Planting vegetables starts by picking the right place. Choose flat ground without roots and stones. A sunny spot with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun daily is the best If water quickly sinks in the ground, that spot works.
You also need a water source. Break the soil and remove existing roots and weeds until you can easily run fingers through it.
How to Start a Vegetable Garden
Basics for starting a vegetable garden are made of six easy steps: planning, site selection, soil preparation, planting seeds, maintaining the garden and harvesting. Each vegetable garden requires good soil, enough sun and right amount of water. Proper distance between plants matters too.
Start small. 4×4 or 4×8 raised bed or 10×10 in-ground plot works for newcomers. Vegetables need a bit of space, but not whole acres.
You can do a vegetable garden in soil or raised beds, but many vegetables grow also in pots. Enough lettuce for salad comes from 12-inch pot on the back deck.
List vegetables that you like to eat. Do not plant what you normally do not eat. A garden that shows what genuinely is on your plate reduces waste of foods.
Some easiest vegetables for growing are bush beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, summer squash and leafy vegetables like kale and Swiss chard. Plant tall crops north and west so they do not shade short plants.
Choosing right planting dates is very serioous. Vegetables have different preferences for growing. Knowing the local frost-free period helps you pick the right moment.
Warm season crops die because of cold. Warm season transplants in cold soil injure roots. Cool season crops are radishes, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, potatoes and onions.
Warm season crops are beans, tomatoes and peas.
Seeds you can start in the house before sowing outside. Pepper seeds are planted inside 8 to 10 weeks before the last cold. Some vegetables do not work for transplanting and must be directly sown in ground.
Mark lines by using tight string across the area for uniform rows. For a steady harvest, sow some vegetables each two weeks during the whole season.
Vegetables require one to two inches of water weekly from rain or hose. Sandy soil drains quickly and may need double amount. Checking the weather is one of the main issues for garden health.
Marigolds help as companion plants because many bad insects avoidthem.