First Garden Advice - Ask Extension
Hello! I am brand new to gardening after living in apartment for 5 years. I am beyond excited to get started, but was hoping to get some advice on beg...
Knowledgebase
First Garden Advice #891694
Asked January 17, 2025, 10:33 PM EST
Hello! I am brand new to gardening after living in apartment for 5 years. I am beyond excited to get started, but was hoping to get some advice on beginner friendly vegetables to grow and proper companion planting. The amount of information online is overwhelming and not specific to my region. I'd like to grow the veggies I use the most in my kitchen- tomatoes, kale, onions, carrot, bell peppers- but I am willing to brach out in my recipes to accommodate what's in season and easiest to grow. Thank you so much for any advice you may have!
Yamhill County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Brielle,
I'm excited for you to now have space to garden. Growing your own vegetables is the best!
You are wise to doubt the conflicting information on the internet. OSU Extension has a great publication, "Growing Your Own", which will help you get started. Here's another publication, also from OSU, "Vegetable Gardening in Oregon". This has information about gardening in the Willamette Valley.
Yamhill County Master Gardeners has 2 upcoming events, which might be of interest to you. One is "Garden to Table" for beginner vegetable gardeners.
The other event is "Spring into Gardening". This one day event covers all aspects of garden-vegetables & flowers.
All of the items on your list are easy to grow. It is easy to purchase plants from local nurseries or the Master Gardener Plant Sale. Late April through May are good months to plant a vegetable garden as the soil has warmed enough and we have more warm sunny days.
The carrots are the only vegetable which you will need to directly seed into the garden area.
For companion planting, here's information from University of Minnesota Extension Service, "Companion Planting in Home Gardens".
Enjoy your lifelong gardening adventure.
I'm excited for you to now have space to garden. Growing your own vegetables is the best!
You are wise to doubt the conflicting information on the internet. OSU Extension has a great publication, "Growing Your Own", which will help you get started. Here's another publication, also from OSU, "Vegetable Gardening in Oregon". This has information about gardening in the Willamette Valley.
Yamhill County Master Gardeners has 2 upcoming events, which might be of interest to you. One is "Garden to Table" for beginner vegetable gardeners.
The other event is "Spring into Gardening". This one day event covers all aspects of garden-vegetables & flowers.
All of the items on your list are easy to grow. It is easy to purchase plants from local nurseries or the Master Gardener Plant Sale. Late April through May are good months to plant a vegetable garden as the soil has warmed enough and we have more warm sunny days.
The carrots are the only vegetable which you will need to directly seed into the garden area.
For companion planting, here's information from University of Minnesota Extension Service, "Companion Planting in Home Gardens".
Enjoy your lifelong gardening adventure.
