Now that you've considered your options, decided between containers or raised beds, let's get started on a basic list of supplies. It's a cluttered market out there and becoming overwhelmed or taken in by all the little gadgets can happen before you even know it.

Soil and Fertilizer

The medium in which your edibles create roots can be made into the most complicated process imaginable. Each individual edible will have it’s own preference for soil composition and pH levels. You could make yourself crazy trying to accommodate all your edibles by creating the perfect soil mixture filled with different amounts of moss, mulch, vermiculite, perlite, and other amendments. Or you can head to the local nursery, pick up a bag of potting soil, fertilizer, and get gardening.

In all seriousness, a bag of pre-blended potting soil and a bag of fertilizer is all you need to get started with container gardening. If you end up going the raised bed direction, search for a local dirt supplier who offers a planting mix. It should be significantly cheaper than potting soil, which is important since you’ll be buying yards of dirt. Look for one that also has the capability to deliver the dirt to your home. Just know, it will likely be a bit rougher than bagged potting soil but it will do just fine as long as you treat it well over time. This is where a bag of fertilizer and compost will come in handy to add some health to your soil.

In terms of fertilizer and compost, you’ll have a number of organic options and really, most should do just fine. Make sure to pick one that matches what you’re planting – for most all edibles you’ll grow, a good all around organic vegetable fertilizer and compost should be sufficient.

Irrigation

Just like soil, how you water your edibles can be as simple or as complicated as you like. That being said it’s perhaps the most important thing to get right in edible gardening, so consider it early on in the process and plan your planting accordingly.

There are two main options which fit the lazy gardener model; one requires just a little bit of work a few times a week and the other more work up front and little to none after that.

• Option one; use a hose, watering can, measuring cup, or whatever you want to water. Just know depending on the temperature and how fast the water is evaporating you may need to water some of the plants almost every day.
• Option two; set up a timed system using a soaker hose. It requires a bit more of an investment and consideration into how you plan to physically set it up as well as making adjustments until you figure out how often the plants will need more water.

If you plan to use the second option for irrigation, make sure to set up the soaker hose before planting. Otherwise you might find yourself struggling to wind it around delicate starters.

Basic Tools

Don’t feel the need to buy expensive tools as a lazy gardener. The only tools I’ve ever used on a regular basis when planting are an inexpensive hand trowel, hand cultivator, pruner, and gloves. I’ve bought the whole set for less than $50.00 and as a lazy gardener, there’s simply no reason to spend more than that. Take it from me, I’ve learned the hard way by purchasing more expensive tools, only to forsake their care over the winter and find them covered in rust the following spring. Inexpensive tools will do you well, just take mildly good care of your pruner to keep the blades sharp.

Containers

At your local nursery or hardware store, typically three options of containers will be presented to you;

• decorative,
• terra cotta,
• and plastic.

Unless you've got a whole lot of cash burning a hole in your wallet - steer away from the decorative containers. They tend to be high priced and not beneficial in any way to the plants - some may even contain lead or other substances you wouldn't want anywhere near your food. Leave the decorative containers to the edible landscapers.

Terra cotta containers are perhaps the traditional variety but are also the heaviest and break fairly easily if pushed off a step or dropped. These will also suck all the moisture out of your plants, leaving them constantly thirsty for more water.

Plastic containers will be the lightest and provide both adequate drainage and retain moisture well. Look for plastic containers with multiple drainage holes in the bottom, they may need to be popped out with a small blunt instrument or carefully use a drill to add additional holes. If you end up cracking the plastic, like I have many times, as long as a whole piece hasn't gone missing it won't make a difference to your edibles. A little duct tape can go a long way towards holding a plastic container together.

Raised Beds

Perhaps a stretch too far for some lazy gardeners, raised beds can be a lot of work up front. However, the pay off in large quantities of edibles, is usually worth the money and sweat in the long run. My three raised beds and I'm sure hundreds of others around the West are built using these instructions from Sunset Magazine. These plans recommend using more expensive varieties of wood - but pine has worked out just fine for me. One other important tool you'll need for raised bed gardening is a spade or shovel to turn and maintain your soil.

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Next up, we'll cover the most important supply of edible gardening; the plants themselves and how to get them into the ground.