Vegetable gardening at home can be a great way to have easy access to healthy foods, to save money, and to get up close and personal with nature – also, gardening can provide great exercise!
Here are some tips from Better Homes and Gardens on how to start your first vegetable garden.
Start with a small space. If you’re a beginner, start small. It is better to be excited by what you produce in a small garden that to be frustrated by the time commitment a big one requires. A good starting size is 6x6 feet. Select about 5 types of vegetables to grow and plant a few of each. You’ll get lots of fresh produce and it will be easy to keep up with the chores. Growing in containers is also a good way to start – a sunny deck or balcony is all you need!
Grow what you love to eat. What vegetables do you love to eat? Your answer will tell you what you should plant in your garden. Make sure to be mindful of the different varieties of certain veggies that might be more disease resistant, have improved yields, or better heat/cold tolerance.
Choose the spot for your garden. No matter where you put your garden, or what you decide to plant, there are two basic requirements that your garden needs for success: water and sunlight. Most vegetables like full sun, but if your location provides partial shade, plan things that tolerate those conditions like lettuce, kale, spinach, chives, cilantro, parsley, and thyme. Root vegetables like carrots, radishes, and beets might also work if they get at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Start plants in rich soil. For the best harvest, your vegetable garden needs the best soil you can give it. Rich healthy soil is something you know when you feel it. It is easy to dig and drains well. Raised garden beds are an easy option if you have poor soil. Build the beds on existing lawn and line the bottom of the frames with several layers of newspaper, then fill with soil.
Happy gardening everyone!