How to Start a Garden in 2026
In starting a new garden, I always determine what it is that I want to grow. I know that sounds funny, but it is the essential pillar of your garden’s creation. This determination may morph over time as your garden plot informs you of its capabilities. Whether it’s a few potted plants high on a balcony or a couple rows of a cash crop inside your high/low tunnel, you will come to know what’s appropriate in the given space through trial and error. First we need to be clear of what plants we are going to start with.
Let’s say you have a home that has a small yard with a western exposure that is fenced in. How much light your garden receives, and when, will be a huge factor in what you grow. In the northern hemisphere, orienting your garden to the south will give you optimal sunlight exposure. My personal preference is to make sure my plants always get some sunrise action. I had an apartment where my balcony was to the west, so a few times a week I would cart my little ensemble of plants to the east side of the building for a well-rounded amount of “different” light.
1. Raised Garden Beds, Sunlight, and Garden Placement
In our example, we want to place raised beds where they receive full southern exposure, with no obstructions blocking sunlight throughout the day. Make sure the beds are far enough from the house so early morning light from the east isn’t heavily shaded.
I like to start with raised beds because they immediately give you control — over soil quality, drainage, and plant health. They also help protect your crops from rodents and pests, which can be a major issue when planting directly in the ground.
Planting in native soil can absolutely work if your conditions are right. But if your soil quality is uncertain, or your yard has slope or drainage issues, raised beds give you a much more reliable starting point.
One of the biggest advantages is protection from water problems. Yard slope and drainage matter more than most people think — and I’ve personally lost crops to flash floods. Elevating your beds can be the difference between a thriving garden and starting over.
Benefits of Raised Beds
- Improved soil drainage
- Protection from pests and rodents
- Full control over soil composition
- Reduced risk of root rot
- Protection from flooding and water damage
There are countless ways to build raised beds — from simple wooden frames to recycled materials like pallets or corrugated metal. They also create structure in your garden, giving climbing plants and vines more space to grow and thrive.
2. Soil Drainage, Root Rot, and Biochar Layers
Root rot is the bane of existence for gardeners and farmers. The elevated beds allow for optimal drainage when their floor is lined with big rocks and/or “urbanite,” which is just used up concrete, brick and asphalt.
I line the bottom of my bed with:
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At least a foot of rocks / urbanite
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A 4lb sheet of geotextile fabric (landscaping fabric)
Before adding soil, I will lay down 1–2 layers of biochar, then I add my soil mixture that also contains biochar.
Why this layered system works:
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Improves drainage
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Increases root oxygenation
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Prevents waterlogging
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Supports stronger root development
3. Building Living Soil with Biochar and Microorganisms
Our soil mix is a blend of organics that I get from a year old compost pile, biochar, worm castings, and store-bought potting soil. I treat my soil like a smorgasbord of new and old materials. I find it injects variability into the soil biome.
My biochar has been cured for at least a month with effective microorganisms.
* Inoculating (curing biochar) is best done from new moon to new moon.
Effective microorganisms can include:
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Store-bought microbial inoculants
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Whey from yogurt making
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Diluted urine (Yourine)
Your urine is very good at informing the soil microbiome of what you need. If you do use it:
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Mix at a 1:10 ratio with water
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Use small amounts (a little goes a long way)
4. Watering Systems and Soil Performance
What you decide to grow will determine the placement of the plants within the raised bed. I like to cheat with watering by installing drip irrigation systems.
Benefits of drip irrigation:
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Delivers water directly to the root zone
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Reduces mildew and plant disease
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Improves water efficiency
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Allows automation with timers (“set it and forget it”)
In this specific example our plants are exposed to the elements so rainfall will give the flora their charge from above.
In the above example, our soil and subsoil both have a lot of biochar, so drainage will be optimal.
Success comes down to:
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Adequate sunlight
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Consistent watering
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Well-draining, biochar-enriched soil
5. Mulching, Mycelium, and Soil Biology
I’m a mulcher. Covering the top of the soil with some form of organic mulch goes a long way in protecting your soil, ensuring your plants will thrive.
Benefits of mulching:
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Retains soil moisture
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Regulates soil temperature
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Promotes microbial life
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Encourages mycelium growth
Mycelium is your soil’s broadband network of communication. The microbes are the alchemists. When all the microbes can communicate with each other and the roots through the mycelium network, now we have a thriving community of helpers under our mulch.
By far my favorite mulch is fresh grass clippings. Free, abundant and effective.
6. Companion Planting and Natural Pest Control
Planting certain herbs with your plants is my preferred natural pest control method. They usually have a synergistic relationship at the root level.
Companion planting examples:
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Tomatoes + Basil
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Cucumbers + Dill + Oregano
I take some old cattle panels to form trellises behind where my cucumbers are planted, with oregano in movable pots. The dill grows right at the base while cucumbers climb upward.
Benefits of trellising:
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Better airflow
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Improved sunlight exposure
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Easier harvesting
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Healthier plant growth
It’s important to note that there are a million ways to garden.
Examples:
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Trellised cucumbers
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Ground-grown cucumbers
Both methods can produce excellent results.
As long as you focus on:
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Healthy soil
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Proper watering
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Adequate sunlight
Your plants will thrive.
Final Thoughts on Organic Gardening with Biochar
These few tips will be helpful in getting you started with your home garden. In due course, different planting and harvesting methods will be shared along with all the fun alchemy of soil.
It’s important to be like a good chef who enjoys cooking so they put love into their food. Plants are sensitive and react well to our joy of growing, nurturing and protecting.
Stick to the basics:
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Build healthy soil
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Use biochar
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Maintain consistent watering
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Provide proper sunlight
And enjoy the process.
