Live Price Comparison for "garden spade"

Tomatoes (cherry varieties for beginners), zucchini (over-productive — share with neighbors), basil (constant harvest), lettuce (cut-and-come-again), green beans (vertical growing saves space), peppers (less productive than tomatoes but easy). Start with 4-6 plants, expand once you've nailed the basics. Skip: corn (space-hog), melons (need more space than you think).

After last frost date for your zone (check USDA hardiness map). Spring planting (March-May): cool-season (lettuce, peas, broccoli) then warm-season (tomatoes, peppers, beans). Fall planting (August-September): garlic, kale, spinach for winter harvest. Year-round in zones 9-11 (Florida, Southern California, Texas).

Hand trowel, hand fork, pruning shears (Felco F-2 is the lifetime buy), garden gloves, watering can or hose, kneeling pad. That's the realistic starter kit — $80-120 total. Skip elaborate tool sets — most include gimmicks you'll never use. Quality trumps quantity — buy one quality tool at a time.

Raised beds (Vego Garden, Birdies, cedar from local lumberyard): less bending, better drainage, can use ideal soil mix from day 1, fewer weeds, season starts 2-3 weeks earlier (soil warms faster). In-ground: cheaper to start, no border maintenance, deeper root systems possible. Most home gardeners prefer raised after trying both.

Neem oil (broad-spectrum, organic): aphids, mites, fungal issues. Bacillus thuringiensis (BT): caterpillars only, totally safe. Diatomaceous earth: slugs, beetles. Beneficial insects: ladybugs (aphids), praying mantises (general). Hand-pick larger pests early morning. Companion planting (marigolds repel pests). Avoid Sevin or Roundup near food gardens.

Local nurseries (best plant quality, free advice). Home Depot/Lowe's (broad selection, prices). Online specialty: Johnny's Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom (vegetables), Floret Flower Farm (cut flowers), Garden Tower Project (vertical systems). Avoid: Walmart garden center plants (often diseased), random Amazon plant sellers.