Start small in the sunniest spot you have, ideally with at least six to eight hours of direct sun. Use a raised bed or well-prepared soil rich in compost, choose a few easy crops such as lettuce, herbs, bush beans, zucchini and tomatoes, and plant after your last frost date. Water deeply at the base of plants, mulch to hold moisture, and check plants a few times a week.
A first vegetable garden doesn’t need to be big. A small, well-placed bed grows more than a large, neglected one.
1. Pick the spot
- Sun: at least six to eight hours of direct sun for most vegetables.
- Water: close to a hose or spigot.
- Drainage: avoid low spots where water pools.
2. Raised bed or in-ground?
| Raised bed | In-ground | |
|---|---|---|
| Soil control | Fill with quality soil | Improve existing soil |
| Drainage | Excellent | Depends on soil |
| Warms in spring | Faster | Slower |
| Cost | Higher up front | Lower |
| Weeds | Fewer | More |
A 4 by 8 foot bed is a great first size: you can reach the middle from both sides.
3. Prepare the soil
Use a mix rich in compost. For raised beds, a blend of topsoil and compost is common. A soil test helps for in-ground beds.
4. Choose easy crops
- Cool-season: lettuce, spinach, radishes, peas
- Warm-season: cherry tomatoes, bush beans, zucchini, peppers
- Herbs: basil, parsley, chives
Plant what you like to eat, and start with five or six crops.
5. Plant at the right time
Find your last frost date. Plant cool-season crops a few weeks before it and warm-season crops after it.
6. Water and mulch
- Water deeply at the base, a few times a week, rather than a little every day.
- Water in the morning to reduce disease.
- Mulch with straw or shredded leaves to keep moisture in and weeds down.
7. Keep an eye on it
Check plants a few times a week for pests, pick produce often (which encourages more), and add supports for tomatoes and climbing beans.
Common questions
How much sun does a vegetable garden need?
Most fruiting vegetables, such as tomatoes and peppers, need at least six to eight hours of direct sun. Leafy greens and herbs tolerate a little less.
What are the easiest vegetables to grow?
Lettuce and other salad greens, radishes, bush beans, zucchini, cherry tomatoes and herbs such as basil and parsley are reliable for beginners.
When should I plant my vegetable garden?
Plant cool-season crops like lettuce and peas a few weeks before your last frost, and warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers after the last frost when soil has warmed. Your local extension service lists frost dates.