How to Start a Garden

How to Start a Garden in Ten Simple Steps

Gardening can be rewarding for both the beginner and the seasoned Utah gardener. Whether you grow to unwind from stress or to enjoy more nutritious and flavorful produce, your garden provides a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Want to start a garden, but not sure where to begin? This page will cover the basics of gardening and provide simple steps so you can garden with confidence and have fun doing it.

Step 1: Decide What You Want to Plant

If you won’t eat certain fruits and vegetables, don’t grow them in your garden. Focus on the fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers your family enjoys the most.

Step 2: Find Planting Guides for Your Area

Plants have preferred growing conditions and need to be planted at the right time. Knowing your local growing conditions gives your garden the best chance for success.

Figure out your gardening zone, estimated first and last frost dates, and which crops grow well in your area. Local extension offices and experienced gardeners can be great resources.

Step 3: Choose a Location

Convenient location: Plant your garden where it is easy to access for picking, watering, and daily care. Out of sight often becomes out of mind.

Sunlight: Most fruits and vegetables need full sun, usually 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Greens, herbs, and root vegetables can often grow in partial shade.

Water: Access to water is important. The closer the water source, the easier your garden will be to maintain.

Step 4: Start Small

Sketch out a simple garden plan. Consider starting with containers or raised beds. Raised beds are attractive and easier to work in, but they may dry out faster.

A 4×4 or 4×8 raised bed is a great way to begin. Keep beds no wider than 4 feet and allow enough space between beds for walking, watering, and wheelbarrow access.

A small, well-tended garden can produce as much or more than a large, poorly tended garden.

Step 5: Build Healthy Soil

Soil is one of the most important parts of your garden. A good garden mix should be light, well-draining, rich in organic matter, and able to hold moisture without becoming soggy.

For raised beds and containers, a mix that includes compost, peat moss or coconut coir, and vermiculite can help create a light, airy soil that supports healthy root growth.

Test your soil periodically to understand pH, nutrients, drainage, and texture. Healthy soil leads to healthier plants with better pest and disease resistance.

Soil calculation:
Length × Width × Height = Volume
1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
Example: 4′ × 4′ × 1′ = 16 cubic feet of soil

Step 6: Set Up a Watering System

Consistent watering helps keep plants healthy and better able to resist pests, disease, and stress.

Drip irrigation is efficient and provides steady moisture directly to plant roots. Water deeply so the entire root zone receives moisture, which encourages stronger roots and healthier plants.

Step 7: Keep a Garden Journal

A garden journal helps you remember what you planted, when you planted it, what worked, what didn’t, and what you want to try next season.

Track planting dates, harvest dates, weather patterns, pest issues, soil amendments, watering changes, and favorite varieties.

Step 8: Spend Time in Your Garden Each Day

Try to catch problems while they are small. Pest issues, watering problems, weeds, and disease are much easier to manage early.

There’s an old saying: “The best fertilizer is the gardener’s shadow.” Even a few minutes a day can make a big difference.

Check soil moisture before watering. Overwatering can be just as harmful as underwatering. Soil that stays too wet can cause seeds and roots to rot.

Step 9: Invest in Basic Garden Tools

The right tools make working in your garden easier and more enjoyable. Basic gardening tools include:

• Garden hoe
• Scuffle hoe
• Dirt rake
• Leaf rake
• Garden shovel or D-handle shovel
• Hand tools

Choose sturdy tools that fit your body and gardening style. Keep tools clean and sharp so they last longer and are easier to use.

Step 10: Harvest and Eat What You Grow

Learn the best time to harvest each crop. Many vegetables are best picked young and often, which encourages more production.

Flavor is often best after the morning dew has dried but before the heat of the afternoon sets in. Taste, experiment, and enjoy the reward of your work.