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A Beginner’s Guide to Vegetable Gardening

According to a 2009 study conducted by the National Gardening Association, it was discovered that the average vegetable gardening household saved just over 500 dollars per year by growing plants and cultivating their own harvest. Most couples used just 70 dollars to get started with their garden supplies, seeds and garden tools. It is estimated that 34% of all American households now grow some of their own food - a number that rose 10% from 2007-2008, and another 19% from 2008-2009.

The first thing you’ll need to do when starting a vegetable garden is choosing the right location and size. First, be sure your location gets as much sunlight as possible. Most vegetables should have a good six to eight hours of direct sunshine on a daily basis for the best results. If you have a less well lit area, you can stick your lettuce and spinach there. As you assess your yard, make certain to take into account the shadows cast by the deciduous trees and the house throughout specific times of the day.

In a perfect world, the garden will be conveniently located near the kitchen, so you can take care of it more easily and bring in your crop without hiking a long way. The best soil will be full of nutrients and drain properly, so you may have to add fertilizer and use the right tools to aerate the soil before you start.

A gardening expert will usually tell you that raised beds are the best method for effective vegetable gardening. Garden guides love raised beds because they increase the growing area by reducing the amount of garden used for paths, they save fertilizer and compost materials, they are easy and convenient to work with, they work well with trellises, they are 12-15 degrees warmer than the ground so you can plant earlier, and they are beautiful to look at. To begin creating your raised beds, measure and stake down each garden bed and outline the beds with string. To raise the bed, loosen the soil with a shovel or fork and nestle your bed into the plot. Smooth the soil on the surface of the bed with the tines and back edge of a rake. Take your time when shaping the beds, for this step is very important. Each bed should rise eight inches above ground when all is said and done and the most productive raised beds are about three feet wide. You can line the beds with bricks, stones or wood, whichever you prefer.

The last step before planting is to feed the soil and make it ready for productive vegetable gardening. Whatever the plants take up out of the soil, you’ll need to ensure microorganisms or soil puts back in. Several inches of compost or natural manure fertilizer usually does the trick. For a 12 x 16 (200 square-foot) garden, use about 75 pounds of commercial compost or horse manure. If you’re using uncultivated soil, the best garden advice is to apply five pounds of organic fertilizer with 5% nitrogen for every 200 square feet. Rake the fertilizer into the first few inches of top soil to break up clay clumps and create a nutritious environment for growing plants.

The benefits of a vegetable garden can’t be beat. You’ll get to enjoy fresh picked produce and you’ll get some great exercise at the same time! From fall vegetable gardens to a raised vegetable garden, you’ll find the information you need at the Vegetable Garden Site.