Backyard Inspirations, garden bed, gardening

What to Plant in Your Backyard for the Best Return

Smart, space-efficient vegetables that deliver high yields, quick harvests, and lasting value for backyard gardeners.

Choosing the right vegetables can make a big difference in how successful and enjoyable your garden is. Some crops grow faster, produce more consistently, and offer better value for the time and space you invest. Below are five reliable vegetables that are well-suited to backyard gardens and deliver strong returns throughout the growing season.

1. Peas

Fast-growing and one of the earliest crops to harvest, peas thrive in cooler spring temperatures and enrich the soil as they grow.

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2. Broccoli

A nutrient-dense vegetable with a long harvest window, broccoli continues producing side shoots well after the main head is cut.

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3. Lettuce

Easy to grow and ideal for small spaces, lettuce offers quick harvests and multiple cut-and-come-again yields throughout the season.

4. Tomatoes

A backyard favorite with high payoff, tomatoes produce generously when supported properly and cared for consistently.

5. Peppers

Compact, productive, and versatile, peppers deliver strong yields and benefit from early planting and regular harvesting.

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Increase Your Vegetable Garden Yield with Simple Tricks

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Whether you are a new gardener or have been gardening for some time now, there are ways by which you can increase your vegetable garden yield. These steps can help you get more vegetables out of your garden this year.

Improve Soil Quality

The most important way in which you can increase your vegetable garden yield is by improving soil quality. This can be done without too much work by covering the vegetable garden plot with compost and hay at the start of winter. By the time you are ready to plant, the compost would have been worked into the soil by the snow and rain as well as insects, ensuring nutrient-rich soil for your vegetables with less effort on your part. The deeper the layer of composted soil, the healthier the plants.

Use Raised Beds

Another way of increasing vegetable garden yields is to use raised beds. This has multiple advantages. The raised beds reduce the amount of space taken by paths. Moreover, the soil can be made more nutrient rich much more easily as compost can be worked into it. Both these benefits will increase the yield of the vegetable garden.

Round Out the Beds

When you use raised beds, you can also round them out. This increases the surface area available for plants. When multiplied by the length of the beds, the amount of additional space is significant enough to increase yields. Plant greens and similar plants at the edges of the raised beds, making them easier to harvest as well.

Stagger the Plants

Another way of saving space when planting vegetables is to stagger them. Instead of planting them in straight rows, plant them in triangles. This will enable you to plant more in the same area while still ensuring that all of the plants get sufficient sunlight, water, and nutrients to grow to their maximum potential.

Use Vertical Space

Fix vertical trellises and poles at the sides of the raised beds and train vines of beans, melons, and similar plants on them. This will help save garden space and ensure healthier plants as well. The vertical plants will escape fungal diseases. Harvesting is also easier as you will be able to spot the crop of vegetables much more easily.

Interplant

You should also interplant or mix up the plants in your vegetable garden to maximize the use of available space. Compatible plants can be grown together to ensure that weeds are kept out and all available space is used by vegetable plants. For instance, if you plant corn, pole beans, and squash together, the corn stalks will support the pole beans and the squash will grow on the ground in the space between them. You can also grow tomatoes, onions, and basil together or plant carrots, radishes, and onions together.

Plant Successive Crops

Another way to make the most out of your vegetable garden is to plant and harvest successive crops. If you select quick growing plants, the first lot can be harvested before a second crop is grown in the same area. Before planting the second crop, ensure that you add more compost to the soil to make it nutrient rich.

Stretch the Growing Season

In order to grow two crops, you will also need to stretch the growing season. This can be done by growing seedlings in your greenhouse or garden shed before the start of spring. Once the weather becomes warmer, transplant the seedlings to the garden. The head start will enable them to mature faster, leaving you with the time to start a second crop. This too should be started in the greenhouse as the first crop starts to mature.

Move Plants Indoors

Toward the end of the growing season, you can prolong the growth period, by simply moving some of the plants indoors to your garden shed or greenhouse. For instance, if the tomatoes have yet to ripen and the weather turns chilly, all you need to do is cut the vines and hang them indoors in a warm area. The tomatoes will continue to mature and ripen, ensuring a bountiful harvest.

Enjoy Your Increased Vegetable Garden Yield

If you love gardening and want to increase the supply of fresh vegetables that your garden yields, you do not have to look for more ground space. Instead, simply improve soil quality, plant quick maturing plants, space the plants properly, and transplant seedlings.

Each of these steps will help increase your vegetable garden yield. Additionally, the labor and materials used is not significantly higher. By spacing the plants closer together, you will be able to spend less time watering, weeding, and harvesting, maximizing the productivity of your garden with ease.

Select the plants that are best suited for the soil and climate around your home, and reduce the amount of labor you need to put into it.

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Vegetable Garden Planning for Beginners

Starting a vegetable garden is a rewarding way to spend time outdoors while growing fresh, healthy food at home. Whether you have a large yard or a small open space, a little planning will help your garden thrive. Start small, learn as you grow, and expand over time.

Size and Location

Choose a level plot in a sunny location. Most vegetables need 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day, so avoid areas shaded by trees or buildings.

For beginners, a garden about 16 feet by 10 feet is a manageable size. Starting smaller helps ensure the garden stays enjoyable rather than overwhelming. If possible, place the garden close to your home to make watering, harvesting, and pest monitoring easier.

Soil Quality

Healthy soil is the foundation of a successful vegetable garden. Vegetables grow best in loamy, nutrient-rich soil.

Before planting, test your soil and improve it as needed by adding compost, mulch, or organic fertilizer. Good soil preparation will improve drainage, support strong root growth, and boost yields throughout the season.

Picking the Plants

Choose vegetables that suit your climate and growing season, and prioritize plants you actually enjoy eating. Local gardening centers or horticultural groups are great resources for regional recommendations.

Easy vegetables for beginners include:

Tomatoes
Zucchini
Peppers
Bush beans
Lettuce
Carrots
Radishes

Planting marigolds around your vegetable garden can also help deter pests like rabbits and insects.

Vegetable Rows

A 16-by-10-foot garden can comfortably fit about 10–11 rows, depending on spacing. Leave enough room between rows to walk, water, weed, and harvest without compacting the soil.

Clearly defined rows make garden maintenance easier and help keep plants organized as they grow.

Raised Beds or Tilling

Decide whether you want to plant directly in the ground or use raised beds.

Raised beds are recommended if:

Your soil quality is poor
Drainage is an issue
You prefer less bending and easier access

Tilling works well in established garden areas with good soil, but raised beds offer more control over soil conditions.

Building a Raised Bed

Raised beds are typically built 4 feet wide, allowing you to reach the center from either side. Use durable, natural materials like cedar, which resists rot and moisture without chemical treatments.

A raised bed should be at least 6 inches deep, with 12 inches ideal for most vegetables. Secure the boards with stakes and galvanized screws, then fill the bed with a mix of soil, compost, and manure.

Avoid pressure-treated lumber that may leach harmful chemicals into the soil.

Watering

Vegetable gardens generally need about 1 inch of water per week, though raised beds may require more frequent watering during hot weather.

To retain moisture and reduce evaporation, cover the soil with mulch, straw, or other organic material. Consistent watering helps prevent stress and improves overall plant health.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a large yard to grow vegetables successfully. With enough sunlight, healthy soil, and regular care, even small spaces can produce abundant harvests.

By planning your layout, choosing the right plants, and preparing your soil properly, you’ll set your vegetable garden up for long-term success—and enjoy fresh, homegrown food all season long.

Before adding extras, focus on the core components that make an outdoor kitchen functional and enjoyable.

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Raised Garden Beds: A Smarter Way to Grow

Create healthier soil, higher yields, and a more enjoyable gardening experience—no matter your yard conditions.

If you’re planning to add a flower or vegetable garden to your yard, raised garden beds are one of the most effective and versatile options available. A raised garden bed is a contained planting area—typically built from wood, stone, or composite materials—that elevates soil above ground level to create an optimized growing environment.

Raised beds offer a simple, practical way to garden more efficiently. By improving soil structure, drainage, and accessibility, they help plants thrive while making gardening easier and more enjoyable for you.

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Benefits of a Raised Garden Bed

When it comes to size, shape, and design, raised garden beds offer incredible flexibility. From compact kits to custom layouts, there’s an option for every space and skill level. More importantly, raised beds provide advantages that traditional in-ground gardens simply can’t match.

Better Soil Control

Raised garden beds give you full control over soil quality. You can tailor the soil mix to suit your plants by adding nutrient-rich compost, organic matter, and amendments as needed. Soil depth, texture, and pH are easier to manage—creating ideal growing conditions from day one.

Increased Yields

By planting in a grid or matrix rather than traditional rows, raised beds allow you to grow more plants per square foot. Improved soil health and spacing often result in higher yields, healthier plants, and more productive harvests.

Lower Maintenance

Because raised beds make more efficient use of space, there’s less room for weeds to take hold. Targeted watering and planting also reduce waste, saving time, water, and effort. Everything is easier to reach, which means less bending, kneeling, and overall strain.

Improved Drainage

Excess water drains more effectively in raised beds, helping prevent root rot, fungal issues, and soil compaction—especially during heavy spring rains. This improved drainage creates a healthier environment for plant roots year-round.

Water-Saving Irrigation Options

Raised beds are ideal for efficient watering systems like drip irrigation or soaker hoses. These systems deliver water directly to plant roots, reducing evaporation and runoff while conserving water. It’s a simple upgrade that benefits both your garden and the environment.

Longer Growing Season

Because raised beds warm up faster in spring, you can start planting earlier than with traditional garden rows. They also retain warmth longer in the fall, extending your growing season and increasing overall productivity.

Improved Pest Control

Raised beds make it easier to protect plants from pests. Hardware cloth can be added beneath the bed to deter burrowing animals, while fencing or netting helps keep birds and insects at bay. The elevated design itself also discourages many common garden pests.

Easier to Use

Raised garden beds can be built at a height that suits your comfort level, reducing strain on your back and knees. Optional seating or ledges around the edges make planting, tending, and harvesting more enjoyable—especially for long gardening sessions.

A Garden You’ll Be Proud Of

Raised garden beds offer a healthier, more productive alternative to traditional garden rows—while giving you the freedom to design a garden that fits your space, style, and needs. Whether you’re growing vegetables, flowers, or a mix of both, raised beds make it easier to succeed and enjoy the process.

With the right design and materials, you’ll create a garden that’s not only productive—but one you’ll look forward to tending season after season.

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