Gardening QuickStart
Grow something you can eat or admire in a weekend — even if all you have is a windowsill.
Start small. Really small.
The most common mistake new gardeners make is starting with a full vegetable bed. Don't. Start with three containers of something that's hard to kill. Once those are thriving, expand.
The minimum you need
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Shop pots
Three 1-gallon containers with drainage holes
Terracotta, plastic, or a repurposed yogurt tub with holes drilled in the bottom.
~$10–20 -
Shop potting mix
A bag of quality potting mix
Not "garden soil" or "topsoil" — those compact in pots. You want potting mix.
~$10 -
Shop seeds
Seeds or starter plants
For your first garden: basil, cherry tomatoes, and leaf lettuce. All three are forgiving and satisfying.
~$5–15 -
Shop watering cans
A small watering can or spray bottle
Seedlings need a gentle touch. A Mason jar works in a pinch.
~$10
Your first weekend
- Find your sun. Watch a windowsill or balcony for a day. If it gets 6+ hours of direct sun, you can grow most edibles. Less than 4? Stick to leafy greens and herbs.
- Fill your containers. Potting mix to about an inch below the rim. Moisten it before planting.
- Plant. Seeds go as deep as twice their diameter. Starter plants go in at the same depth they came in.
- Water gently until it drains out the bottom. That's how you know the root ball is soaked.
- Check daily. Stick your finger in the soil — if the top inch is dry, water. If not, don't. Overwatering kills more plants than underwatering.
Where to go next
Beginner FAQ
What is the easiest thing to grow first?
Herbs like basil and mint, plus lettuce and radishes — all forgiving and fast. Radishes go from seed to harvest in about a month, which is great for momentum.
How much sun does a vegetable garden actually need?
Most fruiting vegetables (tomatoes, peppers) want six or more hours of direct sun. Leafy greens and most herbs will tolerate four. Watch your space for one sunny day and count before you plant.
Why did my seedlings die?
Nine times out of ten: overwatering. Let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings, and make sure containers can drain. Soggy roots suffocate.