Question: Is there a blessing to say before I begin planting a vegetable garden?

Answer: That’s an interesting question. Although the Rabbis did institute blessings before benefiting from this world and before performing many commandments, they did not institute specific blessings for other activities.  That being said, however, the Talmud says that a person should offer a prayer to G-d for the success of any endeavor. It would then seem, that a prayer, in your own words, before planting would definitely be proper.  You can ask God to give you success in your efforts, and that you should enjoy the fruits—or vegetables!—of your labor.

Feel free to ask anything further.

Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum