I’ve helped hundreds of people start their first garden. Most of them almost gave up before they even bought their first seed packet.
You’re probably drowning in advice right now. One video says to start with tomatoes. Another swears you need raised beds. Someone else is telling you about soil pH and you’re wondering if you need a chemistry degree just to grow lettuce.
Here’s the truth: starting a garden isn’t complicated. But the internet makes it feel that way.
I created this homemendous garden infoguide by homehearted because I was tired of watching people quit before they started. You don’t need perfect conditions or expensive equipment. You need a clear plan that actually works.
This guide breaks down everything into four simple stages. I’ve tested these methods in my own garden here in Oakland and watched them work for complete beginners across the country.
You’ll learn exactly where to start, what to plant first, and how to keep things alive without spending hours every day worrying about it.
No overwhelming plant lists. No confusing terminology. Just the basics that actually matter.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know enough to get your hands dirty with confidence. That’s all you need to begin.
Step 1: Planning Your Garden – Setting the Stage for Success
You can’t just throw seeds in the dirt and hope for the best.
I mean, you can. But you’ll probably end up disappointed.
Most gardening guides skip the planning part or make it sound way more complicated than it needs to be. They throw around terms like “hardiness zones” and “soil composition” before you’ve even figured out where to put your first tomato plant.
Let me show you what actually matters.
Find Your Sunniest Spot
Your plants need light. Not just any light. Direct sunlight for 6 to 8 hours a day.
Here’s what I do. Pick a day when you’re home and check your yard every two hours. Note which spots get consistent sun from morning through afternoon. That’s your sweet spot.
Balconies and patios work too. Just make sure they’re not blocked by buildings or trees during peak sun hours (usually 10am to 4pm).
Start With Plants That Won’t Quit On You
Some people say you should grow what you love to eat. Sure. But if you’re new to this, start with plants that actually want to survive.
Lettuce grows fast and doesn’t need much fussing. Radishes are ready in about a month. Zucchini produces like crazy (maybe too much, but that’s a good problem). Basil practically grows itself if you give it sun and water.
Marigolds are great if you want flowers without the drama.
The homemendous garden infoguide by homehearted breaks down more options, but my advice? Pick two or three plants max for your first season. Get good at those before you expand.
Choose Your Garden Type
Most guides treat all gardens the same. They don’t.
In-ground beds are cheap but you’re stuck with whatever soil you have. Raised beds cost more upfront but you control the soil quality and they’re easier on your back. Container gardening works anywhere and you can move things around.
I started with containers on my patio in Oakland. No yard required.
If you rent or might move soon, containers make sense. If you own your place and have decent soil, in-ground beds save money. If you want the best of both and don’t mind spending a bit more, raised beds are worth it.
Pick based on how to set up my garden homemendous your actual situation, not some ideal version of what a garden should look like.
Step 2: Preparing the Foundation – Creating Rich, Healthy Soil
Your soil is basically your garden’s stomach.
That’s not just some cutesy comparison. It’s how I think about it every time I prep a new bed. If the soil can’t break down nutrients and feed them to your plants, nothing else you do matters.
I learned this the hard way back in 2017 when I tried to grow tomatoes in my backyard clay. Spent weeks watering and fussing over those plants. They barely grew six inches.
The problem wasn’t the plants. It was the soil.
Why Your Native Soil Needs Help
Most yard soil isn’t ready for planting. It’s either too dense (clay that holds water like a sponge) or too loose (sand that drains before plants can drink).
Here’s what actually works.
Start by working in compost. Real compost, not the bagged stuff that’s mostly wood chips. You want material that’s broken down and dark. Mix it into your top 6 to 8 inches of soil.
For clay soil, add some coarse sand or perlite along with that compost. This breaks up the density and lets roots breathe.
For sandy soil, focus on compost and peat moss. These hold moisture longer so your plants don’t dry out between waterings.
I usually go with a 3-inch layer of compost worked into the existing soil. After three months of letting that settle, the difference is obvious. The soil crumbles in your hand instead of clumping.
The Container Rule You Can’t Skip
Now, if you’re working with pots or raised beds, forget everything I just said about native soil.
You can’t just scoop dirt from your yard into a container. It compacts, drains poorly, and your plants will struggle.
The homemendous garden infoguide by homehearted breaks down the mix I use:
• One-third compost (for nutrients)
• One-third peat moss or coco coir (for moisture retention)
• One-third perlite or vermiculite (for drainage)
This gives you the texture and nutrition containers need. The mix stays loose enough for roots to spread but holds enough water that you’re not watering twice a day.
I’ve used this ratio for years across different homemendous projects. It works for vegetables, flowers, herbs. Pretty much anything you’re growing above ground level.
Step 3: Planting Day – From Seeds and Seedlings to a Living Garden
Here’s where most gardening advice gets it backwards.
Everyone tells you to buy starts for everything. Head to the nursery, grab those little transplants, and you’re good to go. It’s easier, they say. Less risk.
I disagree.
You’re wasting money and missing out on better plants.
Seeds beat starts for most vegetables. There, I said it. The garden industry wants you buying those $4 transplants because that’s where the profit is. But beans, squash, cucumbers, and even lettuce? They grow so fast from seed that buying starts makes zero sense.
(Plus, those store-bought starts are often root-bound and stressed before you even get them home.)
Now, tomatoes and peppers are different. They need a long growing season, so starts give you a head start. But that’s about it.
Reading Your Seed Packet Like You Mean It
The spacing instructions on seed packets aren’t suggestions. They’re requirements.
I see people cramming plants together all the time because they want a full-looking garden right away. Then they wonder why everything gets powdery mildew by July.
Plants need air circulation. They need sunlight hitting their leaves. Pack them too tight and you’ve created a disease factory.
When that packet says 12 inches apart, it means 12 inches. Not 8. Not “close enough.”
The Right Way to Plant Anything
For seeds: Make a hole twice as deep as the seed is wide. Drop it in. Cover it. Pat the soil down gently.
For starts: Dig a hole slightly deeper than the root ball. Rough up the roots if they’re circling (yes, really). Set it in, backfill, and firm the soil around it.
Then comes the part nobody talks about enough.
Water it thoroughly. Not a sprinkle. A real drink. You’re trying to eliminate air pockets around the roots and make sure the soil settles completely. The homemendous garden infoguide by homemendous calls this the “settling soak” and it’s the difference between plants that take off and plants that sulk for weeks.
Your garden is alive now. Time to keep it that way.
Step 4: Ongoing Care – The Simple Habits of a Happy Gardener
Most people water their gardens like they’re following a prison schedule.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Rain or shine. Doesn’t matter if the soil is soaked or bone dry.
I used to do the same thing until I realized my tomatoes were drowning while my neighbor’s thrived on half the water.
Here’s what changed everything for me.
Smart Watering Strategies
Think of watering like feeding a teenager. One big meal is better than constant snacking.
Deep and infrequent watering forces roots to grow down instead of staying shallow. I water until the soil is wet about six inches down, then I wait. Sometimes that’s three days. Sometimes it’s a week.
Want to know if your garden actually needs water? Stick your finger in the soil. If it’s dry past your first knuckle, water. If it’s still moist, wait.
And water in the morning. Early watering gives plants time to drink before the sun shows up (plus you’re not losing half of it to evaporation).
Now let’s talk about food.
Plants are like us. They need regular meals to perform well. Fertilizer is just plant food, and you’ve got two main options.
Granular fertilizer is like slow-release vitamins. You sprinkle it around your plants and it feeds them for weeks. Liquid fertilizer works fast but you need to apply it more often, kind of like drinking coffee for a quick boost.
For vegetables, I feed every two to three weeks during growing season. Flowers usually need less, maybe once a month. The homemendous garden infoguide by homehearted breaks this down by plant type if you want specifics.
But here’s the thing about a healthy garden.
Weeds and pests will show up. They always do. Some gardeners say you need a chemical arsenal to deal with them. They think organic methods are too slow or don’t work.
I disagree.
Mulch is your first defense against weeds. Spread two to three inches around your plants and you’ll cut weeding time by half. It’s like putting a blanket over the soil that weeds can’t push through.
For pests, I start simple. Aphids? Spray them off with water. Slugs? Set out beer traps (they’re attracted to it and drown). Caterpillars? Pick them off by hand or use neem oil.
Most pest problems solve themselves if you catch them early. Walk through your garden every few days. Look under leaves. Check for holes or discoloration.
You don’t need a chemistry degree. You just need to pay attention.
And if you’re working on a terrace upgrade homemendous style, these same principles apply in containers and raised beds.
The habits that keep a garden happy are simpler than you think.
Cultivating Your Green Thumb
You came here feeling overwhelmed by the idea of starting a garden.
Now you have a complete four-step framework that makes it simple.
Good planning sets you up right. Healthy soil feeds your plants. Proper planting gives them a strong start. Consistent care keeps everything growing.
These fundamentals work because they address what plants actually need. No guesswork required.
I’ve seen too many people put off gardening because it seemed complicated. It’s not. You just needed a clear path forward.
That initial confusion you felt? It’s gone now. You have an actionable plan.
Here’s what you do next: Pick one small area in your yard or even a few containers on your patio. Follow these steps. Start this weekend.
Stop dreaming about a garden and actually plant one.
The homemendous garden infoguide by homehearted gives you everything you need to turn that empty patch of dirt into something alive. You know the steps. You understand why they matter.
Your garden is waiting. Go start it.
