March 2025
By Kristine Liebman

These might seem like good reasons why not to start a vegetable garden of your own. But if you start small, you can learn as you go. Follow the steps below and enjoy the process along the way!

Step 1: Make a Plan

• Know the amount of space you have to work with when planning your garden.
• Make sure you have a water source accessible to that space.
• If you have critters like rabbits, groundhogs, deer, etc. already using this space, then consider your barrier or fencing options.
• Make it fun and draw out your plans on paper, add some color and include all the crops you are thinking about.

Step 2: Building & Filling Your Beds

• Use untreated wood or stone to create your garden bed structure or purchase a good-quality raised bed. There are many new options in different materials and most are easy to assemble.
• You can include a weed barrier like cardboard, paper, or landscape fabric before adding soil. The higher the raised bed, the easier it will be to manage weeds. 
• If filling your new beds from scratch, you can purchase bagged or bulk soil.
• Drainage is crucial in a raised bed, so choosing the right type of soil is important
• Common advice to support plants in a raised bed is a combination of 50% topsoil and 50% compost. You can also use a 40/40% mix of the two leaving 20% for aeration material.
• Use the formula above if preparing your own soil or purchase a high quality raised bed soil. (Cerbo’s Raised Bed soil is a perfect option)

Step 3: Choose Your Plants

• Choose herbs and vegetables that you and your family love to eat.
• Think about choosing companion plants that will benefit each other.
• Rotate your new crops if edible plants were previously grown in the same location.
• You can start your plants from seed in mid-February, early March if you have space indoors.
• You can also wait until you are ready to plant and purchase seedlings locally.
• If growing at home, make sure to harden off your seedlings before planting.
• Timing is everything! Cool season plants can go in your garden as early as April, while you will want to wait until after the last frost to plant your warm season crops, which is typically around Mother’s Day.

There are many varieties of cool and warm season edible seedlings currently growing in Cerbo’s greenhouse. We love growing unique varieties that you won’t find locally or at the big box stores!

Step 4: Planting & Maintenance

• Plant cool and warm season seedlings at the right time.
• Follow rules for spacing your plants.
• Give the garden a good soak at the root after planting.
• Add trellises for your climbers such as tomatoes, beans & cucumbers.

Step 5: The Growing Season

• Water regularly by hand or consider an irrigation system.
• Check for pests and signs of disease throughout the season to get ahead and take appropriate steps to keep your plants healthy.
• Prune plants as needed throughout the growing season.
• Add a slow-release fertilizer. 
• Manage your weeds.
• Enjoy the fruits & vegetables of your labor!

Cerbo’s is here to help with all your landscape and garden needs! Come in and see all the seasonal and year round products, explore our beautiful greenhouse and outdoor nursery filled with unique shrubs, trees and native plants. Be sure to follow us on Instagram!