What to Grow in a Vegetable Garden as a Super Beginner Gardener

The fear and overwhelm is real! There are so many details that go into gardening. You can spend a lifetime and never learn all there is to know. But you know what you can do?

Start! And we’ll show you how!

Simple Pleasures

What food do you enjoy this much?

What to Grow in a Vegetable Garden as a Super Beginner Gardener:

Grow what you love to eat. I will stop the list here, but I have a few notes to add below. If you are growing things because they are easy or on an internet list but it’s not something you eat, you will quickly tire of the effort and cost. Find a flower you are smitten by, or a food that makes you salivate and start with that. The passion and excitement will lead you to ask the questions that will guide you through the details.

Tips for beginner gardeners setting up a vegetable garden:

1. Observe your space

   Each property will have areas that get different climates. A sunny spot, a shady spot, a soggy area, a windy area or a combination. These conditions are called Microclimates and we dive more into that here.
   Microclimates is the data you will need to play matchmaker to a plant. #rightplantrightplace.
   If you aren’t aware of yours, the easiest work around is to plant in containers that you can relocate. You may pick a spot that seems like full sun in May, but by June when the trees have filled in, it’s not very sunny anymore. Move the pot.

2. Buy seedlings

   Limit the amount of tasks you take on. Starting from seed has nuances that are often overwhelming. Timing, light, moisture, sowing methods, hardening off and more. Pick up a seedling and you’ve already cut your room for error by more then half.
   The exceptions for this rule are root vegetables and lettuces. Grab a packet of seeds for those and ‘direct sow’ (placing the seed in it’s final earthy home, not a temporary ‘nursery’ or small container).

3. Use what you have

   If you have a patch of earth you call your own, plant in it.
   If you have recycling containers, poke drainage holes and use them.
   Gardening gets expensive fast if you aren’t careful. There are a lot of products out there that you will never need, and some that will revolutionize your experience. You won’t know what you need until you’ve begun and can reflect on what went wrong and what could be better.

4. Ask Questions

   Gardeners love to share. (Hello!) The only bad question is the one that is never asked. There are great Facebook groups, YouTube channels, Google, Blogs, plus local professionals such as the Toronto Master Gardeners. Feel free to reach out to me through any of my social media pages with your questions (@buying_thyme). Not only am I happy to help but it helps me tailor blog posts so that they are extremely relevant to the struggles gardeners face in the Toronto area.

So lets dive in! You are not alone when you are gardening. Gardening is a community and everyone had to start somewhere.