Starting a vegetable garden may seem like a chore, but at its heart, it’s both a science and an art that pretty much anyone can do with a little bit of love and a lot of hard work. And the materials you need to get started are pretty minimal. Just a few plants and a decent bed of soil are all you need. Now comes the work.

To start, make sure the soil is well nourished with fertilizers and mineral nutrients such as greensand or rock phosphate. Be sure to do this periodically and even add some organic matter like compost or shredded leaves to improve the soil’s fertility and structure.

Location is a key part of everything you do in life and starting a vegetable garden is no different. The location of your vegetable garden should have the best of all worlds--meaning a good amount of sunlight, a close source of water, and protection against the frost and wind. And if this is your very first vegetable garden, then your best bet is to use raised beds.

As opposed to using rows in our garden, how about using 3-4 feet wide raised beds?  The less rows you have, the better it will be for your home sized garden. The reason for this is that they make less paths and create more square footage for growing crops. Not to mention, raised beds need less effort when it comes to vegetables due to the fact that they require less watering, mulching, and weeding.

Something else you might want to invest in for your first vegetable garden is a trellis. It may seem a bit far fetched, but a trellis is another great way to utilize more space, especially if you have a tiny garden with plants that need vertical support like cucumbers, tomatoes, and pole beans.

Another helpful rule to abide by for your first vegetable garden is to plant the same crops in the same place once every three years. This way, the same garden vegetables that you started out with won’t deplete that same nutrients. Plus, it’ll get rid of any insects and potential pathogens that may be in the soil.

And as a golden rule, always keep a record. This is not just a responsible trait for keeping up with finances, but also for noting your successes, or even failures in your garden. This way, you  can make observations and jot them down when the need arises. Whether it’s writing down the names of different vegetable varieties, comparing them on a year to year basis, using new organic matter/ fertilizer in the garden, or even planting a new crop. This way, you can physically mark down what you see in happening in your garden while you work hard to maintain it.

Whether it’s for a newfound hobby, or a way to save money on food, a vegetable garden is a good way to go if you’re looking to cultivate a green thumb and try something new in your home. Right next to Spring Cleaning and getting ready for some delicious summer barbeque.