You may still be working from home or not working and you’ve decided to plant a vegetable garden. It’s not quite as simple as digging a hole and throwing in some seeds or buying some plants from your local nursery.
First, decide on what plants you want to grow. Remember that those tiny plants will get big and you need to space them out. Usually instructions will tell you to keep them a foot or more apart. That will probably limit how many plants and varieties you can fit in the garden. And don’t forget that there has to be room for you to walk in-between the plants to weed, water, fertilize and harvest.
Select where your garden should go. Factors to consider are:
How much sun do you get in that area? Most vegetables like a lot – at least 6 hours per day.
How much rain does it get? That may sound strange but sections of your yard may be protected by trees or buildings. The opposite issue would be a location where water sits. Your plants would probably not survive.
Do you have wildlife or neighbor’s pets that will damage your garden? Deer, rabbits and woodchucks can decimate a garden in a very short time. Neighborhood pets may like to dig up your tender plants or even eat the vegetables when they’re ripe.
If you put up a fence, will there be zoning or association restrictions on the location, height or style of your fence?
Remove any sod and weeds.
Next, check the quality of your soil. You can take a sample to your local county Extension Service and ask them to test it or you can get a mail-in test. Amend your soil as needed with top soil, compost or lime. Get some fertilizer specific to the plants you’ve chosen. Remember that too much fertilizer can kill your plants so read the instructions.
Many plants require stakes or trellises. Be prepared!
If you’re growing plants from seed, it’s often best to start them indoors in February or March so keep that in mind for next year. This year, get some potted plants to put in the ground. Buy them from a reputable seller to ensure they are healthy and free of parasites.
Get your plants in the ground and water them well. Once they are established, be sure to keep them watered without overdoing it. The top of the soil should be a bit dry before watering again. One suggestion is to put down a soaker hose before installing your plants. Then (if your town allows it) you can just hook up your hose and let the water soak in for an hour or two.
Take care of your plants and you’ll have some great additions to your meals in a couple of months.