Want to grow a garden that fills your pantry—not just your plate? This beginner-friendly guide shows you how to plan a canning garden with purpose, from choosing what to grow to handling harvest season with ease.

Planning a Canning Garden: How to Grow What You Actually Want to Preserve

So you want to grow a garden that fills your pantry—not just your salad bowl. You’re in the right place. Whether you’re dreaming of jars of homegrown tomato sauce or just want to stop wasting cucumbers every summer, a canning garden helps you grow with purpose.

But if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed about where to begin, don’t worry—I’ve pulled together everything you need to get started, step by step. You don’t need acres of land or a perfect plan. You just need to start small, grow what you’ll actually use, and let each season teach you something new.

Let’s walk through it together.

Start with the Big Picture

If you’re brand new to this idea, begin with this post:
🍓Planning Your Canning Garden: Everything You Need to Grow What You Can
It walks you through the basics of growing for preservation—what it means, why it’s different from regular gardening, and how to start with confidence.

Want to keep it simple this season? This post is perfect for beginners:
🍓Start a Canning Garden with Just 2 Crops – Canning for Beginners Made Easy

Choose What to Grow (and How Much)

Skip the guesswork and focus on what you’ll actually use. These posts help you figure out what to plant based on your pantry goals:

• Grow a Canning Garden You’ll Actually Use – Recipe-Based Planning
• 10 Best Vegetables to Grow in Your Canning Garden
• How Many Plants Do I Need for Canning? A Beginner-Friendly Yield Guide

Pick the Right Spot and Setup

You don’t need perfect soil or a huge backyard—just a little planning goes a long way. These guides will help you choose the best space and setup for your garden:

• Is Your Garden Spot Up for the Job? How to Check Sunlight, Drainage, and Soil Before You Plant
• Raised Beds, Buckets, or In-Ground? How to Choose the Best Garden Setup for Your Canning Goals
• What Planting Zone Am I In? And Why It Matters for Canning Gardens

Decide How to Start Growing

Whether you’re buying plants from the nursery or starting from seed, this post will help you find what works best for your time, budget, and season:

🍓Seed Starting or Nursery Plants? What Beginner Gardeners Should Know Before Planting

Grow with the Seasons

Want a simple rhythm to follow through the year? This guide breaks it down month by month—no overwhelm, just a gentle nudge to help you stay on track:

🍓The Canning Garden Calendar – Month-by-Month Guide for Planning, Planting, and Harvesting

And when that first harvest turns into a whole lot of produce all at once, here’s how to keep your cool:
🍓Growing Food: What to Do When Everything Ripens at Once

Ready to Get Growing?

Now that you’ve got a plan in place, you can start digging in—literally. These beginner-friendly crop guides will walk you through how to grow two of the most popular canning staples:

• Growing Tomatoes – A Beginner’s Guide to Getting from Seed to Harvest
• Growing Green Beans – A Beginner’s Guide to Getting from Seed to Harvest

There’s no right way to grow a canning garden—just your way. Whether you start with a single pot of tomatoes or go all-in with rows of beans, you’re building something meaningful. And it’s okay to learn as you go.

Looking for next steps in the kitchen? Head over to my Canning for Beginners page to learn how to turn your harvest into jars.

Browse all of our gardening guides and tips

• Companion Planting for Canners: Which Crops Love Growing Together
  Want to grow more food with fewer pests? This beginner-friendly guide to companion planting shows you which veggies love growing together—perfect for gardeners who grow with canning in mind.
• How to Stop Pests Eating Your Veggies
  Tired of pests munching on your garden? Learn how to keep bugs away from your vegetables without harsh sprays—using companion planting, row covers, natural sprays, and more. Perfect for beginner gardeners!
• Planning Your Canning Garden: Everything You Need to Grow What You Can
  Want to grow a garden that actually fills your pantry? This beginner-friendly guide walks you through everything you need to plan a canning garden—from what to plant and how much, to when to harvest and preserve it all.
• Growing Food: What to Do When Everything Ripens at Once
  Feeling overwhelmed by a sudden flood of tomatoes, beans, or zucchini? This beginner-friendly guide shares how to prep for canning days, store produce short-term, and preserve your harvest without the stress.
• The Canning Garden Calendar: Month-by-Month Guide for Planning, Planting, and Harvesting
  Want to grow a canning garden without the guesswork? This beginner-friendly calendar breaks down what to do each month—plus includes a free printable to keep you on track all year long.
• Seed Starting or Nursery Plants? What Beginner Gardeners Should Know Before Planting
  Not sure if you should grow from seed or grab starter plants? This beginner-friendly guide breaks down when each method makes the most sense—plus tips for short seasons and first-time gardeners.
• Is Your Garden Spot Up for the Job? How to Check Sunlight, Drainage, and Soil Before You Plant
  Wondering if your yard is good enough for a canning garden? This beginner-friendly guide will help you check sunlight, test your soil, and fix drainage issues—no fancy tools needed.
• Raised Beds, Buckets, or In-Ground? How to Choose the Best Garden Setup for Your Canning Goals
  Not sure where to plant your canning garden? This beginner-friendly guide compares raised beds, container gardening, and in-ground planting so you can grow food with confidence—no matter your space or budget.
• How Many Plants Do I Need for Canning? A Beginner-Friendly Yield Guide
  Planning your canning garden? Here’s how to figure out exactly how many tomato plants (and more!) you need to grow for a year’s worth of jars. Simple tips, helpful charts, and no scary math!
• 10 Best Vegetables to Grow in Your Canning Garden
  Planning your canning garden? These 10 easy veggies are perfect for beginners and produce big harvests for your pantry! Learn when to plant and get tips for canning success.
• Growing Tomatoes – A Beginner’s Guide to Getting from Seed to Harvest
  Dreaming of homegrown tomato sauce? Learn how to grow tomatoes for your self-sufficient canning garden—whether you’re planting in containers, raised beds, or from seed!
• Growing Green Beans – A Beginner’s Guide to Getting from Seed to Harvest
  New to gardening? Growing green beans is the perfect way to start your self-sufficient canning garden! Learn how to grow them in containers, raised beds, or with a trellis—even from seed!
• Start a Canning Garden with Just 2 Crops – Canning for Beginners Made Easy
  New to growing food for canning? Start your canning garden with just tomatoes and green beans! This simple guide to canning for beginners shows why starting small is the smart way to grow.
• Grow a Canning Garden You’ll Actually Use – Recipe-Based Planning for a Self Sufficient Garden
  Want to grow a canning garden that fills your pantry with jars you’ll actually use? This guide to recipe-based garden planning is perfect for a self sufficient garden setup. A must-read for canning for beginners!
• What Planting Zone Am I In? (And Why It Matters for Canning Gardens)
  Not sure what your planting zone is or why it matters? This quick guide breaks it down in simple terms so you can plan your canning garden like a pro! Includes helpful tips for growing what you can preserve.