In a world that moves fast and feels increasingly digital, gardening offers something rare: a chance to slow down, take the time, and, quite literally, reap what you sow.

Today, around 55% of households in the U.S. have a garden at home—a number that surged during the pandemic and continues to climb. With the cost of groceries on the rise and the growing desire for hobbies that don’t involve a screen, it’s no surprise that people are turning to gardening.

While you don’t need much to start gardening, the learning curve is what tends to hold people back from giving it a go. But the truth is, every experienced gardener once started exactly where you are now. You just need a starting point.

Here’s how to set yourself up for success if you’re learning how to start gardening with no experience.

Setting Up Your Garden

Understand and Utilize Your Space

Someone starting a garden on their patio in New York is going to have an entirely different gardening experience than someone starting one in their backyard in Nebraska. 

The first step in getting started is learning how to work with the space you have and its surrounding environment. It will dictate what you should plant, when you should plant it, and how to maintain it.

Map Your Space and System

You can start a garden from practically anywhere. Here’s how gardening systems in different spaces can work:

• Yard: You may choose to plant directly into the ground (though soil quality can be harder to control), build raised beds for better drainage and structure, use containers for flexibility, or grow vertically with a Garden Tower.

• Patio: A patio is perfect for container gardening, raised beds, or a vertical system like a Garden Tower that maximizes small square footage.

• Balcony: Even compact balconies can support a thriving garden using vertical systems, railing planters, hanging baskets, or stacked containers.

• Indoors: No outdoor space? No problem. A Garden Tower paired with grow lights allows you to grow fresh herbs and greens year-round, right inside your home.

Observing Your Sunlight

In an ideal world, you would pick a spot to start your garden that gets at least 6+ hours of direct sunlight. In the real world, you work with what you’ve got. 

Observe how much direct sunlight your spot gets daily and choose your plants accordingly. 

• Full sun (6-8+ hours): Sun-loving plants like tomatoes, watermelon, cucumbers, peppers, etc. 

• Partial sun (3-5 hours): Root vegetables like carrots and radishes or leafy greens.

• Shade-tolerant (<3 hours): Herbs like mint, parsley, chives, and cilantro. 

Use this as a guide when choosing what to grow, how to manage watering, and how to supplement the soil with nutrients to make up for any lack of light. 

Knowing Your USDA Hardiness Zones

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines geographic areas into hardiness zones based on regional average annual minimum winter temperatures. The U.S. is divided into numbered zones (1-13), and each zone is further split into “a” and “b” categories. 

You can use the USDA’s website to search your zip code and see which hardiness zone is yours. 

From there, do a quick search to see when it’s the best time to plant for the season and which plants should grow well in your climate zone.

Start Small As You Learn

A sprawling, luscious garden is the dream, but you might need some practice before you get there. Going overboard when you’re first starting out might overwhelm you, and you may give up before you’ve really even gotten started. 

Get yourself a few simple tools—just what you need to plant, water, and harvest your garden. Gardening gloves, a trowel, and a watering can are a great starting point. 

Start with a few easy-to-maintain plants in your first season and work your way up to more as you get the hang of it.

Planting Your Garden

Use Quality Soil

If you want healthy plants, you need healthy soil. 

It’s your plant’s source of nutrients, oxygen, and water retention. Poor soil can lead to weak growth, pests, and frustration (especially for beginners).

If you’re planting in the ground, consider testing your soil first to understand its nutrient levels and drainage. Many backyard soils need compost or amendments added before they’re ready for vegetables.

If you’re using raised beds or containers, choose a high-quality organic potting mix designed for vegetables. Avoid heavy garden soil in containers, as it can compact and restrict root growth.

For Garden Tower systems, a lightweight, well-draining potting mix blended with compost works best. The goal is a nutrient-rich but airy mix that allows roots to breathe while retaining enough moisture to support steady growth. 

Choose Easy-To-Grow Plants

If you’re new to gardening, success builds confidence, so start with plants that are known to be forgiving. 

Some beginner-friendly plants include:

• Tomatoes

• Herbs like basil, parsley, mint, and chives

• Lettuce and leafy greens

• Peppers

• Peas

If starting from seed feels overwhelming, try purchasing young seedlings. They’ve already done the hardest part (germination), which can make the process feel much simpler for first-time gardeners.

Maintaining Your Garden

Build a Consistent Routine

Spending just 10-15 minutes a day caring for your garden can make a huge difference.

During that time:

• Check soil moisture

• Water if needed

• Look for early signs of pests

• Remove small weeds before they spread

Daily check-ins help you catch issues early when they’re easiest to fix.

It also helps to observe your garden at different times of the day. Notice how the sunlight shifts, how quickly soil dries out, and how plants respond to heat. Keeping a simple journal (even just a few notes in your phone) can help you track patterns and learn what works best in your space.

Find a Good Watering System

Watering is one of the most common beginner challenges—and one of the most common mistakes.

For the first week after planting, keep the top half-inch of soil consistently moist to help roots establish. After that, watering needs will depend on:

• How much direct sunlight your garden gets

• Your climate (dry vs. humid)

• The size and maturity of your plants

As a general rule, the top 1-2 inches of soil should feel damp, not muddy. Think of the texture of a wrung-out sponge. 

When you do water, water deeply. The goal is for moisture to reach about 5–6 inches below the surface so roots grow strong and downward

Manage Pests

Pests are an inescapable part of gardening, but managing them becomes much easier with some precautionary steps and a bit of trial and error. 

You can attract beneficial insects by planting herbs and flowers like dill and yarrow. You can also:

• Use physical barriers like netting if needed

• Maintain healthy soil through composting

• Practice companion planting to strengthen plant resilience.

Strong, well-nourished plants are naturally more resistant to pests.

Learn From Your Mistakes and Keep Growing

Even experienced gardeners make mistakes.

You might overwater. You might underwater. Your soil pH might be off. A pest problem might sneak up on you.

That’s normal.

A “green thumb” isn’t something you’re born with—it develops over time through practice, observation, and patience. Every mistake can teach you something valuable for the next season.

You don’t have to learn everything on your own. These resources can help you build confidence and troubleshoot problems along the way:

• Garden Tower Project Learning Center: A great starting point for beginners, especially if you’re using a Garden Tower. You’ll find step-by-step guides, seasonal planting advice, troubleshooting tips, and tutorials tailored to vertical gardening.

• YouTube: From planting seedlings to identifying pests, watching real-time demonstrations can make gardening feel much less intimidating.

• Community resources (local universities & gardening clubs): Many university extension programs offer free, region-specific gardening advice. Local clubs and nurseries can provide hands-on guidance tailored to your climate and growing conditions.

• Online communities (Reddit & Facebook groups): These platforms allow you to ask questions, share photos, and get feedback from other gardeners. They’re especially helpful when you need quick advice or reassurance that what you’re experiencing is normal.

Keep learning, keep planting, and keep growing!

You don’t need a massive backyard, perfect soil, or years of gardening knowledge to get started growing your own. You just need a little space, some sunlight, and the willingness to learn as you go. 

There will be trial and error. A plant might not thrive. You might water too much or too little. But each season will teach you something new, and each harvest, no matter how small, will build your confidence.

FAQs

Do I need a backyard to grow my own food?

No. Many vegetables and herbs grow well in containers, raised beds, or vertical systems. Even indoor gardening is possible with proper lighting.

How much space do I need to start a garden?

You can start with just a few square feet. Patios, balconies, small yards, and even indoor spaces can support a thriving garden with the right setup.

Is it better to start from seeds or seedlings?

Seedlings are often easier for beginners because they skip the germination stage. Starting from seed is rewarding, but it can require more patience and attention.

What if my plants die?

It happens—even to experienced gardeners. Gardening is a learning process, and mistakes are part of it. Each setback teaches you something that improves your next season.