A Guide to Planting Vegetables in Your Garden

If you have decided that it is about time you start enjoying only fresh fruits and vegetables, then allow us to introduce gardening to you.

Foods fresh from the garden are fresh and have a lovely flavor and a very vibrant texture. The only thing that beats fresh vegetables is fresh vegetables that you grow yourself.

We will not mislead you and tell you it will be a walk in the park on a bright day. Gardening vegetables can be a tasking, daunting procedure, especially for someone new to it.

However, if you have the right pointers, with time, gardening will not just be easier, it will become something you look forward to.

This article highlights some tips you need to help you plant vegetables. So let us dig in, and we mean that literally.

1. Select Your Location

The first thing you need to do is pick the location as this is a major factor. Trust us when we say that the first step to ensuring your veggies turn out great is by choosing a great location. Below are some tips that would help you pick the right site for your vegetable garden.

The Soil must be Nutrient-Rich.

The soil is what would feed the plants, so you would need to make sure that the soil of the site you choose is vibrant. If it is not, you can follow this article’s tips to help enrich the soil.

If you are not certain whether the soil is nutrient-rich or not, you can test the soil using a soil testing kit.

Ensure the Soil Drains Well

Ensure that the soil of the site you choose does not have poor drainage; planting veggies in soil that constantly pools water would not be great for the veggies.

If the soil is wet, the roots would also stay wet, which can eventually cause the roots to rot. However, if the only soil available tends to hold water, you may plant your vegetables in a raised row or bed as this would aid drainage.

Choose a Spot with Enough Sunlight

Most veggies require at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day. Only a few vegetables like leafy ones can tolerate a little bit of shade. Therefore, ensure the location you pick would allow direct sunlight to touch the plants.

Ensure the Spot isn’t Windy

If the place gets strong winds, then the wind may end up knocking the young plants over or may also prevent the process of pollination. So, ensure you avoid anywhere that is too windy. Also, avoid places that get a lot of foot traffic.

2. Choose the Garden Size

One common error that most beginners tend to make is to plant a lot in a short while; some persons would go as far as planting way too much than anyone wants or can eat.

You should avoid this pitfall as much as you can because taking care of a small garden and being satisfied with it is a lot better than owning a large one and getting frustrated by it.

If you choose to plant on a raised gardening bed, we recommend that a 4 by 4 or 4 by 8 bed is an ideal size for a beginner. If you are DIY-enthusiasts, you can watch this YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtnArAl617k for steps on how to construct a raised garden bed.

If you decide to plant directly on the ground, then a 10 by 10 ground is great. This can accommodate at least three to five veggies.

If you are convinced that you can handle a bigger size, you can go for a 12 by 24 size, as this is the biggest size we would recommend for a first-timer.

Finally, regardless of the size, you decide on, ensure that you create a path at every 4 feet to have access to your plants for occasions where you need to either harvest or weed the garden.

3. Find out When You Can Plant

Each region has a planting time that is largely based on the weather of the region. The type of plant to be planted can also determine when you can plant them, as every veggie has a specific temperature preference. Therefore, do research and find out the best planting seasons and dates for the vegetable you intend to plant.

4. Where to Plant

You do not have to consider this if you intend to plant a few tomato plants. However, if you want a garden that would contain many vegetables, then where each plant will go is a major thing to consider. Below are some pointers that would help you properly arrange your plants:

• As we have already stated, all veggies are not planted during the same periods. Some veggies are considered cool-season veggies, examples are broccoli, lettuce, and peas. So, these are to be planted in early spring when the temperature is cool. Other veggies like peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers are considered warm-season veggies and should be planted in the summer or late spring.
• Plant the taller vegetables towards the north section of the selected plot to prevent them from shading the shorter crops.
• Vegetables are majorly annual crops, however, there are exceptions to this as some veggies like rhubarb, some herbs, and asparagus, are perennial. Ensure to get permanent beds or locations for veggies like these.

5. Choose Vegetables to Plant

Some vegetables are a lot easier to cultivate than other veggies, and as a newbie, we would advise that you go for these plants. Some easy-to-grow vegetables are green beans, radishes, peppers, lettuce, carrots, peas, and so on.

If you choose to plant cucumbers, then you must know that pruning cucumbers is a way to ensure they stay in perfect shape and produce excellently.

Furthermore, we recommend that you study the climate of the area where you live before you choose your preferred crops. This is because some areas have sweltering weather conditions, and if you plant crops that prefer cool temperatures in such areas, they may struggle.

Conclusion

Planting vegetables is a satisfying work that often results in delicious results. However, it may be a daunting experience especially for someone new to it. The pointers discussed in this article will help anyone interested in owning a vegetable garden.