A Beginner's Guide to Vegetable Gardening
Vegetable gardening is easier than you think — and everybody’s doing it! Here’s how to get in on the fun.
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When times are tough, we plant vegetables. This happened during World War II, when victory gardens showed up across the country, at one point contributing nearly 40% of our produce supply. Then recession gardens arrived: The economic downturn in 2008 prompted a 19% spike in gardening the following year. And of course, 2020 brought us pandemic gardens. Stuck at home, wary of crowded grocery stores and eager to save money, many Americans started putting their yards to good use. We overwhelmed seed companies with orders and flooded gardening hotlines with questions — by some estimates, the country gained at least 16 million new gardeners last year! If you were one of them or are considering rolling up your sleeves for the first time this spring, you might need a little help. Follow this guide and you’ll be good to grow!
How to Read Your Seed Packet
Photograph by Philip Friedman.
Seed Count: This packet contains 30 seeds, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get 30 plants. Not all of the seeds will germinate.
Pole: This word indicates that the plant grows on a vine, so you’ll want to get supports to vertically guide it. It’s an extra step, but it will create room for more veggies!
Frost: The layer of ice crystals that shows up on plants in freezing temperatures is called frost, and many vegetables can’t survive it. Find the first date in fall and the last date in spring that frost can form in your region at garden.org.
Maturity: This is the number of days until you’ll be able to harvest (a.k.a. eat) your veggies after planting.
Heirloom: Unlike newer hybrids, heirloom vegetables are typically part of an older variety that has been passed down for generations, and they often come in unique colors or shapes.
Know Your Zone: It’ll be easier to determine frost dates — and which plants are best for your region — if you know your zone. The USDA breaks up the country into 13 zones based on temperature; find yours at garden.org.
How to Order Your Seeds by Mail
Garden centers aren’t the only places to shop for seeds. These suppliers ship packets right to your door.
Kitazawa Seed Company
Build a garden of stir-fry ingredients or salad greens with Kitazawa’s themed seed bundles. kitazawaseed.com
Seed Savers Exchange
This Iowa-based nonprofit works with communities around the country to preserve culturally diverse crops through its seed market. seedsavers.org
Truelove Seeds
Grow ancestral varieties like White Velvet Okra and San Marzano Tomatoes, all sourced from small-scale farmers. trueloveseeds.com
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Shop the country’s largest selection of heirloom seeds, including rare varieties like Hopi Pink Flour Corn. rareseeds.com
What Tools You'll Need
How to Set Up a Vegetable Garden
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Start Small: Don’t plant a huge garden your first season. Start with a 4-by-8-foot bed.
Check Placement: Put plants that need more attention on the perimeter, where they’re easier to access.
Keep It Tidy: Pull weeds as soon as they appear and thin seedlings as needed to prevent overcrowding.
Pick a Sunny Spot: Most vegetables need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
Have Companions: Learn which plants grow well together. Radishes deter cucumber beetles, for example.
Harvest on Time: Pick veggies when they’re young and tender for the best flavor.
Credits:
All text written by Francesca Cocchi for Food Network Magazine.
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