After visiting a farm-to-table Airbnb in Washington, we got inspired to put together this article of fabulous ideas for growing a vegetable garden. The wonderful thing about vegetable and herb gardens is they can be grown anywhere. You can put them in containers on your front porch, patio, or balcony or plant them in your backyard.
They can be in raised beds or wooden/plastic barrels, in galvanized troughs, or a fenced-in garden to keep away the bunnies and deer. It is exciting to plant seeds in the soil and watch your vegetables grow. They taste fresh and delicious compared to buying in the grocery store, not to mention the money you save to feed your family.
You can plant vegetables in the spring and in the fall. Tomatoes, peppers, corn, and zucchini are just some of the delicious seeds to plant for the spring. Ideal crops to grow in the fall includes spinach, lettuce, Swiss chard, carrots, radishes, kale, parsnips, turnips, leeks, fennel, Chinese cabbage, and cauliflower.
If you live in a warmer winter climate, vegetables such as Swiss chard may continue to produce into the winter months. Have a look below at our collection of DIY ideas to plan your own vegetable/herb garden, to help create one that is attractive and edible.
Tell Us: Do you have a vegetable garden in your backyard and if so, what do you have planted? Please let us know in the Comments!
1. This lovely garden features cucumber and zucchini in the front right planter plant and yellow squash and onion in the back right. The borders of the beds are made from treated timber, while the walkway is a 3/8″ crushed granite with a dimensional cut Watermark buff flagstone. The pavers are 16″ x 24″ and about 2″ thick. There is a 4″ galvanized green roll top steel edger to contain the gravel. An arbor has string lights for evening ambiance in the garden. (via Watermark Landscapes)
2. Raised garden beds with stone walls is a great way to define your spaces, especially if you are planting varying vegetable seeds. (via Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design)
3. This particular garden is a “Potager Garden”, which is a traditional garden in the French style that contains fruits, berries, herbs, cutting, and a vegetable garden. To accommodate this varied garden, the size is approximately 90′ by 140′. The image above shows the vegetable portion of the garden. Radiating pathways of brick are just over 3-1/2′ wide with 6′ wide planting spaces. This gives the ability to access the garden from the walkway without stepping into the soil. The edging is made from reclaimed and over-run tumbled concrete retaining wall cap stones with a dimension of 3-1/2″ x 16″ x 12″. (via Staab & Olmsted)
4. A kitchen garden in London features an outdoor pizza oven surrounded by lush landscaping. Flowering gardens are complimented by vegetables and herbs ideal for fresh ingredients on your pizza! (via URBANSCAPING LTD)
5. In an outdoor landscape of a home in Venice California, Cor-ten planter boxes filled with vegetables runs along a bocce ball court. The dimensions are 3’x3′ x 16″ or 18″. These are custom fabricated ($200-$400) by welding the 1/4″ steel into squares — open on top and bottom. (via Huettl Landscape Architecture)
6. This vegetable garden features three cedar-raised beds and is part of an overall drought-tolerant garden. These boxes are made from untreated cedar. Cedar is high in oil, therefore it is naturally rot and insect resistant. It also will no warp and will weather to a silvery gray after a couple of seasons. Redwood is also a good option for edibles. (via Eden Condensed Garden Design)
7. For those that are living in an apartment or condo or just lack space, a container garden can be a fantastic solution. This balcony garden in Miami, Florida offers a 6′ x 14′ outdoor space. This allows for enough room to have Meyer lemon and key lime trees, herbs, aloe, succulents, and leafy ornamentals. (via Priscilla Torres)
8. A shed garden in Maine features plant markers to keep it organized. This bed is bordered with pressure-treated pine, using a combination of stacked 2×6, 2×8, and 2×10 boards. They should be a minimum of 12-13″ deep. (via Atmoscaper Design)
Above: A closer detail from the prior image shows how pennies are being used to keep away the slugs. Garden markers gives the gardener a clear indication of what each of the vegetables/herbs are, especially if they look similar. (via Atmoscaper Design)
9. Simple box containers provide a raised bed for your backyard veggie garden. Each one can be planted with different veggies to keep them organized. By not planting them in the ground, this helps to control the type of soil you are using. (via Shades Of Green Landscape Architecture)
10. The beds and steps of a vegetable garden in Northern California are composed of redwood. To keep the deer out of the garden, hog-wire and cedar posts, cap, and fascia were specified, 8-feet high. (via Arterra Landscape Architects)
11. A charming garden shed belonging to Chip and Joanna Gaines from the show Fixer Upper features raised beds of beautiful flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Pictured here is an herb garden with rows of rosemary, lavender, oregano and sage to season delicious meals. (via HGTV)
Above: Another detail from the prior image of the raised vegetable gardens from Chip and Joanna Gaines beautiful gardens. (via HGTV)
12. A lovely cottage garden shed features a flagstone pathway leading to raised bed of delicious vegetables. (via Shades Of Green Landscape Architecture)
13. The beautiful summer garden of Chef Rick Bayless offers a mix of fresh vegetables and flowers. (via Chef Rick Bayless)
14. An impressive “Potager Garden” for growing vegetables. Potager is a French term for an ornamental vegetable or kitchen garden. (via Pinterest)
15. A heavy-duty powder-coated steel frame and glass greenhouse is surrounded by raised planter beds full of various fresh growing veggies. (via lothlorienlover.tumblr)
16. A beautiful raised bed garden in Dutchess County, New York offers plenty of inspiration to make your own! (via @yolorenzo)
17. The potting shed of a home in Vermont features raised beds full of fresh growing vegetables. String lights overhead help to give this space a magical ambiance in the nighttime. (via Sugarhouse Homestead)
18. Another “Potager” garden, this one features fencing to prevent wild animals from devouring the garden. Raised beds and metal troughs contain varying types of vegetables. In the lower image, a stone pathway provides accessibility to the garden without trampling on the plants. (via House + Bloom)
19. Spiral gardens are ideal for those whose properties do not have a lot of space, or just looking for something more unique! Grow your favorite herbs in this smaller garden to add a delicious taste to your meals. (via Recycledaw Blog)
20. This organic front yard vegetable garden features raised beds to control the type of soil you would like to grow your veggies in. They also improve drainage and use space more efficiently and increases crop yields. (via @chelsierosetroxel)
21. A pyramid-shaped trellis made of branches helps the tomato plants to be structured. The trellis also helps to keep the ripened fruit in place when it is time for the gardener to harvest. (via Rick Wetherbee for GRIT)
22. Growing your own vegetables can be very rewarding, not to mention delicious. This fabulous garden is set in a long and narrow backyard. A series of raised beds are composed of repurposed cobblestones. Using gravel pathways through the garden creates accessibility to the beds. A galvanized steel tub in the center of the garden features aquatic plants and also makes for a convenient spot to fill a watering can. (via Better Homes & Gardens)
23. Raised planter beds and vertical wire creates a highly efficient garden. The vertical wire acts as a garden trellis to aid climbing vines. If you have a retaining wall or fence in your backyard, this will help to improve the aesthetics. (via Pinterest)
24. Pallet gardens are a simple DIY, all you need are pallets and a few bags of garden soil to start your project. Buy garden seeds for the vegetables you would like to grow, add some water and watch them grow! You may wish to add plant labels for organization and visual interest. (via Ideacoration)
25. A DIY vertical garden wall is very ideal for those who do not have a lot of space or wish to keep it simple. Four-inch terra cotta pots (35 are pictured here) are affixed to wire netting, which is attached to cedar posts. Plant a variety of culinary herb seeds in each of your pots. Get the full tutorial on the provided link. (via Home Made Lovely)
26. Grow your own vegetables in a raised planter such as this VegTrug. They come in varying sizes and colors to meet your gardening needs and aesthetic. If you are looking for a larger size, have a look at this VegTrug. This one mixes herbs and vegetables together in composting soil. Add etched garden labels for visual organization. (via A Grateful Life)
27. Organize your vegetables in raised planters. Some may need more tending than others, so it helps to make gardening a little more simple. Add colorful signage with garden stakes to help with organization. (via Better World International)
28. Raised garden beds provides a few benefits. Elevating them helps to separate your fertilized soil from the native soil in the ground, allowing you to control your plants’ nutrients. If you set the wooden planter beds on rocks, they will be able to drain easily and prevent your roots from drowning — the main reason plants die. (via Magnolia Blog)
29. A hanging tiered PVC gutter garden isfilled with lettuce, chives, and herbs. To DIY this simple garden for small spaces, you will need a set of PVC pipe gutters and chain. You will also need steel rods and bolts to set each of the pipes between the chains. (via The Whoot)
30. This DIY salad garden is ready to harvest, planted in a wine crate — which is ideally portable and perfect for small spaces. If you are looking for some delicious leafy greens, try these Heirloom Organic Seeds. Be sure to drill holes for drainage. If you are setting these on a table, use a thin layer of sheet metal for waterproofing. Crates can be sourced from wineries, liquor stores, grocery stores, hardware stores, arts & crafts stores, home decor stores, eBay, and Craigslist. (via Remodelista)
31. This garden in its entirety, including the gravel paths, is approximately 30 ft. x 30 ft. Raised vegetable beds are anywhere from 3 ft. – 6 ft. wide so you can easily reach across without stepping in your soil. Gravel access paths are usually 2-3 ft. wide with some larger open areas for a wheelbarrow to fit through. The wood is 2″ x 12″ cedar. For durability, you can line the wood with plastic. The ground cover is a 3/8″ tan river rock gravel. (via Burke Brothers Landscape Design/Build)
32. This backyard of a home in Texas features metal garden containers, watering troughs that can be found at any feed supply store. (via A.GRUPPO Architects)
33. These raised cedar garden beds are framed by a fence with artwork and frames to dress up the fence and add dimension. The ground cover is recycled black bark. It’s basically ground-up wood pallets that get dyed black. (via Clean Cut Landscape)
34. Scotch moss and pebbles surround a basalt dish rock. Raised beds of juniper wood are planted with veggies and also provide seating for a passerby. Woodchips surround the beds.(via Erin Lau Landscape Design)
35. Next to a large potting shed are raised vegetable beds with a lovely small fence to keep out little critters. Brick pathways travel through the garden. (via Al Jones Architects)
36. In Northern California, this beautiful kitchen garden is entered through a vine-covered trellis. (via Zeterre Landscape Architecture)
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FAQs
How do I build a backyard vegetable garden? ›
- Determine your climate zone. ...
- Decide what to grow. ...
- Choose the ideal garden location. ...
- Acquire basic gardening tools. ...
- Test your soil. ...
- Make your garden bed. ...
- Decide whether to grow from seed or transplant seedlings. ...
- Plant your seeds or seedlings with care.
- Repurpose old wooden crates to make stylish shelves. ...
- Use old jars as mini planters. ...
- Try DIY terracotta candle holders. ...
- Create a cool, industrial-style aesthetic with oversized planters. ...
- Make an upcycled hanging planter. ...
- Guide the way with a cute garden sign. ...
- Glow up your shed. ...
- Create a gorgeous garden display wall.
- Beans and Onions.
- Tomatoes and Corn.
- Potatoes and Sunflowers.
- Asparagus and Garlic.
- Celery and Carrots.
- Eggplant and Fennel.
- Cucumber and Rosemary.
- Lettuce and Garlic.
The most basic garden plan consists of a design with straight, long rows running north to south orientation. A north to south direction will ensure that the garden gets the best sun exposure and air circulation. A garden that runs east to west tends to get too shaded from the crops growing in the preceding row.
What month should you start a garden? ›Generally March and April, when the soil begins to warm, are the best months to begin sowing many hardy annual vegetable seeds outdoors including broccoli, cabbage, chard, carrots, peas and parsnips.
What are the best veggies to grow for beginners? ›- Beetroot.
- Salad leaves.
- Bush tomatoes.
- Potatoes.
- Peas.
- Radishes.
- Miners' lettuce/winter purslane.
- Japanese and Chinese salad leaves.
How to Plan a Vegetable Garden: Design Your Best Garden Layout
What should you not plant next to tomatoes? ›- Brassicas. Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi can stunt the growth of your tomato plant because they out-compete them for the same nutrients. ...
- Corn. ...
- Fennel. ...
- Dill. ...
- Potatoes. ...
- Eggplant. ...
- Walnuts.
The reality is that because the two have similar growth requirements, they can in fact be grown quite successfully together. Diseases common to both tomato and pepper include Verticillium wilt and bacterial spot.
What to plant with tomatoes to keep bugs away? ›More Herbs & Flowers to Plant with Tomatoes to Keep Bugs Away: Don't just stop at planting Marigolds with your tomatoes. For further protection from pest bugs, you can also plant basil, beans, bee balm, borage, sweet alyssum, chives, garlic, nasturtium, mint, anise, onion, and parsley.
What plant produces the most food? ›
1. Corn. The rundown: Corn is the most produced grain in the world.
Which vegetable takes the longest to grow? ›But vegetables vary widely in the number of days they need to grow until we can harvest them for dinner. How long does it take vegetables to grow? Radishes are ready to eat in as little as 21 days, while Brussels Sprouts need as long as 110 days to grow to a harvestable size. That's a HUGE difference!
What veggies grow well together? ›Type of Vegetable | Friends |
---|---|
Potatoes | Basil, beans, celery, corn, garlic, horseradish, lettuce, marigolds, onions, peas, radishes, spinach |
Pumpkin | Beans, corn, marigolds, nasturtiums, squash |
Radishes | Beets, cabbage, carrots, chives, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, spinach, squash |
Crop Name | Companions |
---|---|
BASIL | Peppers Purslane Tomatoes |
BEANS | Beets Corn Lovage Nasturtium Rosemary Squash Strawberries Sunflower |
BEETS | Brassicas Bush beans Garlic Lettuce Onion family |
BROCCOLI | Oregano Other Brassicas (Cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, etc.) |
- 01 of 12. Bring in Fruits and Herbs Too. ...
- 02 of 12. Pick the Right Spot. ...
- 03 of 12. Make an Entrance. ...
- 04 of 12. Just Add Flowers. ...
- 05 of 12. Protect Your Plants. ...
- 06 of 12. Grow Up with Raised Beds. ...
- 07 of 12. Think Like a Designer. ...
- 08 of 12. Grow in Containers.
The best time to water plants is in the morning or evening.
Morning watering is actually preferable to evening watering as the plant has time to dry before the sun goes down. At night, water tends to rest in the soil, around the roots, and on the foliage, which encourages rot, fungal growth, and insects.
The latest time to plant for most vegetables would be the second week in June with a short harvest time. If planting crops that mature within 50 days, you could plant those as late as the last week in June, but keep in mind the weather will be turning cooler, especially at night. Cool crops are best for late plantings.
When should tomatoes be planted? ›Tomatoes run on warmth; plant in late spring and early summer except in zone 10, where they are a fall and winter crop. For a head start on growing, plant starter plants instead of seeds.
What's the easiest crop to grow? ›- Lettuce. Lettuce can be sown directly in your garden bed, or started indoors for transplanting. ...
- Peas. Snap, snow, and shelling peas are all best sown as early as the soil can be worked in spring. ...
- Radishes. ...
- Turnips. ...
- Beans. ...
- Sunflowers. ...
- Sweet Potatoes. ...
- Winter Squash, including Pumpkins.
- Bell Peppers. Bell peppers start out green, but they mature to red, orange, yellow, purple and even chocolate brown. ...
- Blackberries and Raspberries. ...
- Cabbage. ...
- Cucumbers. ...
- Garlic. ...
- Strawberries. ...
- Tomatoes. ...
- Zucchini and Squash.
What are the best vegetables to grow for beginners? ›
- Beetroot.
- Salad leaves.
- Bush tomatoes.
- Potatoes.
- Peas.
- Radishes.
- Miners' lettuce/winter purslane.
- Japanese and Chinese salad leaves.
One of the fastest-growing vegetable plants you can grow is radish. Some types are ready to eat in as little as 3 weeks from seeding. They are a cool-season vegetable, meaning they do best in spring or fall, before or after the heat of summer.
What should I plant in my garden for beginners? ›Beets, lettuce, kale, cucumbers, peas, radishes, cherry tomatoes and green beans are some of the easiest vegetables for beginners to grow. Summer and winter squash are also good choices for first-time gardeners.
When should you start a vegetable garden? ›The first planting should be done as early as possible but only when there is no danger of any frost. Hardy plants normally tolerate temperatures below freezing and are usually the first to be put into the garden as soon as the soil can be worked, which is typically about four weeks prior to the last frost date.
What's the easiest crop to grow? ›- Lettuce. Lettuce can be sown directly in your garden bed, or started indoors for transplanting. ...
- Peas. Snap, snow, and shelling peas are all best sown as early as the soil can be worked in spring. ...
- Radishes. ...
- Turnips. ...
- Beans. ...
- Sunflowers. ...
- Sweet Potatoes. ...
- Winter Squash, including Pumpkins.
- Bell Peppers. Bell peppers start out green, but they mature to red, orange, yellow, purple and even chocolate brown. ...
- Blackberries and Raspberries. ...
- Cabbage. ...
- Cucumbers. ...
- Garlic. ...
- Strawberries. ...
- Tomatoes. ...
- Zucchini and Squash.
Bok Choy is a great plant to grow because it can produce a mature harvest in around 30 days.
What plants should you not plant together? ›- Mint and onions where asparagus is growing.
- Pole beans and mustard near beets.
- Anise and dill neighboring carrots.
- Cucumber, pumpkin, radish, sunflower, squash, or tomatoes close to potato hills.
The most basic garden plan consists of a design with straight, long rows running north to south orientation. A north to south direction will ensure that the garden gets the best sun exposure and air circulation. A garden that runs east to west tends to get too shaded from the crops growing in the preceding row.
Is it cheaper to buy vegetables or grow them? ›While starting vegetables from seed may save the most money, buying plants may also save some money depending on the amount yielded. “Growing a garden has the potential to reduce the amount of money spent on groceries.
What veggies grow well together? ›
Type of Vegetable | Friends |
---|---|
Potatoes | Basil, beans, celery, corn, garlic, horseradish, lettuce, marigolds, onions, peas, radishes, spinach |
Pumpkin | Beans, corn, marigolds, nasturtiums, squash |
Radishes | Beets, cabbage, carrots, chives, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, spinach, squash |
The best soil suitable for vegetables includes lots of compost and organic matter such as composted leaves and ground or shredded, aged bark. Whatever you're starting with, incorporate enough organic material so that the amended soil is neither sandy nor compacted.