Now that you’ve figured out your planting zone, chosen a location, figured out how to water, and amended your soil, it’s time to pick what you want to grow in your garden.
Here’s the thing:
This is an individual choice. Don’t like tomatoes? Then don’t grow them! Grow what you like instead.
Decide on time investment
Some plants require more time than others. If you are just starting out, you might not want to grow something that needs babysitting to survive. You might want to grow something that requires very little care on a day to day basis. My experience with vegetables such as bush beans and radishes is that they are relatively hands off, and you get a tasty treat once they are ready.
Decide on number of plants
How much space do you have? Do you want to do container gardening? Do you want to do a traditional garden, or something like a raised bed? Are you doing it for fun, to supplement meals, or are you wanting to grow enough food to live off of?
Remember, your answers to these questions will be different than anyone else’s answers, and that’s totally fine!
Check out the farmer’s market
This one requires a bit of forethought, but if you want to know what grows well in your planting zone, the farmer’s market is a way to check that out. Local farmers know what is working well for them, and are usually happy to let you know about their successes. They might be able to recommend a specific variety that aligns with the plants you want to grow.
Look at prices
Maybe you really love a particular vegetable, but it’s a little on the pricey side to buy on a regular basis. This might be a good candidate for inclusion in your garden! Or if you and your family eat a lot of a particular vegetable, maybe growing it instead is a way to help cut down on the weekly grocery bill. A packet of seeds that produces many plants might be cheaper in the long run than buying that veggie every week.
What will make you happy?
I think this might be the most important point actually. At the end of the day, gardening should be fun and relaxing. If you aren’t growing plants that make you happy, then why are you gardening? Sure, cost and convenience should play a big role as well, but the plants should make you happy. If they don’t, you are much less likely to tend to them. I get excited every time I see a seed sprout, every time a flower blossoms, every time I see a baby tomato, and most of all, every time I pluck a tasty treat off the plant for eating.
With all of that in mind, what are you going to plant this year?