Planting a home vegetable garden, whether in the backyard, in containers, or a raised bed, is a great way to save money while providing your family with fresh delicious food for the table!
Growing tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, green beans, radishes, onions, and peppers is simple and easy.
A small investment of time and money will bring many delicious rewards to your dinner table!
Download Free Garden Planning Worksheets, Garden Diary, Zone Chart, Or Planting Guide
Points to Ponder: Soil!
One of the first thing that you need to consider is your soil.
If you want your plants to thrive, you are going to need soil that is fertile, has good drainage and is "friable," which means that it crumbles easily in your hand; and is therefore easy for the plants to push their roots through. It also means that it will be easier to remove weeds, and harvest plants such as beets and carrots from the ground. If you will be gardening in containers, simply fill them with a good quality potting soil. You will want to change the soil each year. How to Condition Backyard Garden Soil
When planting in the ground, if you are working with soil that has not been used to plant a garden before, you will likely find that you need to make some additions to achieve ideal soil conditions.
Hint: Every ounce of energy you spend on this step will pay huge dividends!
When the soil is fairly dry, dig out the area that you will be using. You'll need to dig down around eight or ten inches, and turn the soil over until it is rather loose. It will be much easier to do this if you have access to a rototiller or garden tractor! Then you can work compost, well-aged manure, mulch, peat moss, sand or other types of additives into the soil. Each year you can add more organic materials, which will further condition and enrich the soil for your plants.
What to Plant?
What to plant is your next consideration, and with just a little bit of research, you'll find that you have many exciting choices.
Start with your favorite produce that grow well in your area and climate, while considering the amount of space that you have available.
Lettuce, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, peppers and onions are all very easy to grow at home.
(Which means you can grow almost everything required for a delicious green salad in containers, in a very small amount of space such as a porch or patio!)
Choose a Sunny Location!
Most plants require a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight each day. If planted in the ground, your plot should also be located well away from trees or shrubs which will shade or take water from your plants. Pots or containers should also be placed in a sunny location.
Choose containers with drainage holes in the bottom, fill them with good-quality potting soil, and plant your seeds or small plants. Mix in a few pots of flowers to add some color, fragrance and beauty to your plot. Hint! Containers can dry out quickly in warm or hot weather, so be sure to check them frequently and water as needed when the soil appears dry on the surface.
Seeds or Small Plants?
If this is your first garden, consider purchasing plants and seeds from a local gardening center, as they will be varieties suitable for your area.
When to Plant?
Click Here for a Vegetable Planting Guide
You'll find that if you live in a warmer climate, you will be able to sow the seeds you have chosen, directly into the soil.
In cooler climates, you will want to want until all danger of frost is past before planting outdoors, as most plants are not tolerant of freezing weather.
Most plants are very easy to grow from seed. Just follow the directions on the back of the seed packet. Be sure to thin seedlings as directed on the seed packet, as if your plants are crowded, they will not grow properly or flourish.
Enjoy Your Garden!
Planting a garden is something that gives many people great satisfaction.
Each season in the garden brings new fun and challenges, and adds more experience and knowledge to the foundation we are building.
Gardening a great way to relax and let go of some of the stress in your life.
It is a fun activity or hobby for the whole family to enjoy.
And, best of all, you can eat and share the fruits of your labor!