As you select plants for your vegetable garden, keep these tips in mind: Consider which vegetables you enjoy eating while also taking into account garden conditions and available space.
Radishes are easy to grow from seed, with harvest coming back less than one month later. Peas (shelled or snap), kale and spinach also mature quickly for harvest.
Vegetables
As with all forms of gardening, planting vegetables properly is key to reaping abundant harvests in any setting: be it your small garden, porch or patio space, community or school garden – or indeed even just your backyard produce! For beginners starting out, selecting veggies like lettuce, spinach, radishes and carrots that can easily be grown is ideal; select an appropriate location and pick an easy variety like lettuce for starters like lettuce spinach radishes carrots that is easier for harvest. Depending on climate and plant hardiness zones you may consider planting multiple crops of each vegetable to extend harvest throughout the season!
Prior to planting, select a site that receives at least six hours of daily sun for optimal yields from vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers. When possible, more intense sun should also be sought out, as excessive winds can interfere with plant development and cause harm.
Good, loose and nutrient-rich soil is key to successful vegetable gardening. If your soil is poor, sandy or rocky, amend it by mixing in organic matter to improve drainage and add essential nutrients. Fertilize regularly as most vegetables need plenty of nutrition in order to reach maturity; organic sources like compost and manure may release their nutrients slowly while synthetic products provide quick boosts of vitality.
Vegetable gardens can often become overgrown, encroaching on nearby areas. Careful planning can make a vegetable garden more functional and visually pleasing. Position taller vegetables such as beans and corn on trellises or cages towards the back of the bed so they won’t shade shorter vegetables and flowers in front of it, and plant leafy greens and flowers between rows with care, using a companion planting chart as reference for compatibility purposes.
If you live in a rural area where deer and rabbits pose a threat to your garden, fencing or chicken wire should be installed around it to safeguard its contents from animals such as deer. Furthermore, planting deterrent plants like sages or mint may help deter predators.
Herbs
Fresh herbs are an integral component of any garden. From seasoning grilled veggies and salads, to adding zesty touches in sandwiches and pizza, fresh herbs add extra dimension. Herbs can be grown both outdoors in gardens and containers from seeds or transplants, and often return year after year with renewed vigor. Among perennial varieties are basil, chives and parsley as biennial plants which produce leaves in one year followed by flowers and seeds the next before dying back; cilantro however should be planted each spring.
Planning an herb garden requires selecting an area with full sun and sufficient drainage, ideally with clay soils in which a raised bed or amendments with plenty of organic materials such as compost could help. A soil test will show whether any additional fertilizers such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium might be required to support vegetable crops.
If planting from seed, begin indoors six weeks prior to the last frost date and transplant them when temperatures warm up. When using transplants, choose healthy, disease-free specimens and handle them gently when handling. Dig holes larger than their root ball when planting them before mulching with shredded leaves or wood chips as a moisture retainer.
Most herbs require full sunlight and well-draining soil for maximum success, though some species are drought resistant. A mulch bed will conserve water while decreasing weed growth around your plantings. Most varieties also require only moderate amounts of fertilizer as excessive application could increase vegetative growth while diminishing oil content in herbs, diminishing flavor and aroma.
Try your hand at growing different herbs like cilantro and basil to determine your favourites. When starting out, focus on one or two at a time; otherwise, trying to grow too many will quickly become overwhelming due to different water and soil needs for each species.
Flowers
Flowers add beauty and functionality to a garden, providing many valuable advantages in the form of deterring pests and attracting beneficial insects that support many vegetable varieties’ success. Furthermore, certain flowers also help improve soil health by extracting harmful chemicals and minerals from the ground – perfect for improving its health with companion planting! Flowers add dimension and interest while increasing productivity in any vegetable garden space.
Perennial flowers like lavender and calendula make great perennial choices, as they require very minimal upkeep and will rebloom throughout the season. Annual cool-hardy flowers such as dill, fennel, parsley, sage, and chamomile also thrive well, being easy to start from seed quickly in full sun in nutrient-rich well-drained soil – ideal conditions are full sun with well-draining soil in cooler climates; be sure to plant these beauties in early spring if possible or fall (if in a cooler region).
Marigolds are one of the most beloved additions to any vegetable garden, as they are easy to cultivate and provide colorful blooms throughout summer. Marigolds also prove effective at repelling nematodes and soil-borne pests such as hornworms, squash bugs and cabbage moths; in addition, marigolds will confuse Mexican bean beetles while discouraging cucumber beetles from entering your space.
Zinnias are a favorite flowering crop to add into a vegetable garden, as their seeds are easily started from and quickly sprout into lush plants. Zinnias also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies which help ensure successful production of various vegetable crops.
Sweet Alyssum is another simple-to-grow flower ideal for use in veggie gardens, as it will self-seed and produce blooms throughout summer. Requiring only minimal attention at planting time (light application of balanced fertilizer at start), it tolerates frosts well while doing best when partially shaded.
Fruits
Vegetable gardening provides both satisfaction and delicious food, but its success requires careful planning. Knowing your zone and planting vegetables that thrive there, at the appropriate time and according to sunlight levels. Don’t forget shade either; some plants need it just as much as sunlight.
Start by compiling a list of what vegetables you wish to grow and determining their maturity timeframes. Aim to get them planted as early as possible before the last frost in spring; harvest regularly thereafter through autumn so as to prevent over or under harvesting.
Decide how you will space out your plants. A general guideline suggests leaving at least 1 foot between rows and 10 inches between plants — though exact spacing requirements depend on your planting site. To know exactly how much space each crop requires, it is best to read its label or seed packet instructions for guidance.
Some veggies, like beets and lettuce, can be directly planted into the garden when soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently; others prefer being started in containers first before being transplanted later on. When selecting seeds for growing these varieties, look for open-pollinated varieties with offspring that produce offspring of their same variety next year; these produce superior flavors while being less likely to succumb to diseases or insect damage.
Add flowers and herbs for an eye-catching aesthetic in your vegetable garden by interspersing them among the vegetable plants, or plant them as borders around beds. This will not only look more aesthetically pleasing, but will attract pollinators that help with fertilization!
Before planting your garden, it’s essential to assess its soil. Ideal soil should be deep and fertile organic mix that drains well – if that doesn’t happen then consider amending with nutrient-rich compost made from kitchen scraps and yard trimmings; mulching also reduces evaporation to keep soil cool and moist during hot weather.