Tips for Planting a Vegetable Garden

Vegetable gardening is a favorite spring and summer activity for many. It allows one to control what goes into his vegetables, and to harvest and eat them at the peak of freshness. That means that they are potentially better for us than store-bought veggies, and they taste better, too.Some like the idea of a vegetable garden, but are intimidated by the idea of starting one. It’s true that it requires a bit of a commitment, but vegetable gardening isn’t terribly difficult. If you like the idea of having fresh veggies from your very own garden, here are some tips to help you get started.

• Choose a nice, sunny spot for your garden. In general, vegetables need at least 6 hours of sun each day. You’ll also need to make sure there’s adequate room for the plants you have in mind. Check seed packets to see how far apart the plants need to be.

• Test the soil. For best results, check the texture, nutrients and minerals. But at the very least, you’ll need to check the pH. Most vegetables do best in soil with a neutral pH. If yours is too acidic or too alkaline, you’ll need to adjust it with sulfur or lime, respectively.

• Prepare your garden bed. If you have never had a garden in this particular spot before, you’ll need to remove the sod. Tilling an area where grass and weeds are present is best done in the fall.• Choose your plants. It’s best to start out with just a few of your favorite vegetables, and ones that have similar growing requirements.

• Plant your seeds or plants. Be sure to give them the room they need to grow, and plant them at the recommended depth. Water them as soon as you get them in the ground.

• Water your plants regularly. In general, they should get an inch of water each week. Consider adding mulch to your garden to keep the soil moist.

• Maintain your garden carefully. You’ll need to weed and harvest regularly, and stake some of your taller plants to keep them from flopping over.

• Watch for signs of pests. There are pesticides that will get rid of them, but perhaps avoiding pesticides is one of the reasons you want to grow your own vegetables. Safer alternatives include diatomaceous earth, plants that attract predator bugs, and chamomile spray.Planting a vegetable garden is harder than going to the store and picking up your produce, but it’s also cheaper and much more rewarding. A well-planned garden can produce enough fresh vegetables for your family when it comes time to harvest, with plenty left over to share or can for later use.

Gina Smithson is the resident editor of the Home & Garden Guide at Schmoozins.com - an online magazine for women that gives all women a voice. Join us as a contributor, schmoozer or just hang out a while.
Article Source: http://greatarticlesformoms.com