by A W Drake

Created on: March 05, 2009

Everyone has different expectations from their vegetable garden so there is no clear cut formula for planning one. However, before you start the serious work of cultivating the land, having some idea of what you intend to grow and where will save a lot of time and possibly failure. In order to do this there are a few things to take into consideration when deciding the final layout and use of the vegetable plot.

The Geography Of The Garden

By considering the geography of the garden I mean taking into account factors such as shade, climate and water supply. These will help to determine the structure of your plot.

Shade

it is very helpful to know what parts of the garden will be in shade at what times of the day and year because some plants will not grow well in shade or in direct sunlight. If you observe the garden over a period of time and note the shady and sunny areas this will help you decide how much space you can devote to plants that will grow in their preferred positions.

Climate

When deciding what you want to grow it is important to know if those crops are suitable for your climate. Some plants for instance won't tolerate sharp frosts and will be killed off. You also need to be aware of the plants that need a lot of sun and heat do grow well. Experimenting a little is fine so long as you don't mind a few failures, and occasionally there may be a few surprising successes. Even so, on the whole it is better to understand the nature of the climate zone you live in and work with it rather than trying to fight it.

Wind

Being aware of the prevailing wind direction and which parts of the land are exposed will also help determine where in the garden certain plants can be grown. For example, some plants such as most fruit crops and some brassicas
won't tolerate wind. If necessary a protective fence can be use to create shelter. If you do this, a slatted fence is best because the wind will be able to pass through the gaps with its force considerably reduced, whereas a solid fence can create swirls of wind which can damage your plants.

Water

A water supply is vital for a garden and it is handy to position your seedbed next to one as seeds and seedlings will initially need regular watering. As their roots strengthen however this will be a little less important.

Soil Condition

Another important factor in planning your vegetable garden is the nature of the soil. It will be necessary to know what type of soil you have so you can add the correct conditioning for the plants you intend

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