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How to start a vegetable garden in 6 steps
Choose a manageable site and format, prepare it safely, plant vegetables that fit the local season and care for the first few weeks.
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Grow
Plant something you’ll look forward to picking
Start with the sunniest place you can water. Choose vegetables and herbs that suit the season, the space and what you like to eat.
Begin with one bed or a few pots.Plant at the right time
6 min read
When should you plant vegetables?
Match the vegetable and sowing method to a nearby Extension window, then use soil and the live forecast to choose the day.
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5 min read
Hardiness zone or frost date: which do you need?
Use the USDA zone for perennial winter survival, a historical 32°F record for season planning and Weather.gov for the coming nights.
Read the guide →Match plants to sun and space
5 min read
How much sun do vegetables need?
Observe sun and shade through the day, then choose a spot for tomatoes, leafy greens or containers.
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6 min read
Best vegetables for containers: choose plants that fit your pots
Match eight recognizable vegetables to useful pot volume, depth, plant count, sun and season before buying plants.
Read the guide →Choose how to start the seed
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