New to Gardening? Start Here.

Growing your own vegetables can be so rewarding! Whether you want to begin with only a few containers on your patio or jump right in with a big garden, here are some basics to get you started.

What Do You Want to Grow?

Choose vegetables you like to eat! Here’s a list of that do well in our hardiness zone and are relatively easy to grow.

Tomatoes: A few of my favorites are Beef Steak and Brandywine tomatoes, which are great for salads and sandwiches. Do you want to make sauce? Choose a Roma variety. Cherry tomatoes are a great option for beginners and grow well in containers. They can produce a lot of fruit once they get going, so you may only need one plant.

Peppers: Both sweet and hot peppers. Start with sweet bell peppers or spicy jalapenos for easy-to-grow options. With your Roma tomatoes, you can make a great salsa!

Lettuce: It's a cool-season crop. Plant it in early spring or late summer for the best results. Try a mix, i.e., red and green leaf lettuce. You can also do succession planting…. Plant seeds every couple of weeks for continuous fresh lettuce through the summer.

Kale: It’s nutrient dense and versatile in the kitchen. You can use kale in smoothies, salads, soups, and stews. It grows easily in the spring and early summer.

Zucchini: It's a hardy vegetable that grows well. It's also very versatile and can be used in a variety of recipes.

Herbs: Basil, parsley, chives, and thyme are easy to grow. Dill if you want to try your hand at making fresh dill pickles.

Root Vegetables: Carrots, radishes, and beets are great choices.

Beans: Bush beans or pole beans. Plant them in late spring for a summer harvest. I love to eat green beans picked fresh from the plant!

Cucumbers: Ideal for pickling, salads or simply eating fresh.

In-Ground, Raised Bed, or Container Garden?

In-Ground Gardening

Planting directly into the ground is great if you have the space. You’re using your existing soil (which is hopefully good quality) without additional amendments, except periodically adding compost or other organic matter to improve its fertility. It can also be cost effective as no extra building materials are required.

But there are some cons to in-ground gardens. Weeds tend to be more abundant…. Not to mention pests! One ground hog can clean out a bed of lettuce in a day. Deer will munch on your greens too, so depending on where your garden is, a fence may be in order. Last year I discovered a baby bunny seeking cover in my tomato plants. He was so young and cute; I couldn’t bring myself to shoo him away. My young bean plants paid the price.

Raised Beds

A raised garden is ideal if your ground soil is full of rocks or clay or otherwise poor quality. If you don’t want to till your ground up for an in-ground garden, you can simply create a raised bed with wood (preferably 12 to 18 inches deep), layer the ground with clean cardboard to kill the grass or weeds, and fill it with soil.

Raised beds are perfect for small spaces, typically have better drainage, and prevent water runoff. Those of us that have joint and back problems can build them higher to eliminate bending and stretching to ground level.

Building raised beds, however, does require an investment. You can buy a bed pre-made or build it yourself. Plus, you’ll have to fill it with soil. Depending on the height of your raised bed, you may not be able to get equipment inside (i.e., garden tiller) , so they’re not the best choice for large gardens.

Container Gardening

Container gardens can be decorative and great for small spaces like patios and balconies. However, containers will require more frequent watering and fertilization because of the smaller volume of soil.

Know When to Plant

Understanding frost dates are important. A frost date is the average date of the last light freeze in spring or the first light freeze in fall (which can be detrimental to your plants). In Butler County, the average last frost date is May 14. This means you should wait until after this date to plant most of your garden. The first frost date typically occurs in early October 8. Learn more about frost dates at almanc.com.

Soil

Good soil is essential for a healthy garden. Most vegetables prefer well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Fortunately, the soil in Western Pennsylvania tends to be acidic. Amend the soil with organic matter (i.e., compost, well-rotted manure, mushroom manure, earthworm castings, organic peat moss, etc.) to improve fertility and structure. If the soil is too acidic, you can reduce the pH level by adding lime.

Sunlight and Location

Choose a sunny spot. Most vegetables require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Make sure your plants are properly spaced to prevent overcrowding and shading from the light.

Planting

After the last frost date, transplant seedlings (or plant your seeds) into your garden beds. Follow spacing recommendations for each vegetable type. This can be found on the identification tags of purchased plants or on the packets of your seeds.

Plan your garden layout carefully to maximize space and ensure that each plant has enough room to grow. Some vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers, need to be staked or caged to support their growth.

Watering & Maintenance

Vegetables need consistent watering, especially during hot and dry periods. Aim to water your plants deeply once or twice a week, depending on the weather. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Morning or evening watering is best; never water during the hottest part of the day.

Keep an eye out for pests and diseases that can damage your plants. Some common pests in our area include aphids, slugs, and Japanese beetles. Pull weeds regularly that compete with your plants for the soil’s nutrients.

Tools

Unless you need to dig up your in-ground garden with a shovel, you really only need one basic gardening tool: A hoe. I find this is my go-to tool for planting, weeding, and loosening the soil around my growing plants.

Finally, make sure to enjoy the fruits of your labor! Happy gardening!