Then you want to test the pH of the soil: You don’t want your soil to be too acidic or alkaline. You can get these tests from a local garden center or order them online. Then you can respond to what you find, augmenting with potting soil or fertilizer.

Choosing your crops is picking your favorite fruits and vegetables. Then you can check which of them grow best in your region and which grow best together. Herbs and some leafy greens like arugula are easy crops to start indoors, then transfer outside, which can help gardeners in colder climates. Tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots are also solid starting crops, and they all grow quickly — good for those who want quick results. Once you decide what to grow, you can order seeds online from garden center in your area.

Building a good gardening bed is the most important step in the process, and it can make your life much easier later on. If your soil is healthy and you don’t want to spend much money, you can plant your crops in the ground, surround the plot with chicken wire to keep out pests and be done. If you have the time, tools and money, though, a raised bed is the way to go.

A raised bed sits anywhere from 1 to 5 feet above the level of your yard. You fill it with soil, various fertilizers and rocks to help create the perfect conditions for your produce to take root. A raised bed also helps keep weeds and pests minimal. You can buy raised bed kits, or you can buy boards and build your own — but either way, buy wooden stakes and chicken wire to keep rabbits and other nibblers at bay.

Once your bed is ready, look at the requirements on your seed packs or online for each crop. Some only need a few inches of space, while others will take up more. Some need soil pressed over top and others germinate better in loose earth. You can even start some indoors on a south-facing windowsill before transferring them to the garden. Use a tape measure, plant accordingly and water.

Gardening needs patience. You put seeds in the ground and just have to trust that they’re germinating and growing as they should. If shoots don’t appear in the window of time, don’t worry. Sometimes, if the weather is colder than ideal, seeds will take a little longer to take hold. Give them time, water appropriately and just wait.

Once your sprouts comes out, keep them healthy. You may need to thin out sprouts that grow too close together. Replant them where they’ll have room to grow. Garden care also means using netting or vegetable cages if necessary, watering appropriately and weeding. The more you weed, the fewer weeds will grow and the healthier your veggies will be. So go out in the early morning or after rain while the soil is damp and get your hands dirty.

After a short time you should start getting returns from your garden. Keep a record of when you planted so you can monitor your veggies’ development, then harvest when they’re ripe. Some plants, like spinach, can offer multiple yields before going to seed, as long as you leave younger leaves intact. Others will give a single yield. Store seeds from the veggies you harvest, and then enjoy cooking.

Information shared from cnet