How to Grow Your Own Food

All the tips you need to sustainably grow food in your backyard

Co-authored by Sue Ferreri and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: November 24, 2024 Approved

For all of human history, people have managed to feed themselves, either by fishing, hunting, gathering, or subsistence farming. Nowadays, we can simply head to the grocery store to buy our meals. However, growing your own food is both rewarding and money-saving. If you’d like to grow your own food, make sure you research the climate in your region, create rows for your crops, and harvest when your food is ripe to enjoy the food from your garden.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Growing Food in Your Climate

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1
Grow most leafy greens and vegetables during a warm summer. If you have temperatures above 75 °F (24 °C) during the summer, plant your vegetable crops in May or June. Make sure they are planted after the threat of frost is over.^{[1]
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- Lettuce, cabbage, kale, and tomatoes are all great options to plant in the summer.
Tip: Legumes do well in a temperate rainforest and are a great source of protein.
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Plant fruit in the early spring in a moderate climate. Most fruit, like apples, oranges, lemons, and limes can be grown on trees in a 12,000 square feet (1,100 m²) area. Start with planting a fruit tree in a pot to monitor the soil and water intake, and then transfer it to the ground after 1 year during the early spring. Most fruit trees will not start bearing fruit until they are 2 to 3 years old.^{[2]
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- Vine fruits, like grapes, can be grown anywhere with a trellis that they can climb.
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3
Grow winter grains in a cold, wet climate. If you live in an area that gets below freezing and has a lot of precipitation, plant grains like rye. Rye is able to withstand the cold temperatures and the heavy rainfall that will happen in many areas of the world. Plant your rye in the early fall before the first frost hits.
- Winter grains will usually give a higher crop yield than summer grains.
4
Farm summer grains in a warm, moderate climate. Summer grains, like corn, do best during warm weather. If your summers get hot, plant corn in May or June and let it grow over the summer months. Corn does especially well in the midwest area of the United States.
- Rice needs a tropical climate to grow. Southeast Asia is the best climate for rice crops.
Potatoes, beets, radishes, and other vegetables that grow underground prefer to grow during the colder months. Plant root vegetables in July or August to prepare for a fall harvest. You can grow these even if the threat of frost is near, since they are hearty enough to withstand it.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Planting Crops

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Make sure your soil pH is between 5.5 and 7.0. Test the pH of your soil by using a test probe or paper strips to determine the acidity or alkalinity of your soil. Most food grows at a pH of 5.5 and 7.0. If your soil is below 5.5, add dolomite, a type of crushed mineral, to make it more basic. If it is higher than 7.0, use pine needles or peat moss to make it more acidic.^{[4]
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Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
Specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for leading international efforts to end world hunger and improve nutrition

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- You can find a test probe or strips at most garden stores.
- You can buy dolomite at most garden stores.
2
Break the ground with a plow or a tiller. Clear away any large stones, roots and limbs, heavy accumulation of vegetation, and other debris before tilling. Use a rototiller or a plow to disrupt your soil and turn over the top layer. This will make the nutrients in your soil more readily available and allow the top layer of soil to refresh itself.^{[5]
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- To sustain a 4-person family, use 12,000 square feet (1,100 m²) of land to grow vegetables and grains.^{[6]
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Tip: On a small plot of land, you can use a pick, shovel, and hoe to till your land instead.
3
Lay rows with a hoe or a plow. Mark out the area you intend to plant. Use a hoe or plow to create a slightly raised bed in the loose soil in a line across the length of the plot. Next, make a shallow groove cut in the soil with your rototiller and a furrow attachment. Do this until your growing area is covered in rows.^{[7]
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- You can rent rototillers and their attachments at many hardware stores.
- Alternatively use a disk harrow to create vertical and horizontal rows.
4
Place your seeds in the furrows at the depth they require. The depth of planting may vary according to your choice of plants. Check on the back of your seed packet to find out the best depth for your plant. Make a small hole with your fingers and place 2 to 3 seeds in each hole.
- Plants like legumes and melons, squash, cucumbers are planted between ³⁄₄ inch (1.9 cm) and 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep, and corn and potatoes may be planted 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) to 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) deep.
- You can also start seeds indoors and transplant them after they have sprouted.
This will prevent the seed bed from drying out in the sun. Use the palm of your hand to press down on top of the seeds you planted. Make sure they are covered all the way so they don’t get eaten by animals. Continue this process until you have the number of rows you planned on planting.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Managing and Harvesting Your Crops

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1
Water your garden every day during the summer. The sun can dry out and kill your crops if they do not have enough water to replenish themselves. Use a garden hose or a sprinkler system to water your crops thoroughly every day from May to September. If the temperature reaches above 90 °F (32 °C), water your crops twice a day.^{[8]
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- Winter crops like rye do not need to be watered unless it is a particularly dry winter.
2
Weed your garden if it is getting overrun. Because you are planting this crop in rows, you will be able to walk the center area between rows. Remove any weeds by hand that sprout up during your growing season. Make sure you get the root of the weed when you pull it so that it doesn’t grow back.^{[9]
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- Weeds are much easier to pull in loose or wet soil.
- Try not to disturb the roots of your crop as you weed.
If you see leaves that have been eaten, it could be a sign of insects or vermin. Use a chicken-wire fence to keep out small animals like mice and rabbits. Remove and kill insects as you find them, or use a natural deterrent like peppermint oil to keep pests away.^{[10]
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Tip: Make a peppermint spray by combining 2 drops of peppermint essential oil and 1 gallon (3,800 mL) of water. Mist the leaves of your crops once a day to keep common insects away.
Many common garden vegetables are harvested as they become ripe, and continue to produce throughout the growing season with proper care. Grains, on the other hand, are most often harvested when they are fully ripened and dry on the plant. Use sharp, clean gardening tools to pick or cut your crops so you don’t damage the plants.^{[11]
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Preserve your food if you can’t eat it all. If you have grown grains, use barns which will keep your stored harvest dry and safe from insects and vermin. A combination of storage and preservation methods are the best way to reduce food waste. Drying, canning, freezing, and bedding are all viable options for storing food.^{[12]
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- Bedding is a method for storing root crops such as potatoes, rutabagas, and beets. Lay your root crops in a dry, cool location on a straw bed.

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What are the easiest vegetables to grow?

Sue Ferreri
Executive Director of Rockland Farm Alliance
Sue Ferreri is the Executive Director of the Rockland Farm Alliance in Rockland County, New York. The Rockland Farm Alliance is a non-profit broad-based coalition of farmers, community activists, local officials, and interested citizens with a simple mission to preserve, create, and enhance sustainable food production in Rockland County. Sue grew up farming and now helps farmers get organically certified and supports them in creating their businesses. She studied Business Management at Millersville University and Community Development and Viticulture at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

Sue Ferreri

Executive Director of Rockland Farm Alliance

Expert Answer

Tomatoes, beans, peppers, and potatoes are the easiest. Those are four vegetables that are great for cultivating if you're just starting out.

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Where can I go to find out which groups grow best in my area?

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You can talk to local horticulturalists, garden centers, or planting groups.

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How should I cultivate vining vegetables?

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Vining vegetables can be cultivated with a trellis, which is an interconnecting structure of wood with holes all over so the vine can wrap around it. Single vining vegetables can also be staked with a pole so that the vine grows around the pole.

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Tips

Look at outside sources of food to supplement your farming effort, like fishing, gathering wild berries and nuts, and edible plants growing wild in your region.

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Talk with your neighbors about sharing your crops once they are harvested. It is easier to manage a smaller number of different crops, and you may be able to grow enough of some of your selection of food for two families.

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