How to start a garden

For those who may have grown up with a garden, the question of how you start one may seem a bit ridiculous. "You plant one, of course." But for those city folks who have never even seen a suburban backyard garden, the question makes a little more sense.

• When should you start a garden?
• Can you just dig up your grass and start planting?
• What crops are the best?
• What kind of fertilizer should you use?
• How do you keep weeds under control?
• How do you keep it watered adequately?
• Should your garden get direct sunlight?

There is no one answer that is right for all circumstances in all climates, but this article will get you pointed in the right direction so you can have a successful garden full of great food this year.

When should you start a garden?

The best time to plant a garden varies according to what part of the country you are in and what the climate is like. The most important rule for planting a garden is not to do it until the last frost. An overnight freeze can kill young plants. In a temperate climate like Southern California, you have a lot of flexibility for when to plant your garden. Pretty much anytime will do, but certain crops need strong sun to thrive, so you'll want to take that into account.

In a climate like Southwest Idaho, a good rule of thumb is to wait until there's no more snow on the local mountains in Spring. Even then, you may get a straggling cold snap or two, and there's not much you can do about it except re-plant if it ruins your crop.

Can you just dig up your grass and start planting?

You have to have some organic matter in your soil for the garden to thrive. If you live in a warmer climate and have time to rototill your grass into the soil, that can give you a nice mix of organics with the natural soil. If you don't have the time to wait for the grass to decompose and turn to mulch (a month or two of warmer weather is ideal), then you should consider taking out your grass and rototilling organic matter into the soil to give it the nutrients it needs.

Organics can be purchased at your local home improvement warehouse store; steer manure is a common choice, but pete moss also works great. You can even use both combined, or find free or inexpensive organics from private parties on Craigslist.

What crops are the best?

What you decide to grow is going to be a very personal decision based on what you like to eat and what can grow in your area. However, here are some great choices that tend to do well in most gardens. Consult your local nursery if you have questions about specific plant choices in your climate.

• Sweet corn - Grows well in hot climates and tastes great on the grill in summer.
• Snap peas - Needs a lattice to grow on, but tastes great as a snack or in stir fry dishes.
• Tomatoes - There are many different varieties to choose from, including cherry tomatoes and large varieties. Tomatoes are great because they can be canned to use for all sorts of recipes all year long, and home grown tomatoes are almost always better tasting than store-bought tomatoes.
• Onion - Be sure to plant a lot of them, because one plant equals one onion. You might consider staggering the timing of your planting as well so you can harvest them over the course of the season.

What kind of fertilizer should you use?

Manure of any kind makes a great fertilizer, and you can buy it in bags from your local nursery. Keep in mind that many brands of steer manure also include other materials for bulk and may not be a complete set of nutrients for your plants.

It's also recommended to use a transplant solution--I've always had great success with Miracle Grow brand. Just mix up the solution in a gallon milk jug and keep it near the garden. You can use it once a week in addition to your regular watering for fast and healthy growth.

How do you keep weeds under control?

There are many techniques for weed control in a garden. The best I've found is to layer the ground with grass clippings from the lawn. Other techniques include laying down old newspaper or even black plastic. In arid climates, the black plastic also helps to keep the soil moist, but you will need to have a watering system that gets the water beneath the plastic.

Your watering system also affects your weed control (see below).

How do you keep it watered adequately?

One of the most creative ways to water a garden is to attach an above-ground system of PVC pipes to a hose or even an automatic sprinkler. Your garden can be watered automatically just by drilling holes at the locations where your plants are. This saves water and keeps weeds down, because you are not watering the entire garden, only the plants.

There are commercial soaker hoses and drip systems as well, but the PVC system is inexpensive and works beautifully.

Should your garden get direct sunlight?

Of course, this depends on whether the vegetables you are growing need direct sunlight. Raspberries, corn, tomatoes, and other crops enjoy strong, full sunlight. Other crops like blueberries are more comfortable with less sunlight. The best thing to do is read the seed or plant package to find out what the species you are planting prefers.