Ep. 18: Vegetable Gardening Basics Part 1

Vegetable gardening can sound like an overwhelming task if you don’t know the basics.

You might wonder whether you should build a vegetable garden in the first place or question what the benefits are of constructing your own garden.

From eating food grown in your own garden to saving money, this is one DIY garden project you should definitely consider!

On Episode 18, we will walk you through our personal home vegetable garden building project and give you some tips and tricks on where to place your garden, which soil to use, how to plant your crops, and some basic maintenance advice.

This episode is for those of you who need help creating your very own vegetable garden, including how to build raised beds, where to place them, and which fruits and vegetables you wish to grow.

In a hurry? Pin it here!

This is part one of our two-part podcast series on vegetable gardening basics. Listen to part 2 here.

How to Start a Vegetable Garden From Scratch

Armed with just a little background knowledge and your “green thumb,” you can create a food-producing garden worthy of your dinner plate!

By starting with a few basic questions, you can begin to design your space.

Ask yourself:

Where should I set up my new garden on my property?
What area in my yard gets the best sunlight?
Do I want to use raised garden beds, pots, or plant straight in the ground?
What kind of fruits and vegetables do I want to grow?
How should I layout my garden?
How can I eliminate pests?

You need to have a plan and know which vegetables and fruits you will be growing before you build and place your garden in your yard.

Most of the popular fruits and vegetables are sun-loving for 6+ hours a day and require well-draining soil with ample water.

Raised Garden Beds

A raised garden bed is useful for SO many reasons.

It is elevated above the surrounding environment which offers protection from pests or various forms of wildlife. Another bonus is that these beds are easier to reach for harvesting or maintenance.

This type of garden bed has specific soil that is protected from compaction by foot traffic or machinery, and since it’s elevated it can prevent weeds from the surrounding garden.

For more about raised garden beds, including how to construct your own, read this post.

Growing Vegetables For Beginners

Warm-Season Crops

In general, you can start growing warm-season vegetables after the threat of the last frost has passed in your area.

Started either by seed or plant start, these are vegetables that would be harvested during spring and summer seasons.

Examples of warm-season crops:

Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Peppers
Squash
Corn
Pumpkins

Cold-Season Crops

Cold season fruits and vegetables can be grown either for a late fall or early spring harvest

For a late fall harvest, plantings need to be made by mid to late summer (in general).

An early spring harvest requires plants to be in the ground by mid to late fall or winter.

Examples of cool-season crops:

Lettuce
Kale
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower

To help you get started, check out our free spring garden shopping list on our free resource library page!

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Today’s Topic:

Vegetable Gardening Basics

Learn how and why to build a vegetable garden. Also, learn about the benefits of building raised garden beds.

Downloads:

Show Notes

Spring Garden Shopping List on our Free Resource Library

“And That’s Good to Know” Segment

Alternating Mowing Patterns For The Health of Your Lawn.

What You’ll Learn:

Beginner’s definition of vegetable gardening basics.
Benefits of constructing raised garden beds
Suggestions for fruits and vegetables you could grow.
Why alternating your mowing patterns is healthy for your lawn.

Resources:

Some of the resources below may be affiliate links, meaning we might get paid a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you use that link to make a purchase.