Cool-season crops can stand lower temperatures plant them before the soil warms in the spring. Vegetables are divided into two general groups-warm season and cool season. This makes it easier to replant after removing an early crop such as lettuce or beets (Fig. Also, group vegetables according to maturity. Group tall vegetables such as okra, corn and tomatoes together on the north side of the garden where they won’t shade shorter vegetables such as bush beans. Grow vegetables your family likes to eat.Īrrange vegetables in a way that makes the most efficient use of space and light. This is especially important if the garden is purely for recreation or personal enjoyment. Grow different kinds of vegetables to put more variety in your diet. All vegetables are good, but some are more nutritious than others. Broccoli is usually one of the more expensive vegetables that can be grown in most home gardens.įood value of vegetables. Plant vegetables that are expensive to buy at the grocery store. Tomatoes, bush beans, squash and peppers require more space but produce over a long season.Ĭost of vegetables if purchased. Small, fast-maturing crops such as radishes, turnips and beets yield quickly and do not require much space. The smaller the garden, the more important it is to get high production from each row. Other vine crops such as cucumbers and cantaloupes can be grown in small gardens by trellising them on a fence some other structure.Įxpected production from the crop. Do not plant watermelons in a small garden. Consider the following points in selecting vegetables: What to grow in the garden is as big a decision as where to locate it. If you want to plant ten rows of vegetables, the garden must be 30 feet wide. Most need at least 3 feet of space between rows. If you want to grow vegetables for canning or freezing, a bigger area is needed. If the garden is purely a recreational activity, a container or flower bed garden may be big enough. A larger family also can use more vegetables. If gardening is a family activity, a large space can be cared for. If the only time you have for gardening is after work or school, or on weekends, there may not be enough time to care for a large garden. In a suburban or rural area, however, there may be plenty of ground space for a garden. For apartment dwellers, the garden may be a planter box. When determining the size of your garden, consider these factors: A garden that is too large will be too much work. Making the garden too large is one of the most common mistakes of enthusiastic, first-time gardeners.
A successful garden begins with a good design. Few people have the perfect garden location, so look for the best spot possible.įigure 1.Water is needed especially during long dry periods or when planting seeds. In many areas a garden can grow without watering, but it is more likely to be successful if it is irrigated. Plant the garden near a water supply if possible.Do not plant vegetables under the branches of large trees or near shrubs because they rob vegetables of food and water.Most vegetables need at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Do not plant where buildings, trees or shrubs will shade the garden. Vegetables need sunlight to grow well.Do not plant where weeds do not grow vegetables will not grow well there either.Vegetables will not grow in poorly drained areas. Do not choose low areas where water stands or the soil stays wet.Choose a place where the soil is loose, rich, level, and well-drained.Planning includes selecting the garden location deciding on the size of the garden determining the types and varieties of vegetables to plant and planning where, when, and how much of each vegetable to plant in the garden. A good plan is the first step in establishing a flourishing home vegetable garden.