Garden forum : Best Gardens for Beginners

What do you envision when you think of a vegetable garden? Vegetables in neat, uniform rows in a dedicated plot of land? But an in-ground garden isn’t necessarily the best option for a beginner.
In-ground gardens can be highly productive, but there are variables you can’t always control the first year, such as soil quality and pH. You also might have to clear the new land, perhaps tilling it or covering the soil for several months prior to planting.
Issues such as these are why container gardening and raised beds are so popular. Let’s explore your options.

Container Gardening

In a container garden, vegetables and herbs grow in a limited space, such as a pot or large planter. Many beginners enjoy container gardens because the labor involved is minimal. You don’t have to prepare the ground, and weeding is almost nonexistent. You can also place your pots in the best location for the plants you’re growing.
But container gardening isn’t free of challenges. The cost of the containers and soil can add up. Plants in containers require great attention to watering, and in the heat of summer may need watering several times per day. Container plants also need more fertilization, because the continual watering leaches away nutrients and the plants cannot access nutrients in ground soil.
With proper attention and care, however, container gardens are rewarding. Great options for container growing include lettuce, greens, snap peas, peppers, tomatoes, and herbs.

Raised Bed Gardening

Raised beds combine the best features of in-ground and container gardens. Like containers, with proper mulching, you won’t need to weed as often. But unlike containers, the plants’ ability to send their roots into the native soil to access water and nutrients cuts down on both watering and fertilizing. Raised bed gardens, when done right, are very attractive. (Many people build raised beds on top of a solid surface such as paved ground. This design acts more like a container garden in terms of soil, water, fertilization, and drainage requirements.)
The biggest downside to raised beds is the initial cost and labor. You also cannot easily move them if you change your mind about the ideal location. Predesigned kits available at garden centers make the labor barrier easier to overcome.
Most gardeners who choose raised beds find the trade-offs to be worth it both in time saved over the season and their overall gardening experience. Almost all crops grow well in raised beds; some popular ones include tomatoes, beans, broccoli, peppers, onions, and zucchini.

Vertical Gardening

Whether you choose an in-ground garden, a container garden, a raised bed garden, or a combination of all three, consider adding vertical gardening to your plan.
When you train vining plants on a trellis, you make space for more crops in the container or bed.
Plus, the better airflow achieved with vertical gardening reduces the risk of many common plant diseases.
Exercise your creative side: You can use free materials such as gathered sticks to build a trellis or make a small investment in a cattle-panel arch trellis. Sturdy trellises can last for many seasons.Great crops for vertical gardening include pole beans, climbing peas, cucumbers, and even melons.

Growing in the Ground

Maybe you don’t have the budget for containers or raised beds. Or maybe you’ve always wanted a traditional in-ground garden, and you’re determined to make it happen. Here are five qualities to look for when choosing to grow your garden directly in the ground.
Soil pH and balanced nutrients. The health of your garden soil will directly correspond to the health and productivity of your plants. I recommend getting your soil tested at a professional lab. Most counties offer this service through their cooperative extension locations for free or a small fee. From there, you will know what amendments you need to add to the soil, if any.
Loamy soil mixture. Soil is made up of sand, silt, clay, or a combination of them. The ideal garden soil is loamy, meaning it has a balanced mixture of these components. If your soil leans heavily toward one element, your yields will not be as great. A professional soil test will tell you what soil type you have, and you can always amend a less-than-loamy soil with organic matter such as compost. But do note that it can take years to see a big difference.
Well-draining area. Plants will not thrive in standing water, so unless your soil contains a high amount of sand, you’ll want to place your in-ground garden in an area that is slightly elevated or at least not lower than the surrounding land.
Slight slope. Ideal in-ground gardens have an almost undetectable slope. This means the land will drain well, but its gentle angle will also prevent nutritious topsoil and protective mulch from washing away during heavy rainfalls.
Away from trees. Trees inhibit growth in two ways. First, roots that extend under a garden steal water and nutrients. Second, trees shade the garden, which is not ideal for plants that need full sun.

Resources

Find your average frost date

The Old Farmer’s Almanac, https://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates

Find your local cooperative extension service by zip code

Gardening Know How, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/extension-search

Find soil-testing labs by state

Gardening Products Review, https://gardeningproductsreview.com/state-by-state-list-soil-testing-labscooperative-extension-offices

Garden tools

Gardener’s Supply Company, https://www.gardeners.com

Seed and plant suppliers

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, https://www.rareseeds.com

Seed Savers Exchange, https://www.seedsavers.org

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, https://southernexposure.com

Territorial Seed Company, https://territorialseed.com

References

Bradley, Fern Marshall, Barbara W. Ellis, and Deborah Martin. The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control. New York: Rodale, Inc., 2009.

Bradley, Fern Marshall, Barbara W. Ellis, and Ellen Phillips. Rodale’s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening. New York: Rodale, Inc., 2009.

Bradley, Fern Marshall, and Jane Courtier. Vegetable Gardening. White Plains, NY: Toucan Books, 2006.

Cool Springs Press. Gardening Complete. Minneapolis: Cool Springs Press, 2018.

Damrosch, Barbara. The Garden Primer . New York: Workman Publishing, Inc., 2008.

Harrington, J. F. “Soil Temperature Conditions for Vegetable Seed Germination.” University of California at Davis. Accessed October 18, 2019.

https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/12281/soiltemps.pdf .

McCrate, Colin, and Brad Halm. High-Yield Vegetable Gardening . North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2015.

Reich, Lee. Weedless Gardening . New York: Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 2001.

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (blog). “The Major Plant Families in a Vegetable Garden.” Accessed October 22, 2019. http://www.southernexposure.com/the-major-plant-families-in-a-vegetable-garden-ezp-190.html .