How to Start a Backyard Veggie Garden
It’s hard to believe that I wrote my last post almost 4 months ago- so much has changed since then. The end of 2019 brought the greatest gift, my son David. Only 3 short months later, our world is in the midst of an incredibly trying and uncertain time. As a new Mom with a husband working long hours at the hospital, the days can seem long. However, when David smiles, I feel hopeful. This too shall pass.
Last summer I shared a glimpse or two of our vegetable garden. Many reached out expressing interest in my sharing of how we started ours. Given the circumstances we face, I thought now would be a perfect time to share how we started our simple veggie garden.
Our 2018 veggie garden, almost ready for harvest.
When I initially started our garden, it took nothing more than an Amazon order and a couple hours of work. I had zero gardening experience. I was amazed how our garden flourished and provided us with produce for several months. There is something incredibly satisfying about growing our own food from nothing but a pack of seeds. I found myself taking far less trips to the grocery store, and clipping lettuce only minutes before using it in a salad- talk about fresh, convenient food. If you’re working on eating more veggies, having them readily available in your backyard is also a great way to encourage that. This weekend, we sowed our seeds for the forth year in a row. I hope you use this time at home to get outdoors and do the same- gardening is so therapeutic!
One of many lettuce harvests from our garden last year.
You will need:
1) Raised beds- I purchased one of these easy to assemble beds (5 minutes to assemble, no tools required). A few weeks later, we purchased a second to expand our bounty.
2) Soil- Since we were rookies at this gardening game, I purchased a soil meant for growing veggies. If you have more experience, you might consider making your own blend using compost.
3) Seeds- This one pack of seeds has lasted us 4 years and cost less than $20. I would recommend selecting which of the varieties in the pack you plant based on your climate and season. I used the National Gardening Association’s “When to Plant Vegetables” tool that tells you exactly when to plant each veggie based on your location. The pack of seeds also comes with a guide that tells you how deep and how far apart to plant the seeds.
I typically plant:
- 3 types of lettuce
- arugula
- curly kale
- lacinato or dinosaur kale (seeds purchased separately)
- spinach
- carrots
- red beets
- golden beets (seeds purchased separately)
- radishes
- peas
I have tried zucchini and it flourishes to the point where it takes over the bed. I’ve tried eggplant, cauliflower and Brussels and they have just grown too slow and taken up too much room to make it worth my while.
Quick Guide to Planting:
Plant after the last frost.
1) Find a spot in your yard that receives ample sunlight.
2) Assemble raised beds and fill with soil. There should be about 2” of space between the top of your soil and top of your raised bed.
3) Use a rake or shovel to smooth the top of your soil.
4) Plant seeds accordingly to distance and depth in seed pack guide.
5) Water lightly. Continue to water as needed based on weather (it’s really not that complicated- if the soil looks dry and rain is unexpected I water).