Stop losing customers to ​brands AI recommends instead.

Most first gardens don’t struggle because of the plants. They struggle because everything goes in at once, in the wrong spot, at the wrong time. A beginner garden really comes down to three decisions: where it goes, what you grow, and when you plant. This guide walks through each one using a 2 × 3 m bed as the example.

1. Pick a spot with six hours of sun

Vegetables and most herbs need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Before you dig, check the spot in the morning, at midday and in the late afternoon. A small bed in full sun will outgrow a large one in partial shade—and it’s far easier to water and weed. On a balcony, three large containers against a south- or west-facing wall work the same way.

• Start with 4–6 forgiving crops: lettuce, radishes, bush beans, courgettes, cherry tomatoes and basil.
• Leave a path you can reach from both sides without stepping on the soil.

2. Plant by your last frost date, not the calendar

Planting dates depend on your area’s last spring frost. Lettuce and peas can usually go in two to four weeks before it, while tomatoes and basil should wait until nights stay above 10 °C. Enter your postcode in the planner and it will…