You are just starting out and I have been doing it for 50+ years. Wow, amending your soil is the most important. I prefer raised beds at my age, easier for me than bending so low to plant. I use bales of peat moss, ground up leaves, vermiculite, and composted manure if you can get it. I like actually to put in on in the fall before winter. Give it extra time to decompost before I plant. I save kitchen scraps, fiber egg cartons torn into small pieces, powdered egg shells, and anything else I can shred and save over the winter to add to the soil. It takes time, but so worth the effort. Happy gardening to you.