by Patricia Proctor

Created on: March 14, 2010

A summer garden with a bounty of fresh herbs and vegetables is every gardener's dream. A thriving garden requires extensive planning, the right tools, and a good amount of patience. Planting a garden from seeds requires even more time and patience, but is less costly than planting seedlings while rewarding the gardener with being a part of the entire process of growing something from seed to vegetable.

The types of herbs and vegetables to plant depends solely on the gardener's preferences; however, it is important to keep in mind that each plant has its own requirements as to the type of soil, amount of sunshine, and amount of water needed to thrive. Some plants require moist, medium-nitrogen soils with light shade, whereas some plants require little water, low-nitrogen levels, and full sunshine. An essential tool for any gardener is a soil tester that provides the pH level along with the nutrients present in the soil. Once the soil type has been determined and the plants have been chosen, it is time to prepare the ground for planting.

To prepare the soil for planting, remove all weeds, apply a general fertilizer and rake the site to create a suitable environment for planting. Plant herbs and vegetables after the danger of frost has passed; however, it is always a good idea to begin sowing seeds indoors prior to planting outdoors. This gives the plants a chance to grow in a controlled environment without the climate changes that occur outdoors. A seed tray that is pre-filled with seed starting mix is a convenient alternative to individual seed trays and can be both time saving and cost effective. Individual seed packets provide a guideline indicating how long the seed will take to germinate as well as instructions for transplanting seeds to the outdoors.

Before planting outdoors, consult a gardening book for plants that grow best with each other. Some plants thrive when planted near specific plants, this is called companion planting. For instance, Marigolds are a wonderful addition to a vegetable garden because they deter various bugs above and below the soil. Basil is a wonderful tasting herb that can be used in many dishes, and in your garden it deters flies and mosquitoes. Choose plants that grow well together, but just as companion planting can be beneficial, it can also be harmful so make sure you know which plants are best for your garden and which are not.

Once seeds or seedlings have been planted outdoors, it is important to care for and maintain plants by weeding, watering, feeding, and spraying for insects as needed. The results will be a thriving garden that provides a bountiful harvest all summer long rewarding the gardener with the fruit (or vegetables) of his or her labors.

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