Beginner Gardening: What You Need to Get Started
“When I started my first garden, as a Beginner Gardening novice, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. My first garden was a small patch in the backyard when I was 16. I dreamed of having a garden like I had seen at my Uncle’s small farm but by the end of that first season, the only thing that really thrived was eggplant. And it didn’t just grow—it took over! My dad, who thankfully loved eggplant, would joke every night, ‘How are we having our eggplant tonight?’ “
Journal: That first garden taught me a lot about patience, trial and error, and most importantly, starting simple. If you’re just beginning your gardening journey, here’s a little primer on Beginner Gardening to get you started on the road to success. Hopefully you won’t end up with more eggplants than you know what to do with! Becoming a gardener is really a journey and every year you get to try afresh with new ideas and determination! Enjoy the Journey!
Step 1: Decide What Kind of Garden You Want
Before buying a single plant, ask yourself:
- Do you want flowers, vegetables, herbs, or a mix?
- Are you working with containers, raised beds, or in-ground soil?
- How much time can you realistically dedicate to upkeep?
For beginners, fast growing salad greens are the easiest way to start, and they work in small spaces like pots or raised beds. Besides providing food quickly they also give a quick sense of accomplishment or reward!
*Journal-I Grow flowers right in with my veggies, even if it’s just a pot of fast growing annuals. The flowers add some color and interest and are so inviting to the senses! Choose nursery pots of flowers that are well established for Beginner Gardening.
*As a small business we often use links to share products we use but don’t sell. We earn a small commission on any items you purchase but it doesn’t cost you any more. We will always identify these items and be assured these are items we use in our work too!
Step 2: Pick the Right Location for Beginner Gardening
Plants need sun, water, air, room to grow and good soil in order to thrive.
- Sunlight: Most veggies and flowers need at least 6 hours of sun per day. Observe your yard or patio to find the best spot.
- Water: Your garden should be close to a water source so you’re not lugging heavy watering cans around.
- Soil: If you’re gardening in the ground, test your soil (or use raised beds with good-quality soil to skip this step)
- Space: This is always my downfall, I fail to anticipate how big my plants are going to get and I end up with garden chaos!
Journal– Our business is called Gardenhouse because when we first moved in we dug up the front yard and planted flowers. The neighbors began to say oh you live in the “Gardenhouse” and the name stuck. My mistake was planting beautiful peonies by the side of the road that I tended but never really enjoyed because that garden was mostly only viewed when driving by the house! I have been moving them one by one and enjoying them where I can see them.
I have curated two Idea List of great Gardening Products on my Amazon Store that are especially helpful to new gardeners and Master Gardeners alike! MY AMAZON STORE
Step 3: Gather Essential Tools– Beginner Gardening Essentials
You don’t need a ton of fancy gadgets—just these basics:
- Trowel – for digging and planting individual plants
- Shovel– if planting in the ground (loosen soil and remove weeds)
- Garden Rake– smoothing the soil and creating rows
- Hand pruners – for trimming plants
- Garden gloves – protect your hands from thorns and dirt
- Watering can or hose – for regular watering
- Quality soil and compost – healthy soil = healthy plants
- Hat- A good garden hat to protect you from harmful rays of the sun
Journal: We are 2 1/2 weeks away from the first day of spring and today the temperature is -3 as I sit here writing about gardening. The snow piles are 6-8 feet tall from the driveway plowing but the sun is shining and the days are getting longer! Time to plan my garden beds and order the seeds as well as the plants that I want to have in the garden this year. I’ve actually been planning it for weeks but today I am ordering the seeds!
Step 4: Choose Beginner-Friendly Plants
Go for low-maintenance, high-reward plants that won’t stress you out. Here are some easy options:
Herbs: Basil, mint, chives, parsley, thyme
Vegetables: Lettuce, radishes, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, kale but please plant veggies that you like to eat!
Flowers: Marigolds, sunflowers, nasturtiums and petunias (bonus: they attract pollinators!)
Step 5: Plant and Care for Your Garden: Beginner Gardening Adventures
- Follow planting instructions : Read the seed packet or plant tag for spacing, depth, and watering needs. Be sure to keep the directions if you are planting a perennial.
- Water wisely – Water deeply but less often to encourage strong roots.
- Mulch – A layer of straw or wood chips helps retain moisture and keep weeds down.
- Watch for pests – If leaves start looking chewed up, look for bugs underneath!
Journal: I cannot express enough how important organic gardening is. So many new chemicals are introduced every year and the testing is insignificant for the long term. By using organic methods we treat the land and our bodies to the very best!
Step 6: Enjoy and Learn as You Go!
As I said in the first paragraph, Gardening is a journey, not a destination. Keep a garden journal to track what you plant, what thrives, and what struggles. Remember the cultivars or the seed names that really did well and write it down for next year. Be brave and try new things! Even seasoned gardeners have failures—and triumphs, it’s all part of the fun.
Want a reference on this subject that you can refer to easily? I’ve created a nine page e-book that you can download right here.
Are You ready for the Next Step
- What are you excited to grow this season? Let me know in the comments!
- If you found this post helpful, share it with a fellow beginner gardener.
- Are you more interested in growing herbs for cooking? Here is a great post for that. 5 Essential Herbs for French Cooking
- I am wishing you the best of luck in your Beginner Gardening Adventures!
