Starting a garden from scratch with zero experience can certainly be intimidating. Many people fear they will not be able to keep their plants alive, it will be too expensive, or they simply just do not have the extra time. My goal is to break the process down with these six steps.

Look up your plant hardiness zone on USDA.gov. Knowing your zone will help you select plants that thrive in your area so you can plan then plant.

With your garden zone in mind, now think about which leafy greens, fruits, veggies, herbs, and flowers you would utilize the most or just start small and grow a few things. Consider researching which plants grow best together (read about “companion planting”) and learn which plants should be kept separate from each other as you map out your garden.

While some plants, like hydrangeas and ferns, love the shade, most plants, especially fruits/veggies, need a good amount of sunlight (typically at least 6 hours of direct sunlight). Consider where you will place your garden and if you will be planting directly in your yard or read about the benefits of raised garden beds.

Prepare your soil. You could purchase a soil pH tester to ensure your soil is best for the types of plants you wish to grow. For example, blueberries prefer acidic soil so it is best to place this plant in soil that meets its nutrient needs.

Purchase seedlings at a local plant nursery that you trust. Ensure the seedlings are organic if you desire an all organic garden. I started with seedlings instead of seeds since I was totally new to this.

Read the plant care instructions and place the plant tag in the soil next to each plant to help you identify them. Water as much as each plant needs, probably once a day, and be sure to look up harvesting instructions to know when and how to harvest each plant – they are ALL different! ENJOY!

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