Put it Here! Put it There! So What is the Plan?

Planning for the Best Vegetable Harvest

You have decided to start a vegetable garden. Your decision may be based on a number of things such as reducing food expenses. If you yield enough vegetables, you can sell them at your local farmer's market or to your friends or neighbors.

It is not difficult to start a vegetable garden but you should have a plan. The first thing you want to do is determine where the garden will be located. It should be in an area where it will get at least six hours of sunlight. It must also be near a source of water. If it is a small area, you may water your garden with a pail of water but you do not want to have to carry heavy pails too far. If you use a soaker hose, a hose that has holes along its side, you want to be near a faucet.

You also need to check the soil to make sure it is conducive for growing the vegetables you intend to plant and that it has good drainage. You will want to make sure there are no stones, roots, weeds, or other hard objects in this area. Your choice of location also needs to be accessible for easy weeding and so you can frequently check for pests.

Next, you should decide what plants you want in your garden and how many of them you intend to grow. This also helps you to determine the location and the size of the plot you will need. Make a list of the plants you want to grow. This is an important decision. You will want to make sure the plot you set aside is large enough for the vegetables your family will consume. You also want to make sure the vegetables you grow are ones your family will eat or that you will use often when cooking.

The plan for your vegetable garden should also include the layout or arrangement of the plants. If you grow perennials, those that yield vegetables throughout the year, you should plant them at the back of the garden. This allows you to work in your garden and not disturb these plants.

Crops that produce early yield should be placed together such as radishes, spinach, carrots, and beets. Make space available for replanting. Once these crops have produced their yield, you can plant crops that produce yield later in the season in their place.

Remember, when laying out your garden, there are plants that cannot grow beside other plants. Some plants enhance the growth of others while some inhibit the growth of others. For instance, potatoes can inhibit the growth of squash and tomato plants. Broccoli can also inhibit the growth of tomatoes. Beans inhibit the growth of onions. You can plant all of these in your garden. Just remember which ones should be separated.

Now that you have a plan which includes the area for your garden and the list of vegetables you are going to plant, it is time to get down to work. Gardening takes a great deal of patience. Your first crop may not be as successful as you had hoped. But don't give up. The benefits of gardening: fresh air, exercise, and pride in your accomplishment help to relieve everyday stress.

What are you waiting for? You have a plan!

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