Are you tired of having even the most basic needs of fruits and vegetables sold to you at 10 times their price? Do you have a backyard that’s just…sitting there? Why not grow your own food, acquire a new habit, and save money—all at the same time?
In this guide, I’ll teach you the basics in a whiff. Let’s go for it.
What Do You Need to Grow Your Own Food?
Before fulfilling the deeds, you have to know your needs:
Set a Goal in Mind
Before getting started, decide which fruits, vegetables, and herbs you want to grow. You should consider your family’s dietary preferences – there’s no point growing broccoli if nobody likes it, right?
Also, research which plants are best suited for your local climate. Nothing is more frustrating for gardeners than trying to force a plant to grow in unsuitable conditions.
Still, most edible plants require plenty of sunlight (at least six hours a day). So, if you have that, most other factors, like the soil and water requirements, can be controlled.
Lastly, gardening isn’t a “water my plant every day” habit. Think about how much time and effort you can devote to gardening.
Growing food takes consistent maintenance like watering, weeding, cleaning, and pest control. If you’re new to gardening, start small with a few easy crops, then expand as you gain more experience.
Find the Right Spot
Choosing the right location can make the gardening experience much easier. Edible plants generally need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Accordingly, do a sun survey to find the sunniest spots, being aware that sun exposure can change throughout the seasons.
With sun requirements out of the way, let’s focus on the soil. Your planting area should have nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. If your yard doesn’t have high-quality soil, consider raised garden beds that allow you to create the ideal soil conditions.
Don’t know what gardening beds are? A gardening bed or a raised bed is essentially a giant rectangular-shaped planting pot that’s often covered to simulate a more suitable environment for your picky plant.
Don’t forget that you need easy access to water. Your plants will need frequent watering, especially when they’re in the early phases of growing up. I’m not expecting you to have a pond in your backyard, but a nearby water tap is a must.
Map Your Garden
Once you’ve selected your crops, you should map out your garden’s layout. In other words, you should plan which seeds should go where, and how far apart they should be from each other.
The water and sun requirements should help you do that correctly. There’s no (set in stone) layout for it. Just look at the seed packet instructions to see the needs of each plant, and lay out their distribution to place all of them in their proper spaces.
Also, consider companion planting by grouping mutually beneficial plants together. For example, fragrant herbs can deter pests, while nitrogen-fixing legumes like peas and beans can provide nutrients for nearby crops.
What Tools Would You Need to Grow Your Own Food?
Here are the tools you’d need for successful gardening:
- Gardening tools: spade, hoe, rake, hand trowel, pruners, wheelbarrow
- Watering supplies: hose, watering can, sprinklers
- Seeds or transplants
- Stakes, trellises, or cages for vining crops
- Containers for patio/balcony gardening
- Potting mix for containers
- Compost or fertilizer
- Row covers or netting to protect crops
- Gardening gloves
- Garden journal or app to track plantings
Special Gardening Techniques for Beginners
Container Gardening
A very small-space option is container gardening. You can grow many fruits, veggies, and herbs in pots, hanging baskets, or planter boxes. Choose containers at least 8-12 inches deep with drainage holes.
Vertical Gardening
Grow vining plants upwards on trellises, cages, or in hanging baskets to maximize limited space. Good vertical crops include cucumbers, pole beans, peas, and even small tomato varieties.
Succession Planting
Stagger your plantings by sowing new crops every few weeks. This ensures you’ll have a continuous harvest over a longer period instead of everything ripening at once. Succession works well for fast crops like greens and radishes.
Mulching
Apply a 2-4 inch layer of mulch like straw, leaves, or bark chips over your garden beds. Mulch retains soil moisture, minimizes weeds, and eventually enriches soil as it breaks down.
Composting
Creating your own compost bin allows you to turn kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich fertilizer. Compost adds organic matter to enrich garden soil. It’s an affordable way to ensure your plants get the nourishment they need.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.