How to Start a Vegetable Garden

Maintaining a vegetable garden is a great way to enjoy fresh seasonable vegetables. This guide on How to Start a Vegetable Garden contains everything you need to know to get your garden started.

Introduction
- There is nothing in the world quite like walking out into your own garden, plucking a tomato from the vine and sinking your teeth into its juicy goodness. The joy doesn't just stop there. There's a whole garden of fresh vegetables right at your fingertips just waiting to be chopped up for salads, pickled and canned.
- For some people gardening is a great escape after a long day at work, despite the fact that maintaining a vegetable garden is a part-time job in itself. It takes a lot of work to get it started, and then you have to maintain it on a regular basis. If you've got plans to start a vegetable garden, be sure to check out the instructions and tips below.
Things You'll Need
1. A plot of land
2. Sunlight
3. Seeds and/or seedlings
4. Gardening gloves
5. Garden tools: shovel, rake, hoe
6. Water Hose or watering can
7. Compost and fertilizer
8. Ground stakes for vine plants
9. Pest Control
Step 1: Planning
- The best time to start planning out your garden is during the winter months. This will give you plenty of time to plan out the size and the types of vegetables you want to plant.
Where to Plant Your Garden
- While planning out your garden, one of the most important things to consider is where you will put it.
1. Make sure your garden is in a place that receives as much sunlight as possible during the day.
  1. If your garden runs east to west you will want to plant taller vegetables in the north so the other plants don't get shaded.
2. Be sure to plant on a level plot of ground to avoid water run-off and erosion.
3. Plant close to your house so it isn't convenient to walk out and tend to your garden.
4. Water is an important factor in maintaining your garden, so be sure to plant close to a water source.
Garden Size
- The size of your garden will be based on the types of vegetables and how many you plan to plant. Determine how much space you will need based on these factors. During this process it's also a good idea to draw out where each vegetable will be planted in the garden. You will need to take into consideration plant height and width to make sure plants don't become overcrowded or shaded.
When to Plant Your Garden
- The time most seeds can be planted is based on your geographical region. Frost can destroy seedlings, so you will want to familiarize yourself with your local first and last frost dates.
- Some vegetables grow better when you begin them indoors. Check seed packet instructions to see if any of your planned vegetables need to be started indoors six weeks before the last frost.
Step 2: Getting the Soil Ready
- Before you start planting there are a couple of steps you'll want to take to get your soil ready.
Your Soil pH
- The acidity or alkalinity of your soil will determine how well your plants grow. You can have your soil pH tested at your local garden center, or you can buy a kit there to test it yourself. For growing most garden vegetables, a pH level around 6.5 is i
Tilling
- It's time to break ground and start tilling and cultivating the soil. Add any compost or organic material as your turning the ground.
1. Weed out any rocks that are turned out with the soil.
2. When you begin digging out your plot, you can turn grass sods grass-side down so they rot and turn into a rich compost.
3. If using compost, turn it into the soil well so it is evenly distributed.
4. If you are going to plant in an existing garden don't turn the soil. Instead aerate it with a pitch fork. Work compost or fertilizer in as you aerate.
Step 3: Sowing Seeds
- Your soil is ready so it's time to start planting. If you haven't already shopped for your seeds and seedlings, you'll want to start shopping as soon as possible. Some vegetables, like peppers and tomatoes need to be started indoors eight weeks before planting time, or bought as seedlings and transplanted.
1. Follow the plan you mapped out so that all plants receive the best amount of sunlight.
2. Plant taller plants like corn along the northern edge of the garden so they don't shade the other vegetables.
3. Consider growing in wide rows so plants like beans and peas don't need staking.
  1. Wide rows crowd out weeds.
  2. You can grow more in less space.
  3. It cuts down on how much time you spend watering, cultivating and weeding.
4. Take advantage of slow growing seedlings by growing them beside quick-growing vegetables.
  1. You can plant lettuce and beats together, and by the time the beats tops grow, the lettuce will be gone.
  2. Mix a packet of carrot seeds with a packet of spinach seeds and grow them together. The spinach is ready to harvest in six weeks, and the carrots can take over the area as they finish growing.
5. Group plants together by harvest date so your garden is always producing.
6. Make raised beds out of top soil for vegetables that require a lot of heat.
  1. Raised beds are good for heavy soil that might not drain well.
  2. Root crops like beats and carrots thrive in raised beds.
Step 4: Garden Maintenance
- Once your seeds are planted, there are a number of things you need to maintain on a regular basis to keep your garden healthy and productive.
Watering
- Early on, you will want to keep the seeds moist so they can germinate. Once they start to sprout, you can allow them a little time to dry out between waterings. During dry summer months when there isn't a lot of rain, you'll want to make sure your garden gets plenty to drink. Make sure your hose is long enough to reach all areas of your garden. You might even consider buying an oscillating attachment that can run in the evening so water doesn't evaporate in the hot sun.
Weeding
- Weeds will crowd in and take up valuable soil nutrients and water that could better serve your plants. They will also draw unwanted insects to your vegetables. Spend time regularly in your garden weeding.
Pest Control
- Animals and insects are eagerly anticipating your garden and will do whatever it takes to get in there and harvest the fruits of your labor before you.
1. Black pepper around the perimeter will deter rabbits from gnawing at your veggies.
2. Planting marigolds around the edges will keep away animals and insects.
3. Proper spacing between your plants should help cut down on insect infestation and disease.
4. Snail and earwig bait will keep them from nibbling at your plants.
5. A wire mesh fencing around the perimeter will keep most animals from straying in to snack on your vegetables.
6. Human hair clippings keep the deer at bay, so be sure to keep the clippings from your next hair cut handy.
7. If you notice you're having trouble with insects, don't hesitate fighting back with insecticide or soap shield. If you want to keep your garden pesticide free, try one of the many organic insecticide formulas.
Conclusion
- It's only a matter of time before your vegetables will be ready to harvest. Be sure to harvest regularly so that your plants continue to produce throughout the season. The benefits of vegetable gardening extend beyond the joy of fresh vegetables all season long. It will also inspire you to spend a little time outside in the fresh air every day.
Resources for How to Start a Vegetable Garden
- Backyard Gardener: How to Really Start the Garden
- eHow: How to Start a Vegetable Garden
- GardenGuides.com: Starting Your First Vegetable Garden
- The Garden Helper: Soil acidity: How to Adjust Soil pH in your garden (May14, 1999)
- Gardening Know How: Starting a Vegetable Garden
- Howstuffworks: How to Start a Vegetable Garden
- Main Street Seed and Supply: Planning and Starting Your Vegetable Garden
- Organic Gardening From Down Under: How to Start off your Vegetable Garden
- Times Online: How to Start a Vegetable Garden (April 4, 2007)
- Weekend Gardener: Start a Vegetable Garden