My Garden: Tips For A Vegetable Garden

Are you planning a vegetable garden this year? Starting a vegetable garden for the first time is exciting, but it can be a little intimidating too. Every gardener dreams of an abundant harvest, but it’s not always easy to know how to manage the details of what to plant and how to care for the different vegetables. Growing a garden doesn’t have to cost a fortune in time or money, but it can be unless you plan ahead.

Here are a few tips to get you started.

Keep it simple and start small. Don’t try to grow everything your first year. Just plant a few easy to grown crops such as lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini and beans. Tomatoes may be a little challenging, but nothing beats the taste of a fresh garden tomato!

Start composting. Even if it’s just a pile on the edge of your property, have a place to compost. Once you’ve used compost, you’ll realize you can never have too much!

Mulch To control weeds and help retain soil moisture, cover your garden beds with a think layer of organic mulch. Grass clippings make wonderful mulch as long as you know they are from a reliable source and not from someone using weed control!

Visit Your Garden Often Keep an eye on your garden; pull the weeds as soon as you see them. Add mulch where it is too thin and water your plants when they are dry. Look for signs of pests and diseases and harvest your produce as soon as it’s ready.

Take notes. Keep a record of everything, what the weather is, when you plant, what pests you’ve noticed and how much you’ve harvested. I have to admit this is an area I fall short in. However, the information gathered is valuable and can be helpful year to year.

Plants crops you love! If you love tomatoes and peppers, plant a lot, if you’re not crazy about eggplant don’t waste the space!

Try crops your neighbors swear by. Talk to your neighbors; find out what grows well in your area. Get advice from the local nurseries and garden clubs as well.

Have fun and be adventurous.  Grow unusual edibles just for fun! One of the most enjoyable aspects of having a garden is growing what you want.

Even if your garden is only a few large pots on your deck, I hope you have a wonderful gardening season!

Linked To: GardenTuesday, TuesdayGardenParty, OutdoorWednesday, FarmgirlFriday, TheBackyardFarmingConnection