Beginner Gardening: 6 Steps to Starting Your Very First Vegetable Garden

The first step is to find out your planting zone.

Knowing your planting zone helps you estimate your first and last frost dates, which is crucial for determining what plants to plant and when to plant them.

For members in the US, you can visit the US Department of Agriculture's website to find your zone. If you are outside the US, you can do an internet search using your country's name and the term "planting zones" to find maps that indicate your zone.

It's recommended to plant easy plants with high yields, such as cucumbers, squash, zucchini, green beans, peas, radishes, okra, and tomatoes.

It is highly recommended to start with pre-grown transplants for ease and convenience. Starting seeds can be more complicated and requires additional equipment.

Choose an area that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight. It's also helpful to measure out the square footage and plan accordingly.

The three main methods are raised bed gardening, container gardening, and planting directly in the ground. Each method has its own pros and cons, such as cost, control over soil, and mobility.