How to Start a Garden From Scratch Right Now

Have you been dreaming about walking out your back door, plucking fresh tomatoes off the vine, or clipping a few sprigs of basil to toss into your dinner? You’re not alone! You don’t need acres of land or even a green thumb to start a garden. 

This step-by-step guide is packed with simple steps and practical advice to help you get started on your new garden. Whether you’re carving out a small space for a container garden, building raised beds, or planting directly in the ground, this is your go-to resource for your very first garden.

Why Start a Garden?

There are plenty of reasons to start a garden. Maybe you want healthier food, or to save money, or maybe you just want a peaceful spot with beautiful flowers.  

Starting a garden also gives you control. You’ll know exactly where your food is coming from and what’s going into your soil and onto your plants.  All the hard work will pay off in fresh produce and give you the satisfaction of nurturing something from seed to harvest.

Choosing the Best Location to Start a Garden

The first step to start a garden is finding the right garden area. Location is one of the most important things to get right, especially for your first year.

Here are a few simple tips:

• Full sun vs. partial shade: Most vegetable gardening crops, like tomato plants and root vegetables, need full sun, at least six to eight hours daily. Leafy greens and herbs can tolerate partial shade. 
• Easy access: Pick a spot that’s close to a water source and easy for you to reach. You don’t want to be dragging hoses across your yard every morning.
• Land Slope:  While the slope of the land can be corrected to some extent, choosing a flat, level spot will save you time, money, and work. 
• Soil type: Pay attention to the texture of your soil. Sandy soil drains quickly, while clay soil can hold too much water. Native soil can usually be improved by adding organic material, like compost.
• Size matters: If you’re brand-new, start small. A small garden is easier to manage, less work, and still gives you a taste of that bountiful harvest. You can always add more beds next season.

Pro tip: Spend a few mornings and afternoons in your yard and notice how much sun different areas get. Also, pay attention to how water runs through your space. This will help you choose the best location for your garden beds.

Decide What Type of Garden is Best For You

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to gardening. The best type of garden depends on your space, budget, and lifestyle.

• Raised bed garden: Perfect for improving soil quality and drainage and are often easier to maintain. Raised garden beds also warm up faster in early spring, giving you a head start on the growing season.
• In-ground garden: A traditional option if you have much space, decent soil, and are on a tight budget. This is a great way to grow row crops, but it may take more work to improve the soil. 
• Container garden: Great for small spaces like patios or balconies. Containers are also a good idea for shorter plants like herbs or leafy greens.
• Flower garden: Not into vegetables yet? A flower garden is a beautiful way to start, and it attracts pollinators and beneficial insects.
• Herb garden: One of the easiest gardens to maintain. You’ll always have fresh herbs like basil, thyme, and parsley ready to snip.

The key is to choose a garden style that works for your lifestyle. Do what works for you. And remember, it’s better to succeed with a small garden than to feel overwhelmed by a garden that you can’t keep up with.

​Let’s Get to Work on Starting Your Garden

Depending on what type of garden you are starting will depend on your next steps.  For now, I will mainly focus on setting up a raised bed garden.  After that, we can also talk about starting an in-ground garden as well. 

Starting a Raised Bed Garden

Now the fun part starts!  You’ll need to decide what raised beds to buy or design the beds you will build. In true American FarmSteadHers fashion, I went with affordable, raised beds I could assemble by myself so I wouldn’t have to wait around for the hubby to help out.  

Prepping the Garden Site While You Wait on Your Beds

You may have to fill in any low or unlevel spots with some fill dirt so you have a nice level area. If it’s in your budget, you can also build up a dirt pad for the garden.  I will warn you though, dirt is expensive these days!  On the plus side, I learned to use the tractor to help smooth out the fill dirt pile.

Once you have a nice level area, you can cover it with weed fabric or large pieces of cardboard if you are planning on having mulch or rock in your pathways.  Or, if you want, you can have grass in your pathways. Your garden, your choice!

Design Your Layout & Assemble Your Garden Beds

Now that the hard work of site prep is done, you can design and layout your new raised beds. This is where it gets really inspiring, seeing it all come together.  Once you have everything in place, you can start filling your raised beds.

How to Fill a Raised Bed

Let’s be honest here, it takes a lot of soil to fill a raised bed, which is part of the reason that raised bed gardening is expensive to set up.  

How Much Soil Will You Need to Start a Garden?

I always like to plan for a little more soil than what I think I need. To calculate how much soil you need, multiply the length, width, and height to give you the correct number of cubic feet of soil you need. 

So, a 4x2x1 raised bed would need 8 cubic feet of garden soil.  This is the formula I used to fill my beds with a little bit of an exception.  

I wanted beds slightly deeper than that, so I purchased raised beds that are 4x2x1.5.  To fill the extra space, I started filling my raised bed with small logs, sticks, and leaves.  It saves money on garden soil and will break down over time, adding organic matter to the soil.  You will find, as that happens, you’ll need to top your beds off next season as things settle. 

Add Your Pathway Material

Now that your beds are in place and full, cover those pathways.  I personally used a double layer of weed fabric with several inches of pine bark mulch in my garden pathways. I am determined to keep grass out of my new garden!

Things are Starting to Come Together Now

But wait, It’s not quite time to plant!  Go ahead and add any trellis you know that you will need.  It’s so much easier to do it before you have plants in the garden beds.  After that, there’s one last step you may want to consider to start a garden, a soil test.

Test Your Soil Before You Start a Garden

Healthy plants start with healthy soil. Before you start planting, it’s a good idea to do a soil test. A simple soil test can tell you your soil pH, nutrient levels, and whether your soil needs extra organic material to start a garden.

You can pick up a soil test kit at your local garden center, send a sample to your county extension office, or have a soil test kit sent directly to you. 

​Add Amendments to Your Soil After You Test It

Basic soil test results will show you if you are lacking in NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). There are also more comprehensive soil test kits on the market that will show you what minerals you are lacking, giving recommendations on what to amend your soil with to start a garden.

Adding organic amendments like compost, aged animal manure, or peat moss will improve the fertility and texture of your soil. Just be sure any manure you use isn’t contaminated with herbicides.  

A Little Bit About Starting an In-Ground Garden

Starting an in-ground garden is much cheaper than starting a raised bed garden.  And let’s face it, traditional garden rows in the ground are how folks have gardened for ages. Just know that setting up an in-ground garden takes a little more time.

• ​After you select your garden site, cover it with a large tarp for 4-6 weeks to kill the grass and weeds. 
• ​Once time has passed, pull the tarp back.  You’ll be amazed at how good it looks!
• Rent or borrow a tiller to start a garden. Yes, this is one of the times I recommend tilling.  It will make forming your garden rows so much easier.
• Once tilling is done, mark out your garden rows with some stakes and string. This will keep them nice and straight and evenly spaced. I like to use three-foot spacing between rows so a wheelbarrow can easily fit.
• Use a shovel as you work your way down the row to build the soil up into a row.
• Once your rows are formed, if you have time, let it sit to see if any grass or weed seeds germinate. If they do, and time allows, you can cover it again to kill them off.  Or, you can certainly skip this step and go right ahead to testing your soil, adding amendments, and then planting your garden. 

Picking the Right Plants

This is the fun part! Head to your local nursery or garden centers and browse the seed packets and young plants to start a garden.  I always encourage new gardeners to find local folks to shop with, as they will have varieties that are well-suited for your climate and growing zone.  The big box stores will carry the same plants and seeds all over the country.

A few tips for new gardeners:

• Grow varieties that are in season and that your family will enjoy.  Do your research on what to plant and when. 
• Easiest vegetables: Leafy greens, radishes, and beans are easy steps into vegetable gardening. They grow quickly and give you confidence.
• Tomato plants and peppers: These warm-season favorites are a great way to get fresh produce for your table, though they need much sun.
• Root crops: Carrots, beets, and turnips do well in healthy soil with good drainage.
• Herbs: Basil, parsley, mint, and thyme are beginner-friendly and thrive in containers or garden beds.
• Cool-season crops: Lettuce, spinach, and peas are perfect for early spring or late fall planting.

If you want a head start, buy young plants in transplant trays or peat pots from your local garden center. Plant tags will tell you how much sun and space each plant needs, as well as the best time to plant.

Pro-Tip:  Learning to start seeds ahead of time for your own transplants will save you a TON of money in the long run.  You’ll pay $4 for a pack of 100 seeds or $4 for one plant. 

​It’s Finally Time to Plant Your Garden

When you’re ready to start planting, follow these essential steps:

• Prepare your planting beds. Clear weeds, loosen the soil, and mix in plenty of organic matter or any amendments you need.
• Read plant tags or seed packets. They’ll tell you how deep to plant seeds, how far apart to space plants, and the best time to sow. You can also consider using the square foot gardening method.

• Start in early spring or late winter. This is a great time to sow cool-season crops outdoors or start warm-season crops in a transplant tray indoors.
• Warm-season crops wait. Hold off on planting tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers until late spring when the danger of frost has passed.
• Think about companion planting. For example, planting basil near tomato plants can improve flavor and deter pests.  Companion planting can make a huge difference in the garden.

Watering and Care

Even with the right plants, your garden needs consistent care.

• Watering: Early morning is the best time to water. This gives plants plenty of moisture for the day without promoting disease.
• How much water? A general rule is about one inch of water per week, but check the soil often. Stick your finger in the soil—if it’s dry an inch down, it’s time to water.
• Irrigation systems: A drip irrigation system or soaker hose is a great way to water deeply and efficiently. Both save time and prevent water waste.
• Weeding: Pull weeds regularly so they don’t steal nutrients and water from your garden plants.
• Mulching: Mulch helps regulate soil temperature, conserve moisture, and improve soil quality as it breaks down. Cover that soil!

Watch for Pests and Problems

Every gardener faces challenges, especially in the first year. The good news is, most problems have simple solutions.

• Beneficial insects: Encourage pollinators like bees and ladybugs. Planting flowers alongside vegetables is a great way to invite them in.
• Garden pests: Aphids, slugs, and caterpillars can show up. Hand-picking, organic sprays, or introducing beneficial insects usually keeps them in check.
• Soil issues: If your plants look weak, consider a soil test to check nutrient levels. Sometimes a quick boost of compost or organic fertilizer is all that’s needed.

Soon, It Will Be Time to Harvest

The most rewarding part of gardening is harvesting your fresh produce.

• Leafy greens: Harvest leaves as soon as they’re big enough to eat. This encourages new growth.
• Root vegetables: Gently pull a few carrots or radishes to check maturity.
• Tomato plants: Pick when fruits are firm and at breaker stage. This is when you start to see color take over the green tomato.  Picking them at breaker stage saves them from bug damage and splitting.  They will ripen up nicely on the kitchen counter without the flavor being affected. 
• Herbs: Snip regularly to encourage bushier growth.

Late summer and early fall are often peak harvest times, though cool-season crops planted in late summer or early fall can extend your growing season into late fall. If you are in a warm climate, like me, you can always be growing and harvesting something in the garden year round. 

Looking Ahead to Next Year’s Garden

Even if your first garden doesn’t go perfectly, don’t be discouraged. Every year is a chance to learn, experiment with different types of plants, and try new ideas.

• Keep notes on what worked, what struggled, and which plants you loved.
• Plan crop rotation to keep your soil healthy.
• Add more organic material to improve soil quality each season.
• Try new techniques like cold frames or companion planting.
• Talk to other local gardeners to get ideas on varieties and timing.

Final Thoughts on How to Start a Garden

Starting a garden isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress. The most important thing is to begin. Whether you dream of a flower garden bursting with beautiful flowers, an herb garden for cooking, or rows of fresh vegetables, you can start a garden.

With the right location, healthy soil, and the right plants, you’ll be enjoying fresh produce for your dinner table in no time. And remember—gardening isn’t just about food. It’s about slowing down, soaking up the sunshine, and creating a space that nourishes your body and soul.  So grab those seed packets, roll up your sleeves, and take that first step. Your dream garden is waiting for you!

Happy Homesteading & Gardening,

Jenny @ The GrahamStead Family Farm

Jenny and her family have been homesteading for over 20 years. They are currently farming on their 10-acre Florida farm, which they built from the ground up 10 years ago, growing 100% of their meat and some of their vegetables.

From their small herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle, pastured poultry, sheep, and seasonal pigs, they are able to raise enough meat for the family while selling extra to the community. They are dedicated to sustainable practices like making compost, seed saving, and processing much of their garden and animal harvests at home.

You can find Jenny wandering through her garden, making herbal tinctures, making bone broth, and one of Jenny’s favorite hobbies, tanning all types of hides!