Planting a vegetable garden? Martha Stewart says this common mistake could stop you from 'mastering the art of growing'

12 years ago, Martha shared planting tips that are just as relevant today – here's what to avoid, and the easiest vegetable to start with

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

There's nothing like a summer salad with homegrown produce, but behind a bowl of green goodness, it requires a lot of time, planning, and patience. If anybody can make the process somewhat simpler, however, it's Martha Stewart.

Over 12 years ago, Martha first shared vegetable garden ideas for those new to the experience, and her tips remain just as relevant over a decade later. It's the power of Martha Stewart, after all. Among her top advice was a word of caution: Don't start too big. It's a simple mistake, but Martha says that being overambitious too soon can hinder your planting sucsess.

'The biggest mistake is starting too big. If you start with a smaller plot of land, you can really master the art of growing. Then you can get bigger and bigger and bigger and dig more and more and make a more elaborate garden,' she says in the footage.

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Alongside addressing the most common vegetable garden mistake, Martha discussed the time she enjoys working on her plot, but it's not good news for those who aren't morning people.

'I like to go out into the garden as early as possible. A lot can be done before the phones start to ring, before guests arrive, before I want to start cooking. So I like to get out there, like 6 o'clock with the sun, and do as much weeding, cultivating, planting as possible,' she says.

Naturally, after years of caring for her garden in the morning, Martha is certainly no amateur. However, it doesn't make her tips for beginners any less influential. Next, she addressed the best vegetable to start growing: lettuce.

'A great vegetable to grow is lettuce. You can plant all kinds of lettuce, and there are hundreds of varieties. Lettuce is so rewarding because you can pick it as leaves, or you can let some of them go to heads and get delicious, healthy greens for your salad bowl,' she says. 'I think it's never too early to start, and actually never too late to begin either.'

We're on the verge of a Martha Stewart summer, so if there's ever a time to follow her example, it's now.


Megan Slack
Head of Celebrity Style News

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.

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