Last Updated on July 31, 2023
Vegetable Garden Planning for Beginners – 12 Steps to Success
Why Do You Need A Plan?
Planning your vegetable garden is important in order to have a successful harvest. Every great garden starts with a good plan. By taking the time to plan ahead, you will be able to determine what vegetables you want to grow, where to plant them, and how to care for them. By following these simple steps for vegetable garden planning for beginners, you can be sure to have a bountiful harvest of fresh vegetables this season. As a beginner vegetable garden planning can seem intimidating, however, we’ll break everything down for you. And if you need more help after reading this you can check out our Plan My Garden tool.
1. Decide Which Vegetables You Want To Grow
Consider which vegetables are most popular with your family, which ones are most expensive to buy, and which ones are easiest to grow. Some popular vegetables to grow are tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash. These are all vegetables that are easy to grow and are popular with many families. My personal favorite is butternut squash! It’s expensive when buying organic in the grocery stores, easy to grow and stores well in the basement through the winter.
2. Find A Sunny Spot In Your Yard That Gets At Least Six Hours Of Sunlight A Day
The best spot for your garden should be a sunny spot that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day. If you have a spot that gets full sun, that is even better. Full sun is defined as six or more hours of direct sunlight a day.
3. Decide How Big You Want Your Garden To Be
It depends on how much space you have and how much time you want to spend gardening. A small garden may be easier to take care of, while a larger garden may provide more of a challenge. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide how big you want your garden to be. You can run different scenarios in our Plan My Garden tool to see how many plants you can grow in your anticipated square foot.
4. Choose a Gardening Method
You can either grow your vegetables in-ground or in raised beds. Our plan my garden tool helps you plan your garden by the square foot method. The square-foot gardening method is a way of growing crops in a small space by dividing the space into square units. Each unit is then planted with a different crop. This method can be used in gardens of any size but is especially useful for small gardens. If you’re looking to purchase raised beds, Garden in Minutes has beautiful raised beds. You can get $10, orders of $100 or more with our code OBG10. See our Full Review Post Here.
5. Prepare Your Soil
To ensure that your vegetables grow to their full potential, it’s important to provide them with well-drained, rich soil. One easy way to improve the quality of your soil is to add compost or other organic matter. You can make your own compost using household and yard waste (see our Composting 101 Guide here), or you can have organic compost delivered from a local supplier. To estimate how much soil you’ll need check out our raised bed soil calculator here.
To prepare your soil for planting, work it to a depth of at least 8 inches (20 cm) and level it out. If your soil is very sandy or clay-like, you may want to consider using raised beds to give your vegetables the best chance of success. Simply fill the beds with a mix of compost and soil, then plant your vegetables as desired.
6. Decide When To Plant
Most vegetables need to be planted in the Spring or Early summer when planting out. In most climates starting plants indoors can help get a head start by transplanting plants out. Some vegetables don’t like to be transplanted but are only directly sown in the garden. For starting indoors some plants can be started 6 to 8 weeks before your last expected frost date. Our Plan My Garden tool schedule out all these options for you in a nice PDF printable schedule for each vegetable you are growing based on your last frost date. To learn more click here.
7. Vegetable Gardening Planning for Beginners – Start Small
To increase your chances of success and avoid overwhelming yourself, it’s recommended to start with a small number of plants and gradually expand your garden as you gain more experience. This way, you can document and learn from your successes and challenges, making informed decisions as you continue to grow your garden in the future.
8. Don’t Forget To Water
Most vegetables need at least an inch of water per week. If your garden is not getting the rainfall it needs, you may have to supplement it with irrigation. Use irrigation wisely to promote a healthy garden. Drip irrigation and soaker hoses are the most efficient ways to water. The best time to water a vegetable garden is in the morning before the sun is too hot. This gives the plants time to use the water throughout the day and reduces the moisture lost through evaporation. If you can water later in the evening, do not let the water sit on the leaves, which could lead to disease.
9. Mulch Your Plants – My Secret Tip!
Mulch helps to keep the soil moist, which is important for plant growth. It also helps to prevent weeds from growing, and it can keep the soil warm, which is important for seed germination and warm-weather crops. Some options for vegetable garden mulch are straw, leaves, hay, grass clippings, or wood chips.
10. Protect Your Plants From Animals
One way to protect your plants from pests is to put up a fence around your garden. This will keep out animals that might eat your plants. You can buy ready–made fences at most garden centers, or you can build your own.
11. Harvest Your Vegetables
It’s time to harvest your homegrown vegetables! To determine when your vegetables are ready to be picked, pay attention to their size and color. Most vegetables are ready to harvest when they are fully grown and have reached their typical color. For example, peas are ready to be harvested when their pods are full and plump.
To harvest your vegetables, use a sharp knife or scissors to carefully cut them from the plant. Take care not to damage the plant or surrounding foliage as you harvest. If you’re working with root vegetables, such as carrots or beets, you may need to gently loosen the soil around the base of the plant to free them from the ground.
Once you’ve harvested your vegetables, it’s a good idea to wash them thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris. You can then enjoy your fresh, homegrown produce immediately or store it for later use.
12. Enjoy Your Bounty!
Vegetable planning for beginners can seem intimidating however with a little patience you can create a wonderful plan and have a successful garden. By taking the time to plan ahead, you will be able to determine what vegetables you want to grow, where to plant them, and how to care for them.
Plan My Garden is the Best Vegetable Garden Planning Tool for Beginners
If you are unsure how to get started, our Plan My Garden tool can help you get the planning process completed in minutes. With this tool, you can input your location, dimensions of your garden, and select what you want to grow and how much. We will send you printable plans that include planting schedules, grow guides, and your garden layout updated with optimal plant placement.
