So you wanna start a veggie garden do ya? I’m so excited for you! Starting a vegetable garden from seed is something that I look forward to every year, and really keeps me motivated for spring during the colder winter months. Living in Michigan, I usually start my seeds in March or early April, but depending on where you live, your seed planting time may vary. More on that later! Let’s dive into the basics of starting a veggie garden from seed.
Heads up… I’m laying out alllll the details I can think of here, but I know it’s a lot! A big part of gardening can be trial and error a few times before you figure out what works for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me on Instagram if you have specific questions or need someone else’s advice on what to do in your situation! I’m always happy to help 🙂
Before You Start
Before getting started and gathering supplies, there are a few things you’ll want to consider. What plants will you grow? Where will you grow them? We’ll dive deeper below, but one thing to remember is to always reference back to the back of the seed packet. On the backside of the seed packet, it will tell you when to plant your seeds based on where you live, whether it can be grown into a container or if it needs to be planted directly in the ground outside, and more! Here are some things you’ll want to consider that the back of the seed packet might not tell you:
Your Geographical location
Where you are in the world plays a huge role in your garden. Understanding your specific soil conditions and climate will help you determine when to plant your garden and which plants to grow. Certain plants such as tomatoes thrive in warmer climates while other plants love a cooler climate, like kale and broccoli. A simple google search will help you figure out which plants you can/cannot grow in your area.
You should also consider the amount of space you have to work with for your garden. I live in a suburb area, so I have a smaller backyard with many plants in containers and one larger raised garden bed. When I lived in an apartment, I actually filled my balcony with Rubbermaids and pots to grow things like tomatoes, strawberries, and jalapeños. If you have a larger space to work with or have space to plant directly in the ground, lucky you! Just keep space in mind while you’re choosing which plants to grow, because some plants like cucumbers, zucchini, squash, pumpkins, etc. grow on huge vines and you’ll need a lot of space. Other plants like tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries tend to be more small-space friendly. Just check the back of the seed packets before you buy, this will tell you if the plant is container-friendly!
Where you’ll grow your plants
Aside from where YOU live, your plants also need a dedicated space to live! If you plan on starting plants from seed, make sure you have a well-lit area free from drafts where your seeds can grow. In a heated sunroom or south-facing windowsill are usually safe bets, but you can also invest in a grow light if you want to really kick things up a notch or if you’re in a space that doesn’t offer much natural & direct sunlight. Keep your eye on your plants position as your sprouts begin to pop up. You may need to rotate the container each day, as sprouts tend to grow towards the sunlight and sometimes grow crooked. Personally, I have never had a problem starting my seeds next to a window with good direct sunlight and rotating the container every other day once sprouts pop up.
What plants to grow
Aside from knowing which plants can be grown in your area, it’s equally important to think about what kinds of fruits/veggies you typically consume yourself. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wasted money & time trying to grow things that I don’t typically eat or things that aren’t suited for my location. If you’re a beginner or don’t want to spend a ton of energy on gardening, I recommend starting with tomatoes, peppers (bell peppers or spicy peppers), herbs, and strawberries.
Healthy soil, healthy plants
Remember, worms are your friends! And planting in healthy soil can make all the difference. I always start my seeds in some sort of seed starting mix and transplant them outside into my raised garden bed which has a mixture of native soil & compost. If you live somewhere that doesn’t have the most ideal soil, stick to container-friendly plants! Check on your city’s website to see if they offer free compost to residents for you to mix into containers or ground.
Pick a time, any time
Okay, not really ANY time. Choosing the right time to plant your seeds is also important. If you start your seeds indoors too early, you’ll end up running out of space and they could die from overcrowding their small containers. If you plant them too late, you may never make it to harvest. The easiest way to plan your planting time is to just take a look at the back of the seed packet. Usually, the packet will have a map of the United States and will indicate when you should plant your seeds based on what state you live in. When in doubt, always refer back to the back of the seed packet!
How many??!
I tend to over-plant every year, which I personally don’t think is a bad thing 😉 You might be wondering how many of each seed type to plant in order to get a good harvest. It varies greatly on how much space you have or how many containers you want to look at in your backyard all summer, but I will share what I do for reference! I have one large raised garden bed that is around 7ft x 3ft, where I exclusively plant my tomatoes (my favorite!). I plant 4 tomato plants in that raised bed; 2 cherry tomato plants and 2 of a larger variety, usually Beefsteak tomatoes. I also typically plant 2 jalapeño plants together in one 1’x3′ container, and 2-3 bell pepper plants, each in their own 12inch pot. I also plant herbs indoors, in 12inch long containers in my sunroom, since these don’t like extreme heat. In the past I have experimented with things like brussels sprouts, cucumbers, zucchini, onions, kale, and more! This year I’m experimenting with green beans in a container too, so I’ll let you know how that goes.
Okay, phew! The basics are covered. Now let’s get to the good stuff… planting! Once you have purchased the correct seeds for your location, amount of space, and taste buds, you’re ready to collect all the other supplies. Here’s what I recommend for a beginner or for someone looking for a simple, easy gardening approach:
- Seeds 🙂
- Seed-Starting Soil
- Seed-starting containers: you can buy reusable or disposable containers, or just save up your old plastic yogurt containers! I’m personally giving the reusable ones a try this season and I’ll keep you updated on how I like them.
- Identification markers/labels: you can use popsicle sticks or you can buy plastic markers at your garden center. You just need some way to identify which seed is which.
- Watering Can (optional)
- For Later: thnk ahead about where you’ll move your seedlings once the weather is warm outside. If you’re going the container route, I’ve found the best prices at Target; THESE pots are really sturdy, priced well, and come in many colors and sizes.
Alright Cassie, get to the planting already!
Okay, okay, let’s get planting!
- Step 1: Gather materials
- Step 2: Fill each cell of your seed-starting container (or yogurt cups) almost full with seed-starting soil.
- Step 3:Use your finger or a pencil to make a little hole in the soil of each cell. Check the back of your seeds to see how deep they need to be planted, usually around a half an inch to 1-inch deep.
- Step 4: Drop 2 seeds in each hole. It’s not uncommon for a seed to never sprout, so adding more than one ensures you have at least one seedling per soil cell.
- Step 5: Cover each set of seeds with soil
- Step 6: Gently water each cell, trying your best not to overflow the container with water.
- Step 7: Place container in your dedicated sunny seed spot!
- Step 8: Keep your soil moist; I find that I need to water seeds every 2-3 days in order to keep the soil moist. Just make sure not to overwater. If the soil is moist an inch under the surface, you’re good!
- Step 9: Keep those seedlings growing! Depending on what you’re growing, you should start to see sprouts within the first couple of weeks.
- Step 10: After several weeks, you may notice you’ve grown more seedlings than you need. Carefully cut out the weaker seedlings to allow the stronger ones to grow even stronger.
- Step 11: Transition the seedlings: Reference the back of the seed packet to know when it’s safe to move your seedlings outside. 1-2 weeks before you fully transplant your plants outside into larger containers, start bringing them outside for a couple of hours each day so they can begin to acclimate to wind & the new climate.
- Step 12: Move-out day, baby! Once it’s time to move them outdoors, get your containers (or ground) ready with moist, loose soil. For tomatoes, I always recommend planting them extra deep, right up to the first set of leaves. All the little fuzzies on the stem of the tomato plant will turn into new roots under soil, making your tomato even stronger and more established. Don’t be surprised if the plants growth seems stunted for a week or two after you move them outside. This means the growth is happening under the soil where you can’t see it, establishing new roots and preparing for big growth in deep summer!
That’s it, in a nutshell! As I mentioned, sometimes gardening can take some trial and error, but it’s so rewarding when you get to pick off those veggies & fruits you worked so hard for. When in doubt, always google any questions or problems you run into, or feel free to reach out to me via Instagram DM! I’ve linked all of my gardening supplies on my Amazon Storefront, plus more! I’ll also keep you updated with my personal gardening journey on my IG stories too. Happy gardening!