Start with a dream and some small bite sized goals.
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​Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was any home made garden. Unless you have a lot of money and hired labor to help you build your garden then you will have to do what many of us do, and figure it out yourself. I'm almost 50 and have bad knees, a sore back, I'm plump, and mostly broke so if I can do it many of you can as well.  It just takes patience, a vision, and some careful planning to get the various infrastructure elements and beds built and then the variety of plants and vegetables can flourish as you learn and grow and change with each coming season.

Location, Location, Location!!

The first thing you might want to consider is WHERE you would like your garden. Depending on your property, patio, or even rooftop you will want to give it the sunniest spot possible. There are many other things you can artificially produce or compensate for but a lack of sunlight will be a big factor in the success or failure of your garden.

I live in the Southwest so sunshine is never a limited commodity here. In fact, considering the shade and heat tolerance is more of a consideration when you have as much sunlight as what comes in the Southwest.

For many gardeners they find the front yard to be the sunniest portion of their property. The new movement to make front yard vegetable gardens is catching on all over many urban areas where space is so limited. There are wonderful creative ways to make your vegetable garden pretty and suitable for a show piece in your neighborhood. Keeping the plants trimmed and clean is imperative if you are going to do a front yard garden and planning the height and spread of each plant will help to organize how your garden will look through the season. ​

Protection​

Another issue that many gardeners have to consider is protection from animals. If you have deer or other grazing creatures and farm animals you will want to anticipate the expense of a fence to protect your garden. So far, that's the most expensive part we have added to our garden but has been worth all the money and effort. I have made many uses of the chain link surrounding my garden, from vertical crops to hanging garden implements and tomato cages when the season is over.

Water and Irrigation

Water is second only to sun in the success of your garden. Learning how, when, how much water is needed is a bit like gambling and you will do well to carefully understand each plant type, your soil, and arrange your watering system to suit those specific needs. Each region is different so it's often best to find resources from your local university extension offices to see what may work best in your area.



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Planning Your Garden and Work Areas