Planting A Vegetable Gardens

There are few things more rewarding to a gardener than to be able to head out to their vegetable garden to harvest and eat the fruits of their labor. Gardening can be much more than a hobby: not only can planting your own vegetable garden reduce your food budget, it ensures you have the best-tasting, highest-quality and freshest vegetables possible, without preservatives or pesticides tainting their flavor.

Contrary to popular belief, if done right, a vegetable garden can be attractive and functional at the same time. Successful gardens are the result of proper planning and constant care. Be prepared to spend about 30 minutes each day in your garden. Following a few simple steps can ensure a flourishing vegetable garden.

Selecting a Site
This is the first, and possibly most important, step in the process. If you are a novice gardener, the key is to start of small; you don't want to bite off more than you can chew. A 25 square-foot vegetable garden should be sufficient for beginners. There are several factors to consider when choosing a site for your garden:

1. Sunlight - Vegetable gardens need at least six hours of sunlight per day (8-10 hours is ideal).

2. Distance from the House - The shorter the distance, the better, but consider the first factor and keep the garden away from areas that will be blocked by your house or other obstructions. The closer it is to your home the easier for you to harvest your vegetables at their peek of freshness. Weeding, watering and insect control will also be easier since it will be visible from your home.

3. Soil - Fertile, easy-to-till, loose, well-drained soil works best. Planting the garden is easiest with naturally rich soil.

4. Water - Besides rain and irrigation, vegetable gardens need 1 inch of water per week.

5. Good Air Drainage - Avoid low spots in your yard, which are slow to warm in the spring and freeze earliest in the cooler months. Try to plan your garden on high ground, which will result in a longer harvest season.

Planning the Garden
Basically, all you have to do in this step is decide what vegetables you want to grow. You should research what grows best in the climate you live in. Be adventurous; one advantage to growing your own vegetables is trying things you may not find in stores. You may even introduce yourself to a new favorite vegetable.

Tools
Gardening tools range from cheap to very expensive. It is best to find something in between. Just know that the better the quality, the longer the tool will last. A few basic tools every vegetable gardener should have are a four-pronged digging fork, a trowel, a rake, hoe, measuring stick, string and stakes.

Watering
Determine when to water by inspecting the soil, not the plants. As a general rule, if the soil is dry 1-2 inches deep, it needs watering. Avoid watering in short intervals because it forces the plants to develop shallow root systems.

Weed Control
Because weeds compete with vegetables for air, sunlight, water and nutrients in the soil, they can hinder the overall growth of vegetable gardens. Applying mulches and hoeing regularly can stop the development of weeds in vegetable gardens. Be careful not to hoe weeds near your vegetables; they need to be picked out by hand.