I started my first garden thinking I needed perfect soil, expensive tools, and some kind of green thumb gene.
I was wrong about all of it.
You’re probably staring at your yard or balcony wondering where to even begin. Maybe you’ve read conflicting advice online. Maybe you killed your last plant and you’re worried about wasting money on another failed attempt.
Here’s the truth: starting a garden isn’t complicated. It just feels that way because everyone makes it sound harder than it is.
I’ve spent years getting my hands dirty and figuring out what actually works. Not the fancy techniques you see on Instagram. The real basics that turn bare ground into something that produces food or flowers.
This garden infoguide homemendous walks you through exactly where to start. I’ll show you how to prep your first patch of soil, what to plant, and how to keep things alive without obsessing over every leaf.
No overwhelming plant lists. No confusing terminology. Just the core steps that work whether you’re planting in a backyard or a few containers on your porch.
You’ll learn what beginners actually need to know, not what gardening experts think you should know.
By the end, you’ll have a clear plan. And you’ll understand why starting small is the smartest move you can make.
Step 1: Planning Your Perfect Garden Space
Last spring, I spent three weeks nursing tomato plants that never produced a single fruit.
The problem? I’d planted them in a spot that got maybe four hours of sun. I thought partial shade would be fine because the seed packet said “full sun to partial shade.”
Turns out, tomatoes are liars when it comes to shade tolerance.
Now, some gardeners will tell you that planning is overrated. Just throw some seeds in the ground and see what happens. They say all this measuring and tracking is unnecessary fuss that takes the joy out of gardening.
I used to think that way too.
But here’s what changed my mind. Every hour you spend planning saves you weeks of frustration later. And more importantly, it saves you from watching plants slowly die because you put them in the wrong spot.
The Golden Rule: Track Your Sunlight
Before you buy a single seed, you need to know where the sun actually hits your yard.
I’m not talking about a quick glance out the window. I mean real tracking.
Pick a day when you’re home. Check your potential garden spots at 9 AM, noon, 3 PM, and 6 PM. Take notes or photos. You’re looking for areas that get six to eight hours of direct sunlight.
(Direct means the sun is hitting the ground, not filtering through tree leaves.)
Most vegetables need that full sun. Herbs can tolerate a bit less. Lettuce and leafy greens? They’ll actually thank you for some afternoon shade.
Containers, Raised Beds, or In-Ground?
This choice matters more than most people realize.
Containers give you control. You can move them if your sunlight tracking was off. They’re perfect for renters or anyone with terrible soil. The downside? They dry out fast and you’re limited on space.
Raised beds are what I use now at Homemendous. They solve drainage issues and save your back. You fill them with good soil from the start. But they cost money upfront and they’re permanent.
In-ground gardens are free (sort of). You work with what you have. Great if your soil is decent. Not so great if you’re dealing with clay or sand or a back that doesn’t love bending over for an hour.
I started with containers on my patio. Moved to raised beds when I got serious. Never regretted it.
Your First Plants Should Be Easy Wins
Here’s where most beginners go wrong.
They pick plants that sound exciting. Heirloom tomatoes. Exotic peppers. Finicky herbs that need perfect conditions.
Then everything dies and they give up.
Start with plants that want to grow. Cherry tomatoes (in full sun, remember). Zucchini that’ll produce more than you can eat. Basil that practically grows itself. Marigolds that bloom no matter what you do to them.
The garden infoguide homemendous approach is simple. Build confidence first. Get fancy later.
I grew radishes my first season because they’re ready in 30 days. That quick win kept me going when my peppers were struggling.
Pick three to five plants maximum for your first year. Give them the space and attention they need. Learn what works in your specific yard.
You can expand next season.
Step 2: The Foundation of Life – Preparing Your Soil
I killed my first tomato plant because I thought dirt was just dirt.
Planted it straight into the ground behind my Oakland apartment. Watered it every day. Gave it plenty of sun. Three weeks later, it looked worse than when I bought it.
Turns out soil isn’t just something that holds your plants upright.
It’s a living system. Billions of microorganisms breaking down organic matter. Fungi creating networks that help roots absorb nutrients. Worms aerating and fertilizing as they move through.
When your soil is healthy, your plants practically grow themselves. When it’s not, you’re fighting an uphill battle no matter what you do.
Here’s the good news. You don’t need a lab test to figure out what you’re working with.
The squeeze test takes about 30 seconds. Grab a handful of moist soil (not soaking wet, just damp). Squeeze it tight in your fist. Open your hand.
If it falls apart immediately, you’ve got sandy soil. If it holds its shape and feels slick, that’s clay. If it holds together but crumbles when you poke it, congratulations. You’ve got loam, which is what most plants want.
Most of us don’t have perfect loam sitting in our yards.
That’s where compost comes in. I’m talking about the single best thing you can do for any soil type. Sandy soil that drains too fast? Compost helps it hold water. Clay soil that stays soggy? Compost improves drainage.
You can grab a few bags from any garden infoguide homemendous or make your own. Work it into the top six inches of soil before you plant anything.
That’s it. No fancy amendments or expensive treatments needed (at least not yet).
Step 3: Planting with Confidence
I killed my first tomato plant within a week.
Not because I didn’t care. I followed what I thought were the rules. I watered it every day and gave it plenty of sun.
Turns out I drowned it.
The problem wasn’t effort. It was that I skipped the basics and jumped straight to hoping things would work out. Most new gardeners do the same thing.
Seeds vs. Seedlings: Start Easy
Here’s what nobody tells you upfront.
Starting from seeds sounds romantic. You picture yourself nurturing tiny sprouts into full plants. But seeds are finicky. They need specific temperatures, consistent moisture, and patience most of us don’t have when we’re just starting out.
I recommend seedlings from your local nursery. Yes, some gardeners will say you’re taking shortcuts. That you’re not a “real” gardener if you don’t start from seed.
But you know what? Those same people have years of experience and probably a greenhouse. You’re just trying to grow some basil without killing it.
Seedlings give you a head start. They’re already past the fragile stage where one missed watering can end everything.
Reading the plant tag matters more than you think. That little plastic stick isn’t just decoration. It tells you exactly how deep to plant and how much space each plant needs.
I ignored spacing on my first terrace upgrade homemendous project. Crammed everything together because it looked fuller. Three weeks later, my plants were competing for light and nutrients. Half of them died.
Space them out. Even if it looks sparse at first.
That First Watering Changes Everything
Right after you plant, water deeply. Not a quick sprinkle. A real soaking that reaches the roots.
This is where I messed up with that tomato. I watered the surface every day but never gave the roots what they needed. Then I overcompensated and turned the soil into a swamp.
Water until you see it start to pool slightly, then stop. Check the garden infoguide homemendous for specific plant needs, but this general rule works for most seedlings.
Your plants are stressed from being moved. That first watering helps them recover and tells the roots to start spreading into their new home.
Step 4: The Essentials of Garden Care & Maintenance
Most gardening advice makes this way too complicated.
You don’t need a PhD in botany to keep your plants alive. You just need to understand three things: water, food, and protection.
Let me be honest with you. I’ve killed more plants than I care to admit by overthinking this stuff. I used to water on a schedule because that’s what everyone said to do. Mondays and Thursdays, like clockwork.
Half my plants drowned. The other half dried out.
Here’s what actually works.
Watering Wisely
Forget the schedule. Your plants don’t care what day it is.
Stick your finger two inches into the soil. If it feels dry, water. If it’s damp, wait. That’s it. That’s the whole system.
When you do water, water deeply. I mean really soak the soil until water runs out the bottom. This forces roots to grow down instead of staying shallow and weak.
Shallow watering creates weak plants. I see this all the time in gardens that look great for a month and then collapse.
A Simple Feeding Strategy
Plants need food. Not constantly, but regularly.
I use an all-purpose organic fertilizer once a month during the growing season. Spring through early fall for most of us.
Some people swear by complex feeding schedules with different formulas for different growth stages. That’s fine if you want to do that. But for beginners? It’s overkill.
Pick one good organic fertilizer. Follow the package directions. Done.
(The same approach I use when figuring out how to decorate my home homemendous style. Keep it simple first, then get fancy later if you want.)
Weed and Pest Management for Beginners
Here’s my take: prevention beats reaction every time.
Lay down two to three inches of mulch around your plants. Wood chips, straw, shredded leaves. Whatever you can get cheaply.
This stops about 90% of weeds before they start. The few that do pop up? Pull them when they’re small.
For pests, I walk through my garden infoguide homemendous every few days and just look. Check under leaves. Look for chewed edges or weird spots.
Catch problems early and you can usually just pick off the bugs by hand or spray them with soapy water. Wait too long and you’ll need the heavy stuff.
Most pest problems come from stressed plants anyway. Water right, feed occasionally, and your plants will be strong enough to handle a few nibbles.
From Novice to Nurturer
You now have what you need to turn that empty patch of dirt into something alive.
The hardest part was always the fear of starting. Not knowing where to begin or what might go wrong. But that fear shrinks once you take the first step.
Here’s why this works: You’re building on the basics. Sun, soil, and water done right create a garden that can handle your learning curve. Plants are more forgiving than you think when the fundamentals are solid.
I’ve seen too many people wait for the perfect moment to start gardening. That moment doesn’t exist.
This weekend, pick one or two plants. Get them in the ground. Water them in.
You’ll feel the shift when you see that first bit of growth. It’s different than reading about it or planning it out.
The garden infoguide homemendous gives you the framework. Your hands in the soil give you the experience.
Start small and watch what happens. That’s how every good gardener began.
