Starting a Backyard Vegetable Garden in Southern Pennsylvania

Welcome to gardening! Southern PA (Zone 6b–7a) offers a great climate for your chosen crops. Here's a step-by-step launch plan.

1. Site Selection and Prep

• Sun: 8+ hours for tomatoes, melons, peppers. Herbs tolerate 6 hrs.
• Size: Start small (10x10 ft or 4x8 ft raised beds).
• Soil test: Penn State Extension offers $9–10 kits. Test now.
• Remove grass: Smother with cardboard + 4 inches compost/mulch (sheet mulch) for 2–3 months, OR rent a sod cutter, OR dig manually (hard work).

2. Bed Preparation

• Raised beds: 10–12 inches deep, framed with untreated lumber, stone, or blocks. Fill 50% native soil + 50% compost.
• In-ground: Double-dig or broadfork, incorporate 3–4 inches compost.

3. Crop Planning

Crop	Planting Time	Method	Spacing
Tomatoes	Transplant after last frost (~May 10)	Buy seedlings or start seeds indoors 6–8 wks prior	24–36 in
Beans (pole)	Direct sow after frost	Seeds 1 in deep	4–6 in on trellis
Squash	Direct sow or transplant after frost	2–3 seeds per hill	3–4 ft
Watermelon	Transplant after soil 70°F	Start indoors 3 wks prior or direct sow	4–6 ft
Herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage)	Transplant after frost	Buy plants	12–18 in
Basil	Transplant after frost / direct sow	Seeds or plants	12 in

4. Herbs: Pots vs. Ground

Perennial herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage) thrive in ground with excellent drainage. In pots, they need winter protection (garage, mulch). Basil is annual—grow in ground or pots. Mint must be contained (pot sunk in ground).

5. Mulch and Water

• Mulch 2–3 inches straw, shredded leaves, or grass clippings.
• Water deeply 1–2x/week; soaker hoses or drip irrigation ideal.

6. Resources

• Penn State Extension: extension.psu.edu
• Rodale Institute (Kutztown, PA): rodaleinstitute.org — workshops, bookstore, research.
• Organic Gardening magazine.

Start with soil prep this fall; plant next spring. Keep a journal. Enjoy the journey!