Best Tips for the New Gardener

Whitney Laritson | February 14, 2026

No doubt about it, gardening is hot. People are discovering again why gardening is so gratifying. There is no denying the workplace is a busy and competitive environment, so it is nice to change gears when you get home. Many are re-discovering that gardening is extremely therapeutic - you can get outside, put your phone on the counter, check on your plants, and maybe give them a drink.

If you have never gardened before, watch out … you just might catch the bug.

A successful garden does not have to be a huge, rectangular plot of vegetables way out in the back corner of your yard. Today’s gardens are in pots, raised beds, mixed in with annuals, perennials and even within your landscape. Plants in an “edible landscape” - why not?

Start By Planning and Observing
Pick the Plants You’d Like to Grow
Plant What You Love

Start By Planning and Observing

Before starting a garden, pay attention how much sun exposure there is in the area where you would like to grow flowers, herbs, or vegetables. The amount of sun will dictate the plants that can be grown successfully. Start small and keep it simple.

Do you cook? Start with a simple herb pot on your patio or outside the front or back door of your home or apartment. Include Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, and Parsley, which are all sun-loving plants.

If you have a bigger pot, add a sun-loving Begonia or some Nasturtiums for some color. Gardening tip? Mulch a container plant to help to maintain better moisture.

If you start with a container garden, make sure you pick a large, wide pot. The bigger volume of soil will prevent your young plants from drying out too frequently, and allow them to get larger.

Pick the Plants You’d Like to Grow

Maybe you are thinking about growing a few items to use other than herbs. Tomato plants love full sun and can easily be incorporated into an existing shrub border or perennial garden. Plant and stake the tomato plants or grow them on towers in the background of your favorite flowering plants. Tomato plants can be included in most locations with sun, but should only be planted in the same spot every third year or so.

The key is to plant only what you have time to care for. Maybe it is easier to just buy a few cucumbers or squash from your local farmers market and not waste a lot of space in your yard on items that you don’t use.

Utilize vertical space for things that you can. Plant pole beans on a tower or homemade tripod. Pole beans produce beans for an extended time.

Raised beds offer a great way to add compost and other organic matter, increase drainage and can be placed in sunny areas. You will be shocked as to how much you can grow utilizing all the space. Plant radishes, lettuces and greens, and some green onions for an early crop. Then when harvested, plant some beans or eggplant or other warm season crops where you harvested early crops.

Some vegetables like lettuces, Swiss chard, kale, and parsley are all wildly ornamental and perfect for adding to annual and perennial gardens. How about adding rhubarb to your perennial border? Beautiful.

Have you seen Asparagus plants after you are done harvesting? They make an incredibly soft and mellow green backdrop to your favorite perennials or annual flowers.

Do you have the bug yet? Who says that you need to have all that grass to mow? Expand your gardening skills and add a few more raised beds for flowers and food crops. Plant bigger crops in the ground to allow them to be most productive.

Plant What You Love

Many think having a garden means simply growing your own veggies. But if what brings you joy are flowering bushes and perennials, then what are you waiting for? Add hydrangeas as a hedge by the fence, a japanese maple as the centerpiece of a meditation garden, or forthysia to the front foundation planting to add an early spring pop of color!

Pollinators will flock if you decide to garden with them in mind. Add coneflowers, asters, salvia, and a viburnum to enjoy their fluttering presence each summer.

Or, maybe you do want the thrill of eating what your grow, but having just a vegetable garden doesn’t quite scratch that itch. Try fruit instead! Sure, there might not be enough room for an entire apple orchard but you can plant blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, or raspberries in smaller spaces quite easily.

For those of you who are brave, consider adding a citrus tree like Dwarf Meyer Lemon or Finger Lime to a pot you can keep on the patio during the summer and bring in during the colder winter months. There’s nothing like the taste of a fresh, homegrown, lemon.

All plants love great soil. Rich, well-drained soils mixed with compost and other organic materials will make your life a lot easier. Add water regularly as needed to prevent stress on your plants. A 3-4 inch layer of mulch over the roots is appreciated by all plants, whether in pots or in the ground.

Gardening is for everyone. Start small. Keep it simple. Even if you only grow a tray of microgreens, an herb pot on the patio, or an entire edible landscape … gardening is healthy and a great lifetime sport.

Happy Planting!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you start a kitchen garden from scratch?

Starting a kitchen garden from scratch is easier than you think when you focus on a few key steps. Begin by observing your outdoor space for sun exposure, as most edible plants like herbs, tomatoes, and cucumbers require full sun, typically six or more hours per day. Choose a large, wide container or a small raised bed to start, and plant versatile, easy-to-grow herbs like Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, and Parsley before expanding to vegetables. Start small, keep it manageable, and only plant what you have time to care for and will actually use in the kitchen.

Can you use straight compost as a planting medium for vegetables?

Using straight compost as a planting medium is not recommended, as it is too rich and dense on its own and can actually inhibit root development and drainage. The ideal vegetable growing mix is one part compost blended with one part quality topsoil and one part perlite or coarse sand to ensure proper aeration and moisture balance. This is especially important in raised beds and containers, where soil structure has a direct impact on plant health. Start with a high-quality blended mix and top dress with a one to two inch layer of compost each season to keep your soil productive.

How do you grow a productive garden in a small or limited space?

Growing a productive garden in a small space starts with choosing the right containers and going vertical wherever possible. Use large, wide pots with plenty of soil volume to prevent plants from drying out too quickly, and grow vining crops like pole beans on towers or tripods to maximize your yield per square foot. Herbs like Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, and Parsley thrive together in a single sunny container, making them a perfect starting point for a patio or doorstep garden. Focus on growing only what you will actually use and have time to tend, and supplement the rest with fresh finds from your local farmers market.

How do you plant onions at home for the first time?

Onions are best planted in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or in fall in zones 7 and warmer. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil and plant onion sets or transplants about 1 inch deep and 4 to 6 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. Work in a balanced fertilizer before planting and keep the bed consistently watered throughout the growing season. Visit naturehills.com to explore onion varieties suited to your region and get started with the right selection for your garden.

How do you start a fruit garden in your backyard?

Starting a fruit garden begins with observing how much direct sunlight your backyard receives, as most fruit-bearing plants require at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun daily. Choose fruits you actually enjoy eating and will have time to maintain, whether that is strawberries in containers, blueberries in a shrub border, or dwarf fruit trees suited to your USDA hardiness zone. Start small with one or two varieties, amend your soil with compost before planting, and visit naturehills.com to find fruit plants that are proven performers in your specific region.

How do beginner gardeners learn the basics of plant care and growth?

Beginner gardeners learn best by starting small and observing their growing conditions carefully, particularly how many hours of direct sunlight a potential garden area receives throughout the day. A simple herb container on a patio is an ideal first project, combining easy-to-grow sun-lovers like Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, and Parsley in one large, wide pot that holds enough soil volume to prevent frequent drying out. Choose a container large enough to give roots room to expand, apply a layer of mulch on top to retain moisture, and add a flowering plant like Nasturtiums to keep the experience enjoyable while you build confidence.

What supplies and materials do you need to start a garden as a beginner?

Starting a garden as a beginner requires just a few core supplies: a large, wide container (the bigger the better to retain moisture), quality potting soil, mulch to help maintain moisture levels, and a simple selection of plants suited to your sun exposure. For a starter herb garden, pick up transplants of Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, and Parsley, all of which thrive in full sun and work beautifully together in a single pot. Keep your tool kit simple with a hand trowel, watering can or hose, and plant stakes if you plan to grow tomatoes or pole beans. Begin with just one container or a small raised bed, observe how much sun your space receives throughout the day, and build from there as your confidence grows.

Which vegetables grow best in containers and pots?

Tomatoes, herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, and parsley, and climbing vegetables like pole beans all perform well in containers when given adequate sun. The key to success is choosing a large, wide pot with generous soil volume, which helps prevent your plants from drying out too quickly and gives roots room to develop. Mulching the surface of your container soil is a smart way to retain moisture between waterings. Start with a simple herb pot in a sunny spot near your door, then expand to larger containers for tomatoes or pole beans on a vertical tower as your confidence grows.

What are the easiest vegetables for a beginner gardener to grow successfully?

Tomatoes, pole beans, and herbs like basil, parsley, rosemary, and thyme are among the most rewarding and manageable choices for new gardeners. Tomatoes thrive in full sun and can be staked or grown on towers right alongside your existing shrubs or perennials, while pole beans produce a long, extended harvest when grown vertically on a simple tripod or tower. Start small by planting only what you have time to care for, and consider picking up items like cucumbers or squash from a local farmers market until you build your confidence. Choose one or two of these beginner-friendly crops, plant them in a large container or a small raised bed with plenty of sun, and focus on consistent watering and mulching to set yourself up for success.

When should new gardeners start seeds indoors before the growing season?

Most vegetables and flowers benefit from being started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last expected frost date, though some plants like tomatoes and peppers need 8 to 10 weeks of lead time. Your local frost dates vary significantly depending on your USDA Hardiness Zone, so check your zone at the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map before planning your seed-starting calendar. Begin with easy-to-start seeds like tomatoes, basil, and marigolds under a grow light or in a sunny south-facing window, and transplant seedlings outdoors only after nighttime temperatures stay consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.