Not only does this article talk about my personal experience in my summer 2023 garden, but also has in depth tips and tricks I used during each step of the process for beginner gardens or anyone looking for more information about starting a vegetable garden. The process from seedlings to full adult plants to harvest is documented as well as what I experienced during each stage. Gardening tips and growing information such as gardening zones, watering, organic fertilizers and pesticides like neem oil are talked about to help you with your own beginner garden journey. These steps can be implemented in backyards or pots for people living in smaller areas to help grow your own food at home just for beginners or any producer looking for additional experience and tips!
Growing food takes time, patience, love, commitment, consistency, and care. Make sure to nuture your plants so they can nuture you 🙂
This journey is meant for me, first time gardeners, experienced gardeners, and anyone wanting to learn about how to grow your own food.
I do not believe anyone should have to pay for food, as it was founded on this green Earth, and all things from nature should be our God given right to enjoy at no cost <3.
Unfortunately… at first it will but once we start seed saving and growing and reusing the soil you treated you never will have to spend a dime on food ever again. Let’s change the world we live in starting now.
My summer garden started in January. Most people don’t know the lengthy process it takes to grow produce… personally why I believe that the farmers should get paid the most out of the entire food supply chain process. Unfortunately, they receive the least pip while the corporate giants take hold of most of the profit.. but thats a story for another day.
Back to my summer garden!! So, it all started in January. I wrote my plan out inside my journal, what I was growing, and the information I find that is vital to grow your seedlings into plants.
Lets Start Gardening!
The plant/start date will always differ depending on your zone.
First Determine What Zone you live in:
visit the USDA Website to determine what zone you are in:
Shown are color coded and numerical Zones 2-10. I am in Zone 8a, almost right on the line!!
Determining your zone will help you have a more aligned time period of when you need to start your plants in the late winter and then transplant outside for spring.
Also, please check your last frost date to help determine when you should be starting your vegetables.
How to Start Planning Your Garden
Examples of what I wrote in my Journal back in January:
After determining what zone you are in there are five very important factors that must be written after deciding what you want to plant.
Figure out what you want to plant with my planting guide that tells you the specifics of growing and what the specific vegetable variety tastes like:
2024 Vegetable Variety Guide – Every Species for Your Beginner Garden
If you are a first time gardener, this is a good start on what to write down:
In an organized list, write down your produce in groups such as all cucumber varieties in one section, and then all melon varieties in a separate section etc. that way, it is neatly organized for you to reference back to and in a safe place that you can always reference.
1. Determine the amount of days until germination. can be anywhere from 7-21 depending on the species. This will determine when you need to start the seedlings.
For germination information visit my other page: 2024 Vegetable Variety Guide – Every Species for Your Beginner Garden
Plant growth Cycle:
– Start Seeds (Approx. 7-21 days until germination) + 6-8 weeks before last frost – This will be your start date
– Time period from germination to transplant (Approx. 40-50 days) – Transplant Date
– Days to Harvest (Approx. 50-100 days)- Harvest Date
To calculate Start Date:
Germination Time (7-21 days) + 6 to 8 Weeks before your last frost
Example:
Germination Period= 1 week
Last Frost is April 1st
1 week + 6 to 8 weeks before April 1st
Start Date= Feb 1st – Feb 8th
Transplant Date:
8-9 weeks after start date
Example:
Start Date: Feb 1st – Feb 8th
Transplant Date: April 1st – April 8th
How to Write it Down Example:
Plant Group
Variety
1. Start Date
2. Transplant Date
3. Days to Harvest
4. Row Spacing
5. Sunlight Requirements
Tomato
Yellow Pear
1. Start Date: Feb 20th- Feb 28th
2. Transplant Date: April 16th- April 20th
3. Days to Harvest: 70 to 80 days
4. Row Spacing: 2 to 3 feet
5. Sunlight Requirements: Full Sun
IMPORTANT: Most do not plant until after the last frost. Make sure to look up the date of the last frost in your area