you need to feed your plants with appropriate fertilizers (high nitrogen for yellowing leaves, phosphorus for reddish leaves, potassium for edge burn, etc.).
You can also perform a soil test to check nutrient levels and pH balance.
To check the soil and its nutrient levels and pH balance, you can use a DIY soil test kit or send a sample to a local extension office or professional lab.
Management of pests (organic solutions)
You can put up physical barriers, such as row covers, to stop insects out of your garden’s plants.
Another good idea is to introduce beneficial bugs, such as ladybugs and lacewings, which naturally ward off aphids and other garden pests.
In addition, you could employ organic pesticides such as neem oil, or any insecticidal soap in the last option in case of serious infestations.
Harvesting and extending the growing season
I personally harvest vegetables at their peak ripeness for maximum flavor and nutrition, but I let chilies hang on their tree because even if they turn red, the taste is the same (Spicy).
Instead of planting your entire crop in one go, you can plant small quantities of cool-weather vegetables like radishes and lettuce, with intervals of time.
This lets you harvest in a continuous manner, instead of all at once, meaning you can enjoy fresh vegetables over a longer time. Plus, It can help maximize the growth season and will ensure you have an ongoing supply of these plants as they grow at different stages.
You can also utilize the row cover, cold frame or greenhouses, to shield plants and extend the season.
Conclusion
Starting a vegetable garden may seem like a big task, but it’s really easy, you don’t even need too much space, I’ve vegetables on my balcony.
All you need is choosing the right location for gardening, selecting beginner-friendly vegetables like tomatoes, cucumber, and properly caring for your plants.
After that, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce all season long.
If you’ve been considering starting your own garden, why not give it a try? With a little patience and care, you’ll soon be reaping the benefits of your hard work.
Will a vegetable garden attract rats?
Yes! Your garden can attract rats, but there are ways you can prevent them from coming into your garden and to protect your vegetables.
The main reasons rats may enter your garden are the food sources (fruits, vegetables, seeds, etc.) and safe places to hide that are caused by the plant growth and other food sources like compost bins.
How can you keep rodents from eating your veggies in your garden?
Remove all hiding places and make sure your garden is free of dirt, tall grass, or plants and weeds.
You can harvest your veggies in a safe way. First, you must take away any vegetable that has fallen and eliminate food debris.
In addition, you could also think about planting plants with strong odors, such as lavender, mint marigolds, or mint, in the garden to prevent unwanted visitors from your garden.
You can also install physical barriers, such as digging the fencing in by putting galvanized or hardware fabrics around the edges of your garden.
In the end, you could employ traps that humans can use to capture and eliminate all rats.
