How do you start a garden?

I've never had a vegitable garden before but would like to try it this year. What kinds of plants should I start with and when do I plant? I live in the Texas Panhandle.

How do you start a garden?
I think you need to plant something that you like to eat. If you like tomatoes then get a couple tomatoe plants to grow. They are so easy to grow. One or two cucumber plants, if you like cucumbers. They are a vine so they need to grow up a fence.

Green pepper plants do not take up too much space. Just remember not too crowd. Think of how big the plant will be when it is full grown and leave space. Try about 18" apart.



Till the area you want to plant in. You can use a shovel. Just loosen the soil and get rid of large clumps of dirt, break them up with the shovel. Use a rake to flatten out the area. I am not sure when you can start to plant. I am in Nebraska and will plant in May. Check with your garden center. Since this will be a new garden in that part of your yard your plants will do great. It seems like using fresh soil which has never been used for gardening, works great, plants grow huge.
Reply:Till up or dig the soil. Amend it if necessary. Easy plants to start with are green bean, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, radishes, cucumbers. Start small.
Reply:Check on this website:

http://www.geocities.com/mastergardener2...
Reply:Start small. Till compost into your soil. Because you live in Texas try to stay away from cool weather crops like green beans, peas, lettuce as they will mature to early in warm climates and any harvest will be bitter (if you really want these try a fall planting). Tomatoes, peppers eggplant, squash should all grow wonderfully for you. Cucumbers need a lot of water or they taste bitter. See if any local greenhouses know about gardening clubs or provide free classes. No one on here will be as helpful as a gardener from your area that already knows planting times and soil problems in your area.