Backyard Gardening Made Simple: A Quick How To Guide to Start

There’s nothing quite like stepping into your own backyard and harvesting ingredients for a meal. Whether it’s a handful of fresh herbs or a basket of sun-warmed tomatoes, homegrown food just tastes better. But if you’re just getting started with backyard gardening—or you’ve tried before and felt overwhelmed—you’re in the right place. Let’s talk about how to set yourself up for success this season, even if you’re juggling kids, work, and a million other things. Backyard gardening doesn't need to be complicated. Here’s 6 quick tips to get you started.

1. Start Small and Grow with Confidence

One of the biggest mistakes new gardeners make (and I am 100% guilty of this) is planting too much, too fast. Or feeling like you have to start with an acre of farmable space to be a legit gardener. Not true! A massive garden sounds dreamy in March, but by harvest time, it can feel like a full-time job and unless you have effective techniques for preserving it all, you run the risk of wasting your hard earned produce. Instead, build confidence and skills while still putting real food on the table.

Start by:

• Picking 3–5 crops your family already eats all the time. (Think lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, green beans.) If you meal-plan, check your menus and write down some of the key ingredients you use frequently. If you use a grocery store app, it’ll even tell you the products you buy most.

  
  

• Using containers, raised beds, or a few designated rows in the backyard. You don’t need crazy amounts of space. One staked or caged tomato plant in a 12” container can produce dozens, if not hundreds, of tomatoes depending on the variety. A summer of fresh lettuces and greens can be grown in just a square foot or two.

2. Choose the Right Spot

Plants need sun, good soil, and water —that’s it. Don’t overcomplicate it.

Look for:

• At least 6 hours of sun (8 is even better for fruiting crops).

• Soil that drains well (not swampy after rain).

• Easy access to water (you’ll thank yourself in July).

If you’re not sure about your soil, grab an inexpensive soil test kit or mix in a few bags of compost to give your plants a healthy start.

3. Keep It Low-Maintenance

You don’t need to spend hours weeding and watering to have a thriving garden. Who has time for that?! Try these time-savers instead:

• Mulch: A 2–3 inch layer of straw, shredded leaves, or wood chips keeps weeds down and soil moisture up.

• Soaker hoses or drip irrigation: Hook them to a timer and let your garden water itself.

• Plant in blocks, not rows, aka “square foot gardening:” Tighter spacing shades out weeds and means less maintenance. Don’t be afraid to pack the produce in there!

4. Plan for Harvest (and Meals!)

This is where many backyard gardeners get stuck: the harvest comes in all at once, and it feels like too much. The key is planning ahead; that’s why we started by surveying what you actually eat and use frequently!

So ask yourself: What will I actually cook with this?

Grow basil if you love homemade pesto. Grow zucchini if your kids love zucchini muffins. Grow cherry tomatoes if your family snacks on them like candy or you have a serious chips and salsa problem (I see you).

Your garden is a pantry. Think about it in terms of your meal plan, not just “what looks fun to grow.” As you meal-plan, check your garden for what’s ready to harvest. Have too much of something that’s ready all at once? Search for ways to preserve it through canning or freezing. Bonus points if you can use the whole plant; canned carrots and carrot top pesto? You can do that!

5. Create Your Simple Kickoff Plan

I’m a planner and any good gardener needs to be. Before you put a seed in the ground, grab a notebook and write:

• What you’re growing (it’s okay to start small with just 3–5 crops).

• Where you’ll plant them (sketch your space and how much room each crop needs).

• When they’ll go in (check your zone for frost dates and pay attention to the “days to harvest” info on your seeds).

Want help? I’ve created a First Year Backyard Garden Planner that walks you through each step in more detail so you can start with confidence and avoid overwhelm.

6. Remember: Progress Over Perfection

Your first year doesn’t need to be flawless (neither does your second, fifth, or fiftieth) — it needs to be fun and fruitful enough to make you want to keep going. Every season, you’ll learn what works for your family and your space. Replacing just one store bought piece of produce or pantry ingredient will make you feel like a tried and true homesteader and will fuel you to go bigger and better next season…trust me, I know from personal experience!

So grab your gloves, pick your favorite foods, and let’s kick off your backyard garden with confidence. This is backyard gardening made simple! Your future self (and your dinner table) will thank you.