Starting a garden can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re starting from scratch. But trust me, it’s simpler than it seems! As a student pursuing a degree in Horticulture and someone who’s constantly researching on the side, I’ve learned a lot along the way—and I love sharing that knowledge with others.
To help fellow beginners get started, I’ve put together a list of practical, beginner-friendly tasks to take the first step. This post contains the top four beginner-friendly tasks that you can complete today to get started on your gardening journey.
To stay organized and keep track of your progress, I highly recommend using a “Garden Planner.” If you would like to download my free "Starting My Garden Planner" worksheet, head on over to the Resources page. If not, a simple notebook will suffice. Jotting these down can make things feel more manageable.
Define Your Garden’s Purpose
Start by identifying why you want to garden. Are you hoping to save money on groceries? Maybe, like me, you’re eager to enjoy more wholesome, fresh foods straight from the source. Or perhaps you’re drawn to the personal satisfaction and joy that comes with growing your own food. Knowing your garden’s purpose will help guide your budget and determine how much time and effort you’re ready to invest.
Create a List of Foods to Grow
Take a close look at your grocery list. If saving money is your goal, focus on foods that tend to be more expensive at the store. If eating fresh, straight-from-the-garden produce is your priority, pay attention to the items you buy most often. You can always adjust your list based on your budget, space, and growing conditions.
Research Your Growing Zone
For any gardener, it’s important to know your local growing zone. Your growing zone helps to determine what crops will thrive in your climate. To find your growing zone, you can use the USDA Hardiness Zone Map found here : https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
Determine the Method of Gardening You Plan to Use
Gardens come in all shapes and sizes, offering flexibility to suit your space and lifestyle. The three most common gardening methods are container gardening, raised beds, and in-ground planting. You can also grow indoors using the hydroponics method. Each of these methods have their own pros and cons, which I will be going over in future posts, but its important to determine the space and budget that you have because it can impact the method you choose to utilize.
-Container Gardening: Method of growing in pots, planters, and other containers. This method is perfect for those who are limited in space such as apartment balconies, patios, or small yards. It does have a higher upfront cost because if you do not already have suitable containers lying around, you will have to purchase them. You will also need to purchase the soil you will be using in the containers.
-Raised Beds: Involves planting in elevated garden beds that are typically made of wood, metal, or other materials and are filled with soil. Those with small to large yards can utilize this method. Similar to container gardening, this method will have a higher upfront cost due to the purchase of materials for your beds as well as the soil needed to fill them.
-In-Ground Planting: This method speaks for itself. In-ground planting is the most traditional method of gardening where plants are grown directly in the soil of your yard or garden space. Because of this, this method is the most cost-effective method, but it is only an option for those who have adequate yard space.
-Hydroponics: Method of growing plants without soil by using nutrient-rich water solutions to deliver essential nutrients directly to the plants roots. This method can be utilized by anyone as it can be done indoors. It is also economical since, apart from the containers for the plants, there isn't a significant initial cost. However, this approach can be more complicated, so for beginners, I suggest using one of the other conventional gardening methods.
Remember, gardening is a learning experience, and I am here to help along the way. These are the first four beginner-friendly tasks but there will me more to come in my next post. If you have any questions or need any guidance, don't hesitate to reach out- I'm always happy to share what I've learned.
-Wishing you green thumbs and sunny days,
Makensie
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