How should beginners prepare their first garden?

To prepare your spring garden, if you are new to gardening, start with the easy crops. I mean crops that grow fast and forgive you for planting mistakes like lettuce and radishes. I assisted a client to harvest her first radishes in 25 days. The quick wins help build your confidence as you move on to try more complex crops. If your soil does not drain well, you may want to try raised beds. Raised beds reduce weed pressure and allow roots to breathe.

Composting alters soil structure. A client successfully grew carrots on a heavy clay lot after applying 3 inches of compost. Always test your soil before planting. Soil test kits are often under $15, and it saves time and/or energy from guessing what your soil needs. Track how many hours your plot has sunlight and keep track of it. I always mark shadows every two hours, so it is much easier to select the perfect plant spots.

Consistency trumps perfection. A client's first garden did extremely well because she tended to the plants every day to check them. She was able to see squash bugs early enough to hand-pick them and save her crop objectives. Start small - a 4x4 footbed, for example, gives you the basic concepts without being overwhelmed. Many important skills can be built upon each season.

Read the full article: Spring Garden Preparation: 10 Expert Tasks for Success