New Grad's First Vegetable Garden: Step‑by‑Step Start in Northern NJ

Same Core Advice

Start small (≤10 veggies + flowers). Easy crops: lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, beets, radishes, carrots.

Test texture (clay/sand). Amend heavily with manure, peat, compost. Check pH (7.0).

Square foot raised beds. Water 1"/week. Fertilize biweekly. Organic pest control. Harvest young.

Books: Square Foot Gardening, The Joy of Gardening.
Websites: TAMU, Shepherd's Seeds, SquareFootGardening.com, Clemson, GardenHelper.

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