If you’ve nevergardened with vegetablesbefore, you are in for a treat on many levels.
You literally get to eat the fruits of your labor!
Here are 9 easy steps to growing your own vegetables.
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In addition, the spot should be fairly level and have soil that isn’t compacted or too rocky.
Choose What to Grow
This is the fun part of planning a vegetable garden.
Its also deceptively difficult, because our eyes are much bigger than our gardens.
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Everything sounds so luscious that its very tempting to try and squeeze in more than we should.
Start From Seeds or Buy Seedling Plants
There are some practical considerations here.
A lot of gardeners willstart all their plants from seed, because seeds come in greater variety than seedlings.
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These can bedirect sownin your garden.
Your first concern should be placing the vegetables in their optimal growing conditions.
Youll also need to consider room for paths and space for working.
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But that doesnt mean it cant look great.
Research tips for laying out your vegetable garden and look atvegetable garden photosfor inspiration.
Grow More Vegetables in a Small Space
You dont usually plant your vegetable garden all at once.
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Some vegetables will fade when the weather heats up and others can be popped into the opened space.
Other vegetables only produce for a limited time and can be sown instaggered plantingsto extend the harvest.
Grow Vegetables in Containers
Almost any vegetable can be grown in containers.
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Containervegetablegardening has certain advantages.
First, you’ve got the option to control the soil and drainage.
And raising your vegetables off the ground a few feet makes them harder for pests to reach.
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Tend Your Garden
Now were ready to tackle more practical matters.
A vegetable garden requiresregular maintenance.
Vegetables wont wait until its convenient for you to water them, stake them or harvest them.
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Some tasks, like staking and mulching, can be done early in the season.
Others, like watering and weeding, will be ongoing.
Control Pests
You knew it was coming.Pest controlis a vital part of vegetable gardening.
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The last resort is to start spraying all kinds of concoctions on your food.
The trick is to stay on top of the situation and take the appropriate steps when necessary.
This is what is calledIntegrated Pest Management, or IPM.
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Harvest and Preserve
Finally.
To savor the best vegetables, you should probably knowwhen to pick them at their peak.
Some vegetables tell you, like the way a cantaloupe will slip off the vine.
Others take a bit of finesse.
