How to Plant a Garden: A Comprehensive Guide

Co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: May 13, 2024 Fact Checked

So you've decided to grow a garden? It's a lot easier than you might think! The first step is to figure out what you want to grow, then provide the right accommodations for your plants—think soil, sunlight, and water. In this article, we'll walk you through each gardening step, so you know exactly how to plant a garden.

1

Pick a sunny location with well-drained soil.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e8\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e8\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
Choose an area that gets around 8 hours of direct sunlight. Most vegetables need a lot of sunlight to put on healthy growth, especially sun-loving plants like tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers. You'll probably want to place your garden on the south-facing side of your yard, so it gets the most light. Choose a location that doesn't have puddles after heavy rain. ^{[1]
X
Research source}
- If the soil in your garden doesn't drain well, water will puddle at the roots and can cause root rot.
- To make it easier to garden, pick a location that's level and doesn't have trees or shrubs that you'd have to work around.
- Some vegetables like radishes, turnips, and beets can do fine with closer to 6 hours of sunlight, but the more sunlight the better!

2

Map out a space for your garden.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/db\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/db\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
Start with a small garden if you're a beginner. Think of planting a 10 ft × 10 ft (3.0 m × 3.0 m) patch. You can choose up to 5 vegetables and grow up to 5 of each plant in a space this size. Plus, working in a small garden will help you get the hang of designing, planting, watering, and maintaining the space. ^{[2]
X
Research source}
- If you don't have space for an in-ground garden, don't give up! You could plant herbs in containers or set up raised beds for vegetables if you've got patio space.
- If you have some gardening experience and want a larger garden, aim for a garden that's 300 to 500 square feet (28 to 46 m ² ).

3

Go with vegetables that thrive in your climate.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
Choose veggies or herbs that you enjoy eating, too. When you get seeds or plant starts, read the labels and choose varieties that work in your particular growing region. This way, you know the plants can thrive in your area's temperatures. If you're new to gardening, pick plants that are easy for beginners to grow like lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Some plants like spinach and radishes also grow quickly, so they're great options for containers. ^{[3]
X
Research source}
- If you're still unsure about what to grow, think about the produce that you buy every week. If you go through a lot of lettuce or zucchini, give them a try!
- Practice companion planting to keep pests away—grow fragrant marigolds throughout your garden, especially near cabbages or melons to keep beetles away.

4

Plan your garden layout.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fe\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fe\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
Sketch out rows and decide which vegetables to plant in each. This helps you keep track of what you're growing and you can control how much space to leave between the rows—read the plant labels for the recommended amount. For instance, you might plant cool-season crops in rows and designate another part of your garden for warm-season crops. ^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Use recommended spacing as a guide for your garden layout. For example, plants like okra need 3 feet (0.91 m) of space between their rows. You could alternate rows of onions between the okra since onions only need a minimum of 1 foot (0.30 m) of space between them.

5

Gather your basic garden supplies.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
In addition to seeds or starts, collect gardening tools. If you're planting a small garden, you can get away with simple hand tools like a garden trowel for digging, a rake for leveling the soil, shovel , and a watering can . Here are a few other things to pick up from your local nursery, garden center, or online: ^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Gardening gloves to protect your hands from calluses or splinters.
- Fertilizer for improving the soil or compost to enrich the soil.
- A sprinkler for hands-off watering or a hose to water larger gardens.
- A ruler to measure planting depth and space.
- A string and stakes to support tall or trailing plants like beans or cucumbers.
- Fencing supplies to keep out garden pests.
- A garden notebook to track what you planted and how it did.

6

Level the soil and add fertilizer or compost.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
Remove rocks, roots, or sticks, and add nutrients to the soil. Walk through your gardening space and pull up anything in the soil that could make it hard for plant roots to grow. Then, mix all-purpose fertilizer (like 13-13-13) or compost into the top 4 inches (10 cm) of the soil. Drag the rake across it, so the soil is level. ^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Plan on using 1 pound (450 g) of fertilizer for every 100 square feet (9.3 m ² ) of soil.
- Most vegetables will be fine if you fertilize at the start of the growing season.

7

Plant warm-season crops after the last frost.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7b\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7b\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
Grow crops that need lots of sunlight and heat if you want a summer garden. Most beginners start gardens in the spring or early summer because so many crops thrive with plenty of sunlight and warmth. These are some of the best warm season plants for beginners to try: ^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Beans, cantaloupes, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, pumpkins, southern peas, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and watermelons.

8

Plant cool-season crops in late summer.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/db\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-8-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-8-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/db\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-8-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-8-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
Keep your garden going by planting crops that you can harvest in the fall. You don't have to wait until the weather warms up—there are plenty of crops that grow well with cooler temperatures and less sunlight. If you prefer to start cool-season crops, wait until late summer and plant until the first fall frost. ^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, spinach, Swiss chard, and turnips.

9

Sow your seeds or plant your starts.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
Dig holes for your plant starts or bury seeds ¹ ⁄ ₄ to ¹ ⁄ ₂ in (0.64 to 1.27 cm) deep. Read the label for each plant start to find the recommended depth. Then, dig a hole and put the start's roots down into it. Fill the hole with soil and gently pack it down. For seeds, scatter them over the surface of your soil and cover them with the recommended amount of soil. ^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Keep in mind that seeds aren't planted very deep because they need to get sunlight as soon as they germinate.
- If you prefer to have straight rows of seeds, use your ruler to mark straight rows. Then, drag your finger lightly through the soil to make a very shallow indentation. Place your seeds in the rows and cover them with the soil.

10

Keep the soil in your garden moist.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
Water your garden whenever the top 2 inches (5.1 cm) of soil feels dry. If the seeds or plant starts dry out, they won't put on growth. Check the garden in the morning, and use a hose or a watering can to soak the soil. You may need to water more often if you live in a dry or hot climate. ^{[10]
X
Research source}
- It's best to water during the day, so water can evaporate from the leaves.

11

Pull weeds at least a few times a week.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4b\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-8-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-8-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4b\/Plant-a-Garden-Step-8-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Plant-a-Garden-Step-8-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
Use a small trowel to dig up weeds that compete with your plants. To reduce the time you spend pulling weeds, spread mulch or leafy organic material across your garden bed. The mulch smothers weeds, so they don't steal important nutrients from your vegetables. ^{[11]
X
Research source}
- If you have trouble with wildlife in your yard, put up a fence around your garden to keep pests out.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Are there any vegetables I cannot plant side by side?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Many vegetables have certain other plants with which they are incompatible as neighbors. See a list at NaturalLivingIdeas.com/incompatible-plants.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 8 Helpful 27

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Things You’ll Need

Gardening gloves
Small spade
Watering can or hose
Shovel
Rake
String and stakes, optional
Fertilizer or compost, optional
Fencing supplies, optional

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

Log in

How to Plant a Garden: A Comprehensive Guide

Steps

Pick a sunny location with well-drained soil.

Map out a space for your garden.

Go with vegetables that thrive in your climate.

Plan your garden layout.

Gather your basic garden supplies.

Level the soil and add fertilizer or compost.

Plant warm-season crops after the last frost.

Plant cool-season crops in late summer.

Sow your seeds or plant your starts.

Keep the soil in your garden moist.

Pull weeds at least a few times a week.

Community Q&A

Tips

Things You’ll Need

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Explore Categories