Growing your own vegetables doesn’t only save time. It welcomes a diverse, nutritious and exciting way to eat. The good news is it’s not as painstaking as you might think. There are different means to start your vegetable garden no matter the size of your space.

Below, we will be highlighting tips as well as other things to remember to start your veggie garden from scratch.

1. Have a Plan

Planning is key. It entails knowing exactly which vegetables you and your family truly enjoy eating. Consider just how much of it you can eat, as well as the amount you intend to freeze or give away. Furthermore, it would also help to get everyone’s opinion in the household because the last thing you want is to wastage.

2. Know What to Grow

In spring, cold-weather vegetables are a wonder to grow. These will give you bountiful harvest throughout the season. So there’s definitely no shortage of lettuce, carrots, arugula, radishes, broccoli and peas during this time. Once warm weather starts, you can switch to growing eggplants, peppers and tomatoes. Moreover, kale, potatoes and cabbage are big hits during fall.

Here are other vegetables for beginners:

• Carrots
• Zucchini
• Pumpkin
• Green beans
• Peppers
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Salad greens
• Cucumbers

3. Consider your Space

While we may all dream to grow massive rows of vegetables, most of us don’t have the space to do that. Fortunately, rows of gardens aren’t always advisable especially if you want to make the most of the space you have. These work better when you’re working with heavy machinery mainly for cultivation.

The trick is to switch out the rows for raised beds. These planters allow you to have better control of what you are growing and maximize the yield of your vegetables. Furthermore, raised beds require less effort and minimizes the possibility of your soil compaction.

Trellising for vegetables tomatoes and cucumbers are best when it comes to limited space. Remember to tie these plants gently and weave them through so they have enough support.

4. Plant For the Sun

When it comes to starting your vegetable garden, you also want to think about location. Not all area are gifted with a hefty amount of sunlight. However, this shouldn’t deter you from growing your own vegetables. There are other ways you can plant for the sun.

Vegetables and herbs like coriander, kale, chard, spinach and parsley tolerate partial shade. If you have the luxury of having at least four hours of full sun everyday, root vegetables like beets, radishes and carrots. Raised beds work great with sun-loving veggies like tomatoes, eggplants, corn and beans.

5. Seeds vs Transplants

When it comes to starting your own vegetable garden, consider whether you want to start from seed or transplant. Both have their pros and cons. It ultimately boils down to knowing how to care for them in the next few weeks.

For example, starting seeds indoors are crucial, as they need to get acclimated before they are positioned outside. Transplanting also has its own rules so as not to “shock” the plants when you move them from one container to the next.

Keep these in mind when growing vegetables from scratch. Also allow yourself room for some bumps along the way. It will make the whole experience of becoming a food gardener all the more rewarding.