tips for starting my first vegetable garden?

Seeds for lettuce are easy; the timing depends on yr microclimate. The best advice on what crops and when will come from your gardening buddies. Ask about the other root veggies like turnips and parsnips, and Jerusalem artichokes, which I harvest here after the first frost and eat raw and sliced in salad.

Here in the NE we start w. seeds inside in late March; then transplant. Starters are easier, of course.

There are also a huge number of local resourses…..for example, God wot.
SF garden

Carrots are great and easy to grow. I’ve never found any desire to plant vegetables of the sort that I can get less expensively and as high quality at the store, like beets, potatoes, etc. On the other hand, tomatoes, lettuces, corn, you can all do better yourself.

I also found out the hard way that your soil can make a huge difference for hot peppers. One year we grew jalapenos that were just plain nasty.

I just talked w. a transplanted SF landscape designer. He said that there were dozens of miniclimates in the bay area due to hills, winds, currents. So he agreed; talk to your neighboring gardeners or nearby nurseries. He said yes to starting lettuces now and no to Jerusalem artichokes.

Can you grow corn successfully in SF?

My understanding is that anything Mediterranean grows quite well all year around in the bay area as our climates are fairly similar. Thus the kale is a great idea, spinach too. For super specific gardening tips you can look up the Western Climate Zone system you are in (I think SF is 14 or 15 or something) and plant according to that as well.

Make sure you turn the dirt over well. Digging deep will help out your root crops. I always recommend adding a little cured manure while turning dirt. It makes it easier and really pays off in crop production.

Try this website: http://invinciblesummerfarms.com/ they’ll be sharing the whole process online through the season. Plus they sell really great seeds.