Few things are more rewarding than growing your own produce at home, from delicious summer tomatoes to refreshing spring peas. But with so many plants to choose from and ways to arrange them, starting a vegetable garden can be overwhelming. Or maybe you already have a vegetable garden but you’re looking for ways to give it a refresh. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, these expert-approved vegetable garden ideas will help you build the space of your dreams.
Damon Abdi of the Hammond Research Station at Louisiana State University’s AgCenter
Natalie Crist, a New York Botanical Garden-certified sustainable garden designer
Richard Zondag, horticulturist, master gardener, and owner of Jung Seed Company
Elevate With Raised Beds
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Raised beds offer many benefits when vegetable gardening. “Elevating the growing surface makes it easier and more ergonomic to garden, reducing the amount of strain put on backs and knees,” says horticulture expert Damon Abdi.
Raised beds also allow you to manage the soil and control drainage. “The soil composition can be blended to your liking in a raised bed, offering you more control over soil and substrate type,” he says.
Grow in Containers
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Similar to raised beds, growing vegetables in containers allows you to control the growing medium. “Containers also have the benefit of being easy to move around—allowing you to reorganize your planting arrangement throughout the season,” Abdi says.
Container gardening means you can make individualized decisions for the specific plants you’re growing, too. For example, some container crops may need more frequent watering or fertilizing than others.
Amend With Compost
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Quality soil is the key to a thriving vegetable garden. “All soil types benefit from organic matter, such as compost, to add texture and increase nutrient-holding capacity,” says Richard Zondag, owner of Jung Seed Company. “In sandy soil, the organic matter also helps keep the soil from rapidly drying out.” He recommends composting kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and leaves to make your own organic matter at home.
Try Companion Planting
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Companion planting is the practice of growing complementary plants close to one another. “A great example is the classic ‘Three Sisters’ model—corn, beans, and squash,” says Abdi. “Corn stalks serve as a site for beans to climb, beans fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil, and squash acts as a ground cover to suppress weeds in the surrounding soil. Individually, each plant plays a purpose in supporting the growth and health of the other plants.”
Choose Plants Thoughtfully
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Purchase seeds and plants from a local garden center or reputable online retailer when choosing what to include in your vegetable garden, says Zondag. He also says to consider each plant’s hardiness zones and maturity dates, so you choose varieties suitable for your climate. “Take note of seeds that need to be started indoors, such as tomatoes, peppers, onions, impatiens, petunias, and geraniums, and plan accordingly,” he adds.
Grow a Balcony Garden
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If space is limited, a balcony garden allows you the opportunity to grow your own produce. “Using containers on the balcony, hanging baskets, or planters on railings can be an effective use of the space you have,” says Abdi.
However, Abdi notes that balcony gardening can have some limitations, particularly if yours has less than desirable light exposure. To avoid potential pitfalls, choose crops that will work with your specific growing conditions.
Try Insect-Repelling Plants
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While many insects are beneficial for your garden, others can wreak havoc on your plants. To protect your crops, consider growing insect-repelling plants. “Chives and onions repel aphids and Japanese beetles, while basil helps deter mosquitoes and even enhances the flavor of tomatoes,” says garden designer Natalie Crist.
Marigolds are another insect-repelling plant, best known for their ability to deter aphids, white flies, root-knot nematodes, and even deer. “I love growing some of the creamy, off-white varieties like White Swan and Kilimanjaro White,” says Crist, adding that they’re a beautiful alternative to the traditional bright orange varieties.
Keep a Garden Journal
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Ensure your vegetable garden thrives by keeping track of your gardening activities during and between seasons. “During the season, keeping a log of activities such as fertilizer or pesticide applications, growth stages, and pest incidences can help you stay organized and utilize your time and resources more efficiently,” says Abdi.
Having a log of what crops were planted where is important for year-to-year management, especially in regards to crop rotations. “Rotating crops throughout the garden each year is a great way to reduce pest and disease issues,” he says.
Use a Trellis for Vining Crops
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Install a trellis to support the growth of vining crops, including peas, beans, and vining varieties of cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes. “Trellises that are easy to install, move, and fix between seasons are ideal for home gardens,” says Abdi. If you already have a fence on your property, you can also use that to support vining crops.
Plant Nasturtiums
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Nasturtium is a powerhouse in the garden for several reasons. “First, it acts as a trap crop, drawing insects like aphids and flea beetles away from your main crops by offering them a more desirable food source,” says Crist. “Second, it attracts beneficial insects such as ladybugs (which eat aphids), parasitic wasps (which target caterpillars and whiteflies), and hoverflies (whose larvae consume aphids).”
Planting nasturtium with cucurbits improves airflow and promotes biodiversity, reducing the occurrence of fungal infections like powdery mildew. “For those who don’t want a shock of red or orange in the garden, nasturtiums are available in some beautiful antique-looking colors. I love Tip Top Pink and Purple Emperor,” Crist says.
Grow Pollinator Plants
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Boost the yield of your vegetable crops by growing pollinator-friendly plants. “Many cucurbits such as squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers rely on bee pollination in order for the pollen to get from the male flowers to the female flowers,” says Abdi. “Some plants are able to set fruit from wind-transferred pollen alone but would benefit from pollinator help. Having a mix of plants around your yard that attracts bees, butterflies, and the like can help support a more bountiful harvest from the garden.”
Provide Frost Protection
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If planting cold-sensitive plants early in spring, protect them from unexpected cold snaps and frosts to ensure they make it through the season. “Frost protection cloths can be used to provide temperature insulation for sensitive plants,” says Abdi. “Removable garden hoops can provide support to lay the frost fabrics over without directly contacting your plants.”
Grow Root Crops
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Root crops like daikon, carrots, radishes, beets, parsnips, and turnips aerate the soil and can be harvested for food. “In areas where I want to improve soil organic matter, I sometimes plant daikon and leave it unharvested,” says Crist. “As the plant dies, its large taproot decomposes in place, enriching the soil with organic matter at deeper levels.”
Implement a Canopy Layer
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Grow a canopy layer of espaliered overstory trees, which don’t cast as much of a shadow over your vegetable garden as a regularly shaped tree. Crist recommends apple, pear, peach, and hazelnut as suitable overstory trees. You can also grow a canopy layer consisting of small trees and large shrubs at the periphery of your garden, like blueberry, raspberry, and elderberry plants, which offer fruit and shelter for wildlife.
Plant Nitrogen Fixers
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Improve soil fertility by growing plants that boost your soil’s nitrogen content. Examples of nitrogen-fixing plants include bush beans, pole beans, peas, and clover, says Crist.
Grow Dynamic Accumulators
Bright bunches of stinging nettle.
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Another way to improve your vegetable garden’s soil fertility is to grow dynamic accumulators, like stinging nettle, lambsquarters, and comfrey. These plants have long taproots that draw nutrients from deep in the soil. When the plants decompose, their leaves fall and spread the nutrients to the soil’s surface, says Crist.
Employ Ground Covers
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Ground cover plants are a great addition to any garden, but they’re especially useful in vegetable gardens. “Ground covers protect the soil, retain moisture, and suppress weeds,” says Crist. A wonderful option is creeping thyme, which deters pests while reducing soil evaporation.
Add a Water Feature
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Natalie Crist
A water feature can add to the visual aesthetics of your landscape, as well as provide a water source for birds and other pollinators. In Crist’s garden, she uses a big copper vat to add rustic charm to her outdoor space.
Combine Flower and Vegetable Plantings
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Natalie Crist
Crist infuses her vegetable garden with flowers for an ornamental look. In her mixed beds, she grows a beautiful display of eggplants, peppers, echinacea, artichokes, dahlias, verbena, allium, dill, fennel, and guara. “The result is a vegetable bed that looks like a mixed-border planting,” she says.