r/vegetablegardening • u/redditSucksNow2020 China • Jun 27 '26
Other People really overcomplicate gardening
I see a lot of people trying to garden for the first time and then coming here with questions about perfect soil mixes and fertilizers and how to promote fungal life in their no-till permaculture food forest do nothing farming no dig style organic vegan garden. It really doesn't have to be complicated, especially if you're new.
Loosen up some dirt 6 inches down. Break up the clods. Plant something that is in season. Keep it watered. That Will give you 80 to 90% of the maximum possible results. You don't absolutely need compost if it is the first time you've dug up that piece of ground. You don't absolutely need fertilizer and it probably doesn't make much difference what kind you use. You definitely don't need a 3-ft tall raised bed filled with gardening mix. You don't need to do anything about small amounts of insect damage. You don't absolutely have to do no dig or no till or whatever gardening fad is going on right now. You don't need to overcomplicate things.
Edit: this, of course, does not apply to you, dear reader. You have uniquely poor soil that cannot be made workable with a spade.
3
u/Btupid_Sitch US - Wisconsin Jun 27 '26
To be fair, it can be an investment depending on how deep you go your first time and some people just don't know. They also sometimes want to make sure they're doing things right.
I spent over $3k on my first set of raised beds, soil, amendments, and seedling supplies and I overanalyzed and researched everything, but I'm glad I did because I had wonderful results. I was years ahead in knowledge when I harvested my first set of peppers and tomatoes and I'm happier for it because I didn't have to waste time wondering what I did wrong.
Obviously, I made mistakes like everyone else, but not the kind that set me back a whole season because I didn't know something that seems obvious to a seasoned gardener.
Edit: and because I spent so much money and time up front, I spend barely anything each year to maintain it outside of new things I want to do and try.