Tomatoes are fairly easy to grow – if you know how, so check out our new tomato growing guide to be sure you know all you need to about tomato plant care, fertilizer, optimum growing area, as well as how to ward off pests and diseases.


Tomatoes are a favorite of any kitchen garden. And don’t worry about growing too many luscious, juicy, brilliant tomatoes…your many friends, neighbors and relatives will be standing by to take them off of your hands – especially with the way store bought tomatoes have been going up in price, and often down in quality.

That’s one reason why having a kitchen garden this year is a great idea. As supermarket costs go up, you’ll only pay pennies on the dollar to grow your own fabulous veggies and herbs. Check out our vegetables page for more information.

Vegetable gardening is something the whole family can enjoy and do together. Teach the kids how to weed and water. And keep checking back right here on BornToGarden.com for all the information you need to make all of your gardens simply gorgeous!

Read our tomato growing guide now!

Never had a vegetable garden before? Not to worry!

Here are some basic pointers and things to consider for the beginner gardener.

For brand new gardens, you’ll need to:

1. Remove the existing lawn. Use a shovel to dig up grass and carve out the size and shape of your garden.
2. Improve the soil before planting. Here’s a good place to till in some compost into the soil. Also, make sure you remove roots from other plants, and also weeds.
3. Loosen soil to a depth of 18 to 24 inches. This will make it easier to grow well formed root crops and improves drainage in clay soil.
4. Remove obstacles. Use a metal garden rake to get rid of rocks, twigs, soil clumps and other materials that would interfere with your plants.
5. Make sure your soil allows for decent drainage. You don’t want water puddling up, this will certainly rot your plants.

Planting Seeds? Here are some seed tips:

1. Soak seeds in water for a day before planting. This often helps seeds germinate a few days quicker.
2. Check the seed packet for directions on how deep to plant your seeds. So many people don’t read directions, with seeds, you really should.

Tomatos are a great crop to start out with. Take a look at these recommended All-Season Sampler Tomato Seed Packets

Some seed starting items to consider: Seed Starter Greenhouse, or Mini Grow Plugs Seed Starting Kit

Other Seed Planting Options - How to plant seeds varies according to what you’re planting. Here are some of the most common ways to plant your seeds:

1. Use a finger or the end of a pointed tool to poke a hole in the soil and drop your seeds in.
2. Plant in clusters of about 8 seeds spaced equally apart. (This method is good for vine plants, cucumber squash etc.)
3. Use a trowel and dig a furrow, dropping seeds along the length of the furrow. Than push the soil back over the seeds.

Or you could try this nifty Seed Dispenser, Seedmaster

Watering Your Garden:

Gently water your garden to moisten the seeds and soil around the seeds.  Be careful not to over water.
Keep the soil moist and damp until the seeds sprout and your seeds are several inches high.

If your seeds have not come up after the germination time listed on your seed packet, dip into the soil using your finger. If you do not see seeds sprouting, your seeds may have rotted and you will need to replant.

Once your seeds have sprouted, its time to space your seedlings, follow the recommended spacing directions on your seed packet.

Purchasing Seedlings from a Garden Center:

This is often much easier and quicker than starting from seed. Especially if this is your first garden, or if your area has a short growing season, you may want to just cut to the chase and buy nursery seedlings. It’s not cheating, it’s just a little head start.

When purchasing seedlings look for:

1. Young plants
2. No yellow or spotted leaves
3. No overgrown roots

And be sure to…Follow the planting instructions on the tab that comes with each plant!

What is Organic Gardening?

Basically, organic gardening is growing plants and vegetables in a completely natural environment, using only natural and not synthetic products. Organic gardening is sometimes looked upon as more difficult than traditional gardening, but in fact, it makes gardening a lot easier. Why? Because organic gardening keeps the soil in great shape, it is not adulterated with chemicals.

Organic gardening is actually more than just not using chemicals and synthetic products. It is a whole philosophy – meaning thinking of your organic garden as part of an entire ecosystem that takes into account animals and insects, other plant life, people, the air, the water and the soil. The organic garden exists in harmony with the nature that surrounds it.

How to create an organic garden:

Start with the soil.

As with any garden, organic gardens always begin with the soil. Your first step is to have your soil testing. Click here to learn more about soil testing, testing kits you can buy and what soil test results mean.

Once you know what your soil contains, you’ll know what will grow best there. Also, you’ll know how you might have to change your soil to grow the plants and or vegetables that you want. Keep in mind that plants already adapted to your climate and soil will usually grow best, with the least amount of work and attention. Growing plants not normal for your area or climate will most likely require more of your time and energy. This isn’t a bad thing at all, just something to consider.

Composting is a “given” when it comes to organic gardening. Take a look at our What is Compost? page for more info. In short, compost is made up of organic matter that you already have around the house – grass clippings, decaying plant matter like dead leaves, and vegetables scraps from the kitchen. If you already have a compost bin started, you’re on your way. If you don’t, take a look at these available bins and starters:

And see our Shopping for Compost and Compost Supplies page for more composting tools and materials.

Compost will give your soil incredible amounts of nutrients. These nutrients are key to growing a fantastic organic garden. You can tell composted soil because it is richly dark, sweetly smelling, and is teeming with worms! Worms are great for aerating your garden (we’ll talk more about that in a future post on beneficial insects).

Once you’ve begun adding compost to your soil, you’ll want to re-test the soil (if you’ve already tested it). Some soil will need more than compost to get it ready for planting the plants you desire. Again, once you know what your soil contains, you can better judge what nutrients it is missing.

WATCH FOR OUR NEXT ORGANIC GARDENING POST: Beneficial Insects