The first mistake that some new gardeners make is that they start their gardens in the wrong place. I learned this from early on in my gardening ventures. Soil is the most important part of planting a garden. You need to choose the perfect site. When I first started the garden and I knew where I wanted it to be, I actually took a soil sample from the area I was considering to my local co-op extension to be tested. Turns out, I had ideal soil and was all set to start planting a vegetable garden. I started small with just tomatoes and then just added more after I mastered the art of growing tomatoes. What types of vegetables to grow will depend on where you live and how much room you have. A plant needs a lot of sun and heat whereas corn takes up a lot of room.
Be aware that gardening takes a lot of time and patience. You have to weed, harvest and water your garden constantly. You should estimate that you will need to work on your garden on an average of 20 to 30 minutes a day. If you go out of town for an extended period of time, you will need a neighbor or someone to tend your garden while you are away
You will need a few tools to start your garden such as a garden hose, rake, hoe and shovel. Some people will start off with a shovel and garden hose. But this will depend on what your budget is and you can always add on to your garden tool collection later on.