Planting Vegetables

Planning

When planning a vegetable garden, there are several things to remember. First, most vegetables require 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Therefore, locate your vegetable garden where it can get adequate sun and where it won't be cast in shadows from trees. Second, don't make your garden larger than you need it. A 10' x 15' garden will give you ample space to grow a large variety of vegetables. Also, plan to plant your vegetables after the last spring frost as it is damaging to most types of vegetables.

Preparing

When you choose a location for your garden, you'll need to prepare the soil. You can do this by tilling or digging the soil, removing existing weeds in the process. You should also mix in some compost or natural fertiliser. The amount needed depends on the size of your garden and the type of compost or fertiliser you use. If your soil is primarily clay, you may want to add some sand to improve drainage.

Planting

When you are ready to plant your vegetables, make sure to orient your rows of crops so that the rows run east to west, and keep the tallest plants on the north end of the garden. This will give all of your vegetables the best access to the sun. When planting seeds, depth is very important. As a general rule, plant the seeds about twice as deep as the seed is wide. For example, smaller seeds such as carrots and spinach should be planted only about1/4 to 1/2 inch below the surface. Larger seeds, such as beans, should be planted1 to 2 inches deep depending on the brand.

Maintaining

After planting your seeds, it is important to keep them moist. Use a sprinkler or similar device to keep the seeds and soils moist. This will keep the seed's shell soft allowing the sprout to break through. Weeding is another very important part of maintaining your garden. Weeding your garden on a consistent basis will keep your garden healthy and looking neat, and also prevents long weeding sessions as the weeds build up. Put the weeds in a separate container and dispose of them. This will help prevent weeds or their seeds from getting back into your garden.

Harvesting

Harvesting your vegetables is the most rewarding part of the experience! Some vegetables are best when picked before they are completely ripe. This includes peas, beans, cucumbers and squash. Other vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, and peppers are best harvested when completely ripe. Pick your vegetables from the plants and place them in a mesh bag. This will keep your hands free to properly pick your vegetables and also allows you to wash your vegetables off while they are still in the bag.

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