Starting Your Garden: How Do I Begin?

I recommend starting right away with your garden bed rather than worrying about growing indoors. By this time in April, just get some plants from a nursery for immediate results. It can be tricky to grow from seeds indoors unless you have the right equipment, and starting outside with prepared soil can give you quicker satisfaction. If you enjoy it, you can think about indoor growing next year! Definitely check out some beginner gardening videos on YouTube for more tips—they're super helpful!

Definitely follow the advice about checking out your county's cooperative extension. They usually have loads of helpful resources and can guide you based on your local growing conditions. Also, don't forget to pay attention to local critters! You might need to protect your plants from rabbits or squirrels that could munch on your new garden.

It's awesome that you're looking to start gardening! First, I'd suggest picking out specific fruits or veggies you'd like to grow, but be careful with seeds from grocery store fruits. They're often hybrids and might not grow true to form. Choose a sunny spot in your yard, cover the grass with something like cardboard to kill it, and when it's dead, turn the soil over. Mix in some compost if you can. For your first year, stick to a few food items you enjoy—beans, cucumbers, radishes, and lettuce are good ones to sow directly from seeds. If you’re interested in more delicate plants like tomatoes or peppers, it’s easier to start with young plants from a local greenhouse. Remember, you can find affordable seeds at places like dollar stores—they can work just as well!