Gardening Tips - Tips on growing a Vegetable Garden

From lush ripe tomatoes to delicious leafy greens, every vegetable garden begins with a plan. The first thing to take into consideration when planning for a vegetable garden is where your garden will be located and what type of vegetables you will grow. The size of your vegetable garden will also depend upon how much room you have and is also an important factor in your vegetable garden planning process.

A great way to begin your planning process is to have your soil tested and prepared for the garden location. Make a list of the various vegetables that you would like to grow, and then do a little research. You will need to determine what type of location they flourish best in, and when is the best time for planting. In addition, choosing vegetables that are indigenous to your area is always a good choice. Also, if you are planting an organic garden, then you may also want to take some time to find out which vegetables compliment each other and help limit natural predators. This is called, “Companion Planting” and basically means that certain plants work in harmony together to limit the amount of insects that are attracted to the crop, as well as encourage each other to grow and thrive. Some examples of Companion Planting for the vegetable garden include:

· Tomatoes, Carrots, and Onions
· Squash, Radishes, and Corn
· Spinach, Eggplant, and Cauliflower
· Peppers and Onions
· Peas, Cucumbers, and Turnips
· Onions, Lettuce, and Beets
· Strawberries, Lettuce, and Onions
· Corn, Melons, and Cucumbers
· Beets, Onions, and Sage
· Basil, Peppers, and Tomatoes

These are just a sample of the vegetables that may be planted together through companion gardening. Choosing the vegetables, herbs, and even ornamental flowers is an important aspect of planning the vegetable garden.

Once you have selected the vegetables that you would like to plant, you will need to design your garden layout. It is a good idea to create a small-scale model of the garden design on a piece of paper before you begin to work on your landscape. You will also need to determine how many vegetables you will grow in your garden. This is most likely dependent on your family size and what type of harvest you would like to reap. Also, take into consideration whether the plants will need full sun or partial shade. Sometimes, the best shade for your growing vegetables may be shade that is provided by other plants, again careful planning can ensure that your vegetables are growing and thriving naturally. You should also know what each vegetable’s natural predators are and have a plan or course of strategic defense before you begin planting. There are many alternatives to harsh chemicals and insecticides that will keep your vegetable garden lush, nutritious, and free from harm. Preparing the soil through the use of compost materials is also an important step that will ensure your vegetable garden is receiving all the adequate nutrients required to thrive.

Once you have taken all of these issues into consideration, you can then begin your vegetable garden.

How to check your soil