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What Should I Plant In My Garden? I’ll help you decide!

April 1, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Wondering what is the best things to plant in the garden?  I’m here to help you decide!

Asking yourself the question, “What should I plant in my garden?”  I’ve been there!  Keep reading to help you plan the perfect garden for you!

I am so excited that Spring is here! The snow has (finally!) all melted around my house and I’ve been anxiously checking my garden every day.  I can’t wait to start planting little seeds.  There is nothing more exciting to me than planting a tiny little seed into the ground and watching it grow into a beautiful plant producing a bountiful harvest. It’s so satisfying!  If you are trying to decide what to plant in your garden this year, here are a few steps to help you make the decision!

Trying to decide what to plant in my garden each year can be a lot of fun!  I love receiving my Burpee Seed Catalog each year and planning what to plant and when.  It usually involves a lot of big dreams of a huge garden bearing lots of produce….and zero weeds…..  To bad it never ends up exactly that way!  😉

While fun, this is also one of the most important steps to gardening.  If you are wanting a successful harvest, it’s crucial that you think hard about what to plant.  Not every seed is right for every gardener.

  • Related:  9 Easiest Vegetables To Grow In First Garden

Questions To Ask Yourself When Planning Your Garden

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself when deciding what crops to plant.  They should help you make the best decision about what will be best for you personally to grow.  Let me know in the comments if you have any other gardening questions!

best things to plant in garden - planting a garden

What Produce Does Our Family Enjoy?

One of the first questions you should ask yourself when deciding what to plant in your garden is what fruits and vegetables does your family enjoy eating the most? 

It’s really easy to get carried away planting all the things that many people often forget to focus on the basic foods that their family enjoys the most.  If you have a bountiful harvest, but nobody will eat it, then it’s not worth planting in the first place….right????  Right!

Spend a minute thinking about the produce you buy weekly at the grocery store, and then make a list of these grocery staples to help give you some gardening inspiration.

For example, my list would look like this:

  • Apples
  • Pears
  • Bananas
  • Oranges
  • Strawberries
  • Grapefruit
  • Watermelon
  • Broccoli
  • Spinach
  • Onions
  • Lettuce
  • Tomatoes
  • Peas
  • Corn
  • Green Beans

Now, this is a list of the produce I buy for my family most often, but not everything on this list will grow well in my garden.  This is where the following questions come in.

 

What Grows Well In My Climate?

The next question you need to ask yourself is what grows well in your specific location.  I would love to tell you exactly what to plant and when, but there’s a good chance your growing season/climate will be very different from mine.  

The first step to learning what will grow well in your location is to find out what zone you are in.  Your planting zone will tell you when to plant which crops.  You can easily find your planting zone here.

For example, I live in Zone 5.  This means that I have a shorter growing season than somewhere like Zone 9.  The crops that grow well in Zone 5 can differ from the ones in Zone 9.

Another great way to find out what grows well in your climate is to ask other gardeners in your area.  If you have neighbors or friends who enjoy gardening, ask them what they enjoy growing most and have had the most success with.

Once you have determined your zone, start researching the best crops for that zone.  This can easily be found using a google search.

 

How Much Garden Space Do I Have?

The size of your garden is a huge factor when deciding what you should plant in your garden.  If you have a small garden, you might not want to plant crops that take up a large amount of space, like pumpkins, corn or watermelon.

If you have a smaller garden, I recommend planting crops that need a smaller space, such as spinach or carrots.

And, if you are planting in containers, you will want to only plant what grows best in containers.  I’ll share a few ideas below with you.

Plants That Grow Well In Containers:

  • Tomatoes
  • Potatoes
  • Beets
  • Herbs
  • Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Peppers
  • Strawberries

Plants That Need A Lot Of Space To Grow:

  • Corn
  • Pumpkins
  • Bush Beans
  • Peas
  • Raspberries

Plants That Grow Well In Small Gardens:

  • Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Potatoes
  • Beets
  • Peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Radishes
  • Pole Beans

 

What Crops Are Most Expensive To Purchase At The Store?

If you are gardening as a way to save money, which I recommend, try to focus on growing the produce that is most expensive to buy at the store.  

A few of the crops I have found that are cheaper to grow than buy are:

  • Bell Peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Herbs
  • Squash
  • Lettuce
  • Berries
  • Green Beans

One of the great parts of gardening is the ability to preserve what you grow, so that you can use it throughout the year.  This is especially important for the produce that is most expensive.

Bell peppers and berries can easily be frozen using the flash freeze method I talk about here.  Herbs can even be frozen using the ice cube method taught here.  This gives you even more bang for your buck all year long.

 

How Much Time Do I Want To Spend Gardening?

Gardening is time consuming, that is just a fact of life.  In order to grow and harvest a garden, you will need to be able to donate some of your time to each crop.

If you enjoy gardening and want to spend more time on it, than you might consider growing high maintenance crops, such as:

  • Green Beans
  • Peas
  • Fruit Trees
  • Corn

If you are looking for some easy to grow, less time consuming crops, I would consider:

  • Carrots
  • Potatoes
  • Beets
  • Onions

 

Still wondering, “What should I plant in my garden?”

If this is your first year planting a garden, I always recommend starting small.  Choose a few of your favorite vegetables, that will grow well in your area to plant this year.  If it goes well then you can add a few more next year.

It truly takes trial and error before you find the right crops to plant in your garden, but you will figure it out.  I believe in you!

Want a little inspiration?  I’ll share what I am planting this year! 

This year I am planting:

  • Peas
  • Green Beans
  • Pumpkins
  • Corn
  • Onions
  • Carrots
  • Potatoes
  • Beets

I usually plant tomatoes and peppers, but have finally (and a little reluctantly) decided they are just to difficult for me to grow in my very windy garden spot.  And that’s ok!  

Happy planting!!!

 

Related Articles:

  • Best Ways To Store Produce To Keep It Fresh Longer
  • How To Freeze Peas (in a few quick steps)

 

Pin For Future Gardening Inspiration:

what should i plant in my garden - gardening tips for beginners

what to plant in the garden - gardening tips for beginners

I hope this article helps you decide what to plant in your garden.

9 Easiest Vegetables To Grow In First Garden

February 19, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life6 Comments

Beginner Gardening Tips!

Gardening season is just around the corner and so it’s the perfect time to share a few tips about some of the easiest vegetables to grow in your first garden.

I am so excited for garden season!  I’ve already  started mapping out my garden and planning all the yummy produce I will be growing.  My goal every year is to grow enough produce so that I don’t have to buy any throughout the summer.  I haven’t quite met this goal yet, but I have faith one year I will find success (fingers crossed!).

Another goal I work towards each summer is to grow enough produce to preserve for use throughout the winter.  If done correctly gardening can be a huge money saver.  If you have wanted to start gardening but are unsure where to begin, this is the article for you.

easy to grow vegetables

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Choosing the Perfect Garden Spot

If this is your first time planting a garden you will need to prep your garden area.  I recommend starting small at first.  If you have success with a small garden, then you can slowly increase the size every few years.

When choosing  a garden plot pick a spot in your yard that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.  The more sunlight, the better!

Also, think about the logistics of your garden area.  Is it within reach of your garden hose, so it can be watered?  Is the ground flat?  Both of these are important aspects of a successful garden.

 

Prepping Your Garden Plot

Vegetables grow best in soft, loose soil.  Once you have your garden spot picked out spend some time tilling up the soil.  We use a garden rototiller for this.  Here is a fairly cheap tiller on Amazon with really great reviews.

For best garden results, spread a 2 inch layer of compost or manure over your soil before tilling.  This gives the plants extra heat and needed nutrients.

Once your soil is loose and fertile you are ready for planting!

 

Where to Buy Seeds

You can buy your garden seeds at any local garden supply store or online.  Remember when choosing what to grow, pay attention to your local Hardiness Zone.  This will help you determine what to plant and when to plant it.

The Best Beginner Garden Vegetables

And now it’s time to learn all about the easiest vegetables to grow in first garden for beginners!  Remember, when deciding what to plant in your garden, choose the vegetables that your family already likes and eats regularly.  If your family isn’t going to eat it, it’s probably not worth planting!

1.  Lettuce

 

Lettuce is one of the easiest garden vegetables!  Lettuce is a cold weather crop and grows best in the spring and fall months.  So, remember to plant early!

When planting lettuce, it’s best to plant seeds in 1/4 inch dirt and water regularly.  Once they start sprouting, thin plants 8-10 inches apart.  Lettuce should be ready to harvest within 6 weeks.

2.  Potatoes

 

I was raised on an Idaho Potato Farm, so you know potatoes will be on this list!

Not only are potatoes easy to grow, they are also easy to store!  This means, if stored correctly, you can enjoy your home grown potatoes throughout the winter months.  Woo, even more money saved!

Plant seed potatoes 4 weeks after your last frost.  They grow well when planted in a 6 inch deep hole and 12 inches apart.

About 80-100 days after planting the vines will begin to die.  This is the sign that your potatoes are ready to harvest.

To harvest potatoes, simply dig them from the ground, and rub off the dirt.

Store your harvested potatoes in a cool, dark place.  A basement storage room or cellar works well.  Just make sure they get as little light as possible!

3.  Peas

I love to grow peas!  There is just something so nostalgic about sitting out on our front porch shelling our home grown peas with my kids.  Plus, peas are another one of the easiest vegetables to grow!

Peas are a cold weather crop and should be planted as soon as you can work your soil.  These vegetables grow well on a trellis.  Be creative with your trellis, we used chicken wire, just because we already had some in our garage.

Plant rows of peas next to your trellis.  As the plants grow, train them to grow up on the trellis.  This makes harvesting peas much easier!  Promise!

  • Related:  How to Blanche and Freeze Your Garden Peas

4.  Beets

 

Beets are another easy vegetable for your first garden.  They grow best in cooler temperatures, so plant them during the early spring months.  I always plant my peas, beets and lettuce at the same time.

When planting beets, sow your beet seeds 1/2 inch deep and 1 to 2 inches apart.  Thin your beet plants as they grow to prevent crowding.  Your beets should be ready to harvest within 70 days of planting.  (I love juicing my garden beets!  They are delicious!)

5.  Carrots

 

Carrots are another one of my favorite vegetables to grow!  You can get so many sweet, crunchy carrots from just a handful of baby seeds.

The secret to perfect carrots is well drained, deep, fine soil.  Mix some sand with your soil to make it extra fine, which will help the carrots to grow long and straight.

Carrots also need to be thinned well.  If they aren’t thinned properly they will grow together making deformed carrots….and nobody wants deformed carrots!

When watering carrots remember to water deep, and then let the ground dry out.  Deep watering will help the carrots to grow longer and thinner, which is what we want!

6.  Zucchini

 

If you plant one zucchini seed you’ll feed your neighborhood for a year.  Ha!  Not really, but kind of!  A zucchini plant is the gift that keeps on giving, and giving, and giving.  Which is why they are so awesome to grow!

To plant, sow two zucchini seeds in a fertilized dirt mound.  You can plant more seeds in mounds 3 to 6 feet apart.

Shredded zucchini freezes really well!  I use my frozen zucchini in smoothies and baking.

  • Related:  How to Make the Perfect Zoodles

7.  Pumpkins

 

There really isn’t anything more fun than watching a baby pumpkin grow into a large carving pumpkin.  Pumpkins aren’t only fun to carve, they also make fun fall decorations and can be used in baking.

Planting pumpkins is very similar to planting zucchini; in mounds spaced 3 to 6 feet apart.  Pumpkins grow best with plenty of compost mixed into the soil.  Also, be sure to give your pumpkins lots of water.  They are thirsty plants!

8. Beans

 

There are many different varieties of beans to plant, making it a great crop for everyone!  I prefer pole beans because they are easier to harvest.

If you grow bush beans no trellis is needed.  However, pole beans will need something to climb on.  We use chicken wire (because it’s what we already have), but you could also use poles or strings.

Beans need lots of warmth and sun to grow, so be sure they receive plenty of sun throughout the day, and some extra compost is helpful too!

9.  Onions

 

I planted onions for the first time last year and can’t believe it’s taken me this long to start growing them!  Honestly, I didn’t give them much care or attention, but they grew and grew.  We have them stored in our basement and I love grabbing my garden onions when prepping dinner.

Plant onions using what’s called an “onion set.”  An onion set is basically a small bulb.  You can find these anywhere that sells garden seeds.

When planting, place your onion sets 2 to 6 inches apart and cover with 1 inch of loose soil.

Onions are ready to harvest when their tops begin to yellow and fall over.  Check out this article for more info about how to cure and store your onions.

A Few Tips For The Beginner Gardener

Here are a few tips for starting your beginner vegetable garden.

  • Water your garden in the morning or evening, and avoid watering during the heat of the day.  This gives the water a chance to soak into the ground before evaporating.

 

  • Water deep (about 2 inches worth of water) and less often (about 1-2 times a week).  The soil needs a chance to dry out to prevent disease.

 

  • Use mulch between garden rows to help keep the weeds down.  Mulch will also keep moisture in the ground, which is what we want!

 

  • Experience is the best teacher.  You will have a few fails, and you will have some successes.  But, over time you will find what works best for you and your garden.  Do not give up!

In Conclusion

Alright, it’s your turn!  Now, it’s time for you to get to work planning your first garden!

Remember what we learned:  First, check your zone, pick a few plants from my beginner garden vegetables list (make sure your family will eat them), and then get to work planting them in your garden.

Then, the best part comes!  Watching those beautiful green seedlings pop out of the ground.

Be sure to reach out if you have any questions!  I love to talk about gardening!

Leave me a comment telling me what veggies you are planting in your garden this year!

 

 

Was this article helpful?  Pin it for future reference!

tips for your first garden

 

easiest vegetables to grow

how to start your first garden - easy vegetables to grow in cold climate

I hope you find success in these easiest vegetables to grow ideas!

Hello! I’m Melanie!

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