Most of the internet would have you believe that growing all of your own vegetables and fruits is as easy as popping some seeds in the ground and waiting. Gardening is simple, but it’s not quite that easy. 

It’s hard not to get swept up in the gardening obsession, run out to your nearest plant store, and buy ALL THE PLANTS! Mostly, that’s a good way to set yourself up for disappointment. Gardening is a learning process. Start small, and you’ll find success and confidence.  

Be Gentle: With Yourself, and Your Plants

Be gentle with yourself if you’ve already bought a bunch of plants. But be realistic, and accept that you may not be able to care for all of them properly. Losing a couple of plants does not mean you’re a gardening failure.

You’ll also need to be gentle with your plants. This means doing some research before you buy so you can set them up for success. Do a quick search to find out what your plants need to thrive. Most importantly, find out how much light each plant needs.

When you get your plants home, give them some recovery time before you stick them into new pots. Moving from the store to your home is stressful; let them sit indoors, somewhere shady, for 24 hours. 

Be Curious: Learn About Your Gardening Zone

Search “Your Town Name + USDA Gardening Zone.” The USDA zone system is based on the minimum winter temperatures in a region, so zone 1 is the coldest region, found in parts of Alaska, and zone 13 is the warmest, found in parts of Hawai’i and Puerto Rico. If you don’t live in the US, search for your country’s “plant hardiness zones” and you should find what you need.

Most plant tags will include a zone number. If the zone number on your plant tag matches the USDA gardening zone for your town, your plant may survive through next winter and come back again next spring!

Start Small & Simple: Easy Vegetables to Grow

Instead of running out and buying a whole raft of plants, pots, dirt, and fertilizer, start smaller. When we break down our goals and tasks into tiny achievable chunks, we set ourselves up for success in gardening and life. Start with just one vegetable that you want to grow.

Some of the easiest vegetables to grow are lettuces. Lettuce grows fast and is easy-care. There are many different kinds of lettuce, so pick out a couple of packets of lettuce seeds.

To grow lettuce, you need a shallow container, dirt, and lettuce seeds. The plastic lunch container is perfect. Put an inch of damp dirt in the bottom and sprinkle some lettuce seeds across the surface. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of dirt and then water them gently. Set the lid on top (don’t seal it) and place it near a window. 

Feel the soil every few days to make sure it is still moist. If it starts to feel or look dry, water. Soon you’ll have baby lettuce popping up. Once your lettuce leaves are 4-5 inches tall, you can start eating them. Snap off outside leaves near the base. If you’d like to have lettuce ready all year long, plant more seeds every two weeks. 

Other plants that are relatively simple to grow for beginners include tomatoes, strawberries, carrots, zucchini, radishes, chives, oregano, parsley, and mint. 

Plants to Avoid for Beginner Gardeners

Lots of gardening websites profess that herbs are a great place for a beginner gardener to start. Some herbs are easy to grow, but others are definitely not. Herbs like lavender, basil, and rosemary, can be difficult. 

Some of the more difficult vegetables to grow include corn, potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, and celery. Once you’ve got a few gardening successes under your belt, you’ll be able to tackle some of the more complex care requirements for these types of plants. 

Start Gardening On a Small Scale to Build Your Confidence

Whether you’ve already had some garden fails or you’re just getting started, set yourself up for success by starting small. Everyone really can garden, even those with supposed black thumbs. If you think you’ll forget to water your plants, set a reminder on your phone every other day to check if your plants need water. 

If you start small, with easy veggies like lettuce, you’ll gain confidence pretty quickly. Gardening is good for our mental health, so give yourself some gardening successes to promote happiness. Your bank account will appreciate your restraint, too.