by E L Swist

Created on: September 26, 2008   Last Updated: October 01, 2008

Having your own vegetable garden can be an enjoyable hobby, but it can also be a huge money saver! Don't worry about whether or not you have a green thumb. With a little know how and a small amount of planning you can be growing in no time!

Know Your Zone

One of the first things you will want to do is learn a little bit of basic information about your climate. You need to find out what your zone is and the dates for your areas first and last frost. Picking plants that are not well suited for the area that you live in is going to cause extra work and challenges, especially for the beginning gardener. Almost every seed company or plant nursery labels their plants and seeds according to zone. For the most part your local nursery will only keep plants in stock that are compatible with your area. Don't be afraid to ask questions if you are unsure about anything.

Know Your Plants

Another thing to consider while selecting plants is: What vegetables would you like to grow? What would you or your family eat the most? Be practical when choosing your plants. It is easy to be enticed into growing some of the more exotic vegetables bit it is not always the smartest or the easiest thing to do. If you have only heard of a vegetable on your favorite cooking show and you are not even sure what it tastes like or how it is used, maybe you should try buying it at the store first and make sure it is worth the effort to try growing it yourself.

Tomatoes are popular choice for many people because it is so easy to learn how to grow tomatoes and caring for them is so simple. They are also a very desirable vegetable. They have so many uses and almost everyone uses them to make something. Whether you are just starting out or you are a seasoned pro, simple to grow veggies like tomatoes are a fantastic choice!

Know Your Space

Consider your garden space and your soil conditions. Many plants such as cucumbers and squash are very high yielding plants. People often end up with too much of certain veggies and not as much as they would like of others. Plants such as watermelons need a lot of space to grow, so they tend to take up a lot of space. Take a small amount of time to learn about the growing habits of the plants you are interested in.

Soil conditions are really going to help you dictate what you can or cannot grow in your space. Most of the vegetables you will probably be interested in growing do not like "wet feet" ; which means they require well drained soil. Every plant has specific PH requirements as well. Testing your soil to find out if it is acidic or alkaline is very simple. You can get a home test kit or in most areas you can get soil sample tested by your local extension agency.

Vegetable Garden Layout

Now that you know what you are going to plant the last stage of planning is the layout for your vegetable garden. Knowing the growing space needed for each plant and their basic water and sunlight needs will help you to maximize the space that you have available. Certain plants will require staking or a trellis for support. Others may require a lot of ground space.

Be sure to account for extra space to allow you plenty of room to work in your garden and keep all plants easily accessible for picking you veggies. If you are unsure about the best layout options there are many resources available online and you can also hire a professional to help you to create the most efficient garden layout.

ReadySetGrow!

With a little planning and smart thinking you are ready to plant! Follow recommendations on planting depth and spacing. Be sure to water regularly and remove any unwanted weeds and let nature do the rest. In no time you will enjoy the freshest (not to mention cheapest) produce in town!

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