how to make successful vegetable garden

Vegetable Garden Plan: Why You Need One

January 25, 2010 by Vegetable7 3 Comments

Why you need a vegetable garden plan

Putting good plan into action for your vegetable garden will make the garden better suit your needs than if you just go out and throw some plants into the ground. You’ll get a far bigger harvest of vegetables from a given amount of space than you would ever imagine.

This post will help you find a suitable spot for your vegetable garden, and will help you take advantage of companion planting and succession planting techniques so that all of your garden space is most efficiently used.

Seed packets and starter plants usually have growing directions. If you don’t know the average last frost date of your local area, call your local nursery and ask, or search for your garden zone. Some plants grow better in the northern part of the country, and some in the southern part. For example, you aren’t going to have much luck with asparagus in hot weather climates like Florida.

Location, location, location

Your vegetable garden should be located in a sunny spot. Optimally, it should be close to your house and close to a water source for convenience in taking care of your garden.

Keep your garden away from shade trees that will block direct sunlight. Your garden will need 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive.

The best vegetable garden soil is a light, well-drained sandy loam with high organic content and fertility, and free from rocks and stones. If you are gardening in a small space, almost any kind of soil can easily be improved by adding compost and soil amendments.

If you have enough room, make your garden 1/3 bigger than you actually want to plant, so that you can plant a cover crop of clover on one third of the space of the garden each year, keeping your soil fertile.

You should be thorough when you prepare your garden soil. Dig at least 8 inches deep. You can dig with a spade, or use a garden tiller if you don’t want to do a lot of manual digging.

Different vegetables, different needs

Vegetables don’t all have the same requirements for soil, temperature and moisture levels. Vegetables like lettuce, spinach and peas do best in cool weather. You’d want to plant them very early in the spring, or in the fall. Plant them in part of the garden that gets early sun, and is shaded during the heat of the day.

Other vegetables like tomatoes, beans, peppers or eggplant require hot weather, and should be planted where they get the biggest amount of sunlight in the garden. The greatest amount of sunlight can be arranged by making your garden rows go north and south, and by allowing plenty of space between the rows of the garden.

Companion planting

Companion planting is when you plant certain types of vegetables next to each other at the same time that are harvested at different times. When you remove the early crop, it leaves room for the later crop to keep growing and fill in the space. There are combinations like cabbage and lettuce, radishes with beets, carrots or parsnips, or early beets in the rows between tomatoes.

Succession planting

Succession planting means that you grow one plant until it is harvested, and then you immediately replace it with a different plant that grows next, because it is better suited to that part of the season. You might start with cabbage, and then follow with squash. Other examples are spinach followed by sweet corn, peas followed by beans, or early carrots or beets followed by celery.

Some succession plantings might overlap, like when tomato plants are placed in between rows of early peas that still have a picking on the vines. Cabbage should never be followed one after another in the same soil, because it can pass on diseases that can remain in the soil.

A written plan?

An experienced gardener might not need a garden plan if he or she has been using the same plot for many years, because he or she will be familiar with the vegetables that he or she usually grows, and their space requirements.

But hey, if you were that experienced, you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog post, would you? So you’re probably going to want a vegetable garden plan on paper before you begin digging and planting your vegetable garden.

Draw your garden plan to a convenient scale — like 1/8th of an inch to a foot. Keep in mind that taller vegetable plants like tomatoes can shade shorter plants, so you’ll want to keep your rows far enough apart to account for that.

When possible, low vegetables like lettuce, beets, beans and carrots should be on the east side of the garden. Taller plants like tomatoes, peas and corn should be on the west side.

A good plan has enough room to walk through it, so that you can water effectively and look out for weeds and pests.

Your vegetable garden needs a plan

5 Tips on How to Grow Vegetables

May 11, 2009 by Vegetable7 1 Comment

Let’s face it: growing a vegetable garden rocks! So much, it could even become your hobby. Just think, every growing season you can harvest fresh vegetables. And remember, there are several growing seasons, depending on your climate. That’s almost growing your own food year round! Here are some simple tips that will help you on how to grow vegetables.

Tip #1: Rotate your crops.

Just change your plant’s growing location each year. Plants that come from same family like peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, and potatoes must be rotated in different locations in the garden. Rotating them will prevent your plants from pests and diseases.

Bugs are pretty smart. They lay their eggs at the bottom of the plant, so the hatching larvae will have food. But, the garden pest will not survive if it doesn’t have the right food source. Just rotate those crops every year. That way you don’t feed the larvae!

Tip #2: Plant your vegetables with proper spacing.

Don’t plant vegetable plants too close to each other. You don’t want their roots to compete for soil nutrients and water, and you want enough room for their hidth and width of a mature plant. It’s easier if you plant your vegetables according to their height and width.

Once you get use to growing vegetables, you can stray from the vegetable spacing recommendations just a little. Check out this page on intensive gardening, and this one on square foot gardening.

Tip #3: Water plants properly, meaning consistently.

We all know that water is very important in all growing plants, really to everything! It starts with the seeds. They must keep moist to generate properly. And make sure not to over water your plants, or else you will not achieve the desired outcome with your vegetable plants. Just water deeply and regularly. You don’t want to underwater, then overwater. Trust me, they won’t like that.

Tip #4: Stake your vegetable plants.

There are plants that cannot support themselves, like vine tomatoes, cucumbers, peas and pole beans. Provide a cage, stake, or trellis that will help keep them off the ground. Keeping vegetables off the ground, keeps them from getting dirty, rotting, or getting pests.

Tip #5: Mulching is a great tip, too.

Don’t forget to mulch. Mulch comes in many forms. It will serve as a protective covering that will also reduce evaporation, maintain the soil temperature, enrich the soil, and prevent it from weeds.

Vegetable gardening is a wonderful idea! Plus, at the end you can reward yourself for achieving the successful garden you’ve wanted. Aside from that, you’re also giving your family the best vegetables in the town! Sit back on that patio, slice that tomato, and enjoy looking over your vegetable garden!

Achieving Successful Vegetable Gardening

May 11, 2009 by Vegetable7 Leave a Comment

We all want to save even a single cent on buying foods at the market, right? Especially nowadays with the economic situation. One way to save more money, with the consideration of quality and nutrients your family must have, is to have your own vegetable garden.

Before you plant, think of the variety of vegetables your family enjoys eating. It would be a good start for choosing the right seed for the right season. Consider the following information on planning a vegetable garden.

Sun light is very important when growing plants. The usual required range per day of sunlight is about 6 hours, but there also some plants that need 8 hours. Also, maximize your vegetable garden space by planting quick growing plants, such as, radish and lettuce in between other vegetables, that take a while to mature (example: beet and corn).

During dry season, be sure to water your plants more often. Keep in mind that plants benefit from an inch of water every week, most especially during there stage of fruiting.

Watch out for pests and other insects that may destroy your vegetables. You have a better chance of saving your vegetable plants, if you found out about it earlier. Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not use pesticides or insecticides with chemicals. It will affect the quality of your vegetables. Since organic gardening uses environment friendly methods, use organic pesticides or insecticides. It’s safer for you, and your food.

Taking care of your vegetables, also, means protecting them from wandering animals. You can build a fence that will serve as protection for your garden from your pets like cats, dogs, rabbits and others. The damage done from those wandering animals could be equal to the amount it costs to build a fence. Especially, when you consider how much work you do in the garden. Plus, fences double as a great trellis or support for growing peas, beans, tomatoes and other crops.

To achieve the plentiful vegetable garden, protect your plants. After all, you want your hard work to be rewarded with a successful vegetable garden.

Vegetable Gardening for Dummies

May 11, 2009 by Vegetable7 1 Comment

There’s an obvious difference from eating a home-grown vegetable from your garden compared to those you usually buy at the grocery store. Fresh harvest vegetables are much sweeter and juicier! You really can’t resist them!

Beginners in vegetable gardening should know these five simple tips to get started:

Choose only those vegetables you like to eat. Vegetables which are obviously tastier and less expensive such as green and yellow beans, carrots, peas (both shelling and snow type), peppers, spinach, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, and summer squash can be grow in you backyard– easily, in fact.
Grow vegetables that cost a lot of money in the market. Greens used in salads, such as, mesclun or arugula are pretty pricey. Asparagus is another pricey vegetable, but it will take a few years to get an asparagus bed established, so plan ahead!
Plant vegetables that aren’t easily available, like heirloom tomatoes (Brandywine). The are many kinds of plant that you can grow in your garden you cannot find in the grocery store. Yet, another reason to grow your own vegetables. Products that are intended to ship, are picked early. In your garden, vegetables can ripen on the vine, adding perfect flavor.
The garden spot you choose must be level (unless you terrace it or use hill gardening methods) and have at least six to eight hours of sunlight everyday. Make sure the spot is close to your water source. And, choose a spot that is closer to your house, making tending to it much easier.
Start small! Beginning gardeners become frustrated due to over planting. Keep it small. I suggest you plant a tomato, and at the same time try planting chives, parsley and basil into a half-barrel near your kitchen door. Tomatoes need 3 feet square space each.

How to grow Vegetables? It’s easy!

May 11, 2009 by Vegetable7 Leave a Comment

Nowadays, vegetable gardening is becoming more and more popular. Some think it’s difficult but they are absolutely wrong! Vegetable gardening is easy! You’ll no longer worry if you bought the freshest vegetables in town. Plus, you could easily grow a harvest or kitchen garden, so you have the tastiest and healthiest vegetables. That is, if you take care it the right way.

You should decide, first,the size and spot for your vegetable garden. Consider a site that has good drainage, good soil, and enough sunlight that your vegetables need. Soil should be tilled properly (depending on your gardening method), and mixed with compost. Just make sure that the soil is healthy. Adding compost or organic matter, will give the soil the quality you need.
Another important thing in vegetable gardening , is the garden format. The most common arrangement is to plant vegetables that needs limited space together. Why not try planting short growing plants in front of the backyard while tall growing plants at the back of it so that sunlight would not be block by those tall growing plants? Just be aware, not to shade your short growing plants.
Finally, when you are ready to begin your planting, be sure that you plant the right vegetables at the right time. After planting the seeds, make sure that you are giving the right amount of water. This will depend on the type of the vegetable you are planting. Most plants must have an equal to about an inch of water per week. Check with your local extension agency to see what’s going to grow best in your area.

Folks love vegetable gardening! Partly, because they can literally taste the goodness of their own labor in the flavor of the vegetables. And, vegetable gardening is not expensive to start. Vegetables from the market can’t even compare to the freshness and sweet taste of vegetables from your own garden. So, why not start your vegetable garden? It’s easy!

Vegetable Gardening Considerations to Remember

May 11, 2009 by Vegetable7 Leave a Comment

Go ahead, let’s face it: the cost of living is increasing. Don’t worry because every problem has a solution. There’s a way to save money, but not compromising the health of your family. One way is to have your own vegetable garden in your backyard. Plant any vegetables you and your family loves to eat in every season of the year. That’s right, grow year round

These are some vegetable gardening tips that may help you to build your own vegetable garden spot.

#1: Usually vegetables require 6 hours of sunlight a day. But, there are some that require 8 hours. So, choose a good patch with ample sunlight. Maximize the space by planting several kinds of vegetables. Plan ahead, and even sketch it out on paper.

#2: During the dry season, your vegetables will need additional water every day. Especially, when they are setting fruit.

#3: Beware of pests during the sprouting season. The earlier you discover them, the better. If the pests are present, never use chemical pesticides on your plants, especially when they are close to being harvested. Remember, organic gardening is not only healthy, it’s environmentally friendly, too.

#4: Recycle those vegetable wastes you have in your kitchen! Instead of throwing them in the trash bin, you could make compost out of it to use next spring.

#5: Aside from maintaining your vegetables, you should protect your garden from pests and other animals– even your pet or your neighbourhood’s pets. Wandering dogs, cats, and rabbits love to raid vegetable gardens. Build a fence or look into a natural detterent for these critters. We like fences, too, because they double as trellis to support your vegetables that grow as a vine.

5 Secret Tips in Organic Vegetable Gardening

May 10, 2009 by Vegetable7 Leave a Comment

It’s very obvious that organic vegetables taste terrifically better than those grown with chemicals and other stuff.

So what do you think are the secrets behind the terrific taste of organic vegetables?

This is the biggest and most important secret….Organic vegetables are not grown from chemical fertilizers and pesticides! I know, you were expecting something more. BUT, it’s the most important. That’s why they taste so good. It’s not rocket science! It’s just how vegetables should taste naturally, without all the chemicals.

Myth: Organic Vegetable Gardening is Much Difficult than the USUAL Gardening

Some commercial companies tell you how difficult and time consuming it is to have successful organic vegetables. They are just selling their chemicals for gardening.

The very truth is, it’s not! As long as you will follow these simple steps you will have your organic garden in no time!

Here are the secrets you should know to start you organic garden the right way. Let’s get started!

Secret Tip1: Start with a good planning!

Like in everything we do, first thing first! It’s not easy to do the entire task at once. Try to imagine a construction crew starting a building without any blueprints. Just like in organic gardening, you’ll need to have a plan first to have a successful outcome.

Usual Planning Mistake: Be sure that the perfect area you choose is close to a water source. Most of the time, a beginner gardener will choose the place that looks the nicest in the yard. Often, we forget to plan how we are going to get the water to the vegetables in order for them to grow.

Secret Tip2: Facing South!

Question: Why is it necessary for your vegetable garden to face south?

Answer: Simply because, it will have plenty supply of sunlight.

Fact about sunlight: Vegetable garden would need an optimum 6-8 hours of sunlight to produce the best crop. Be sure that there is no shade blocking the sunlight needed by your plant like tall trees, or plants, or even your house.

Sunlight is one of the essential needs of a vegetable garden so don’t mess up with this one, or else say good bye to your dream vegetable garden!

Secret Tip3: Taking away weeds in an organic way!

Before you start planting, be sure that your chosen area is free from weeds. And because you don’t want any chemical weed killer to contaminate your organic vegetable garden, you would use the organic way.

Unfortunately there’s no easy way to get rid of weeds so what I suggest is to get rid of those weeds using your hand when they creep up. The sooner you discover them the better, so the best thing is to prevent them from contaminating your vegetable garden!

Secret Tip4: Prevention is better than Cure!! Weed Prevention Tips…

1. Get some free fertilizer from those left over espressos at Starbucks. It will make your vegetables healthy, and it is absolutely natural! No need to be shy for asking, because the Starbucks corporate offices actually instructs their crew to promote giving away coffee grounds to recycle them. It really is a great way to recycle coffee grounds, and plants love them.

2. You will not notice those small weeds that fell from your gloves and garden tools after de-weeding. So, the best thing to do is to clean your tools, gloves, knee pads and even your shoes to avoid re-depositing weeds in your garden. Your there to plant plants, right? Yeah, not weeds.

3. Just to make sure, why not use cornstarch? Putting cornstarch on the ground would add nitrogen to the soil, making it a natural fertilizerl. Plus, it can kill weeds, too!

4. Watch out for bird feeders. They are great around the garden, but if bird feeders get too close to your vegetable garden, the left over seeds may sprout into weeds. Keep them at a minimum distance of 20 feet from your garden. Besides, you know how some birds just knock the bird seed out of the feeder, while looking for the seeds they like!