SmartHomeOwners

Have you always dreamed of growing your own vegetable garden so you can enjoy delicious, fresh veggies every year?  Growing vegetables isn't as difficult as you may think.  In fact, it's easy to grow vegetables at home if you know how to follow just a few simple steps.  Use these guidelines to start your own vegetable garden.

Location, Location, Location

Before planting, take time to carefully choose a location for your vegetable garden.  Consider the size of garden you want and whether you plan to expand it in years to come.  If you want to start small and expand later, be sure there's enough room for expansion.  Also, pick a sunny area of your yard that's free from long periods of shade throughout the day.  Don't plant your vegetable garden near large buildings or barns that will block the sun for the good part of the day.  Gardens need plenty of sunlight. 

Also, be sure your garden is within reach of a water hose for those dry times during summer months.  Choose a spot that's not prone to weed growth (except normal grass) and be sure the garden will have good drainage.  Avoid planting on steep slopes.  If you must plant on a slope, you'll need to add small trenches to capture water and prevent run-off.  Once you choose a location, it's time to till the ground and prepare for planting.

Smart Design for Your Garden

Having a small vegetable garden doesn't mean you can't diversify.  Plant a few mini-patches of several vegetables. Plant the vegetables that have differing nutritional demands side by side.  This prevents over-depletion of the soil.  Diversifying your vegetables also helps control pests.  You can plant the garden row upon row (with parallel lines) or in garden beds (vegetables in raised plots without rows).  Bedding your garden will save space if you have very little yard space to work with, but these tend to be less organized.

Consider the tenderness or hardiness of a vegetable before planting.  Your area's climate will determine what and when you can plant.  If temperatures tend to be below 55 degrees F at night in your area, avoid planting very tender plants such as watermelon, pepper, cucumber or cantaloupe.  Tender crops that can withstand cooler nights (but not frost) include tomatoes, corn, lima beans and winter squash.  Half-hardy vegetables include Irish potatoes, lettuce, beets and carrots.  These can withstand light frosts but not hard freezes or frosts.  Hardy vegetables can withstand frost but not deep winter.  Vegetables in this category include garden peas, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, turnips, kale and onions.  Consider planting very tender vegetables indoors in pots during cooler weather.

Speak with the Experts

Visit several gardening centers or greenhouses in your area.  Speak with folks at the local farmer's market about the planting season.  Most will be more than willing to help out a beginner!  Ask questions about which vegetables grow best in your climate and when to plant/harvest your vegetables.  Experienced farmers can help you more than any textbook.

Once you've planted your garden, check on it each day if possible to be sure animals, pests and weeds aren't harming your plants.  If you have a dry week, don't forget to keep your plants watered often.  If you have children, teach them about gardening and allow them to help from the initial planting until the harvest.  Once harvest time arrives, your family can enjoy preparing, canning and cooking your new tasty veggies!