by T.Hoerner

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

The satisfaction of providing your self and family with home grown nutritious vegetables can be fantastic! Taking on this rewarding task can yield a winter's worth of vegetables which reduces grocery costs, as well as provides healthier meals than that of what you can purchase.

Growing your own vegetables can be broken down into six easy planting steps:

1. Choose your vegetable seeds, bulbs, and prepared plants.

2. Prepare your soil
3. Plant
4. Water
5. Maintain
6. Pick and Enjoy

To begin, spend some time choosing seeds. Choose seeds of vegetables you will want to consume and be aware of the quantity you are planting. Under planting, leaving you wanting for more is better dealt with than way over planting, which can leave you overwhelmed and burnt out on your task!

It is wise to test your chosen planting location for acidity or alkalinity if you find that the seeds you have chosen are sensitive to either. Otherwise, you can mend your soil with sheep and peat, compost, or other natural soil additive, made especially for edible gardens. Till the additive into the soil well, without making the soil too fine. If the soil is too soft and fine, the roots of the plant will be weak, making the plants susceptible to disease and pests.

Your vegetable garden layout is just as important as choosing your seeds. Using a long stick or yard ruler, mark rows or divisions where you will plant your seeds. Often, squashes and melons are planted in mounds, which can be marked off by hand. If you are learning how to grow tomatoes, be sure to leave enough space between plantings as these plants can be very prolific!

Mark your rows using plant or garden markers. If you write on them be sure to use a permanent waterproof marker. You may choose to use the seed packet on a stake; this leaves a reference of growing habits and type of vegetable as well as any specific care it may require.

Plant your seeds. Follow the directions on the seed packet. This is very important as most seed depths and spacing varies based on the sizes of the seeds and the plants that will result.

Waterwaterwater! Seedlings need to be warm and moist. If the chosen garden spot happens to be a container, the water needs to be monitored closely. Do not let the soil dry or over water until the sprouts have emerged.

Weed, weed, and weed! Removing these wild unwanted terrorists from your garden is important as they will use nutrients and water that your little plants need to be strong and healthy. If you take time to do this usually

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