Best Veggie Gardening

From both novice and expert gardeners, knowing exactly which vegetables will thrive in any given location is extremely important. Average climate, ground conditions, yearly snow (not to mention, rain) fall and the four seasons all come into play when deciding what goodies to plant in your garden. To help simplify things a bit, specific geographical regions are classified according to the above factors, and then put into numbered zones, which help gardeners prescribe which plants are most likely to thrive in the region. Once you research your zone, it is time to research the correct plants to use in your garden. Finally, once this is complete it is time for you to plant your vegetable garden, making sure to follow all instructions as they pertain to your zone 7 vegetable gardening guide.

Know Your Zone

How well will cucumbers do if planted in Africa? Will tomatoes vines produce for you in San Francisco? The easiest way to find an answer to this question is to know the specific zone in which you live. Finding out which zone you live in is a relatively easy process. You simple use your Google search browser and type in “vegetable gardening zones”. After doing this, several results will be displayed on your monitor. Click on the link which looks most relevant in order to find zone maps, charts and everything else you will need to know for sure which zone you are in.

Know Which Plants to Use

After you find out which zone you live it, finding out which vegetables will thrive in your area is a very easy process. For instance, zone 7 vegetable gardening charts are all over the internet. These charts break down into lists of perennials, annuals, trees, vegetables,etc. Once you find such a chart, you can begin to narrow down your selection. In addition to knowing your zone, it is important to be aware of the sun to shade ratio of your particular garden spot. If your garden gets a lot of sun, you will want to choose vegetables that thrive in sun. There are also several vegetables that do very well in shade and if this is the case in your particular zone 7 vegetable gardening scenario, you will want to choose vegetables from the list that thrive in shade.

Know How to Care for Your Plants

Now that you know your zone and have chosen the specific vegetables that will thrive in your garden, it is time to plant! It is very important to expressly follow the planting and daily care instructions provided for plants in your region. Zone 7 vegetable gardening is different from gardening in any other region and it is very important to not follow instructions written for any region outside of your zone. In addition, once planted, it is important to make sure that you follow the daily care instructions provided for zone 7 vegetable gardening. The right amount of water, the right amount of fertilizer and the right amount of pruning are all essential, if you want your vegetable garden to produce at its highest level.

When planning a vegetable garden, there are several things to consider. Let’s talk about the top 3 things to do as you begin to plan your garden. Carefully planning a vegetable patch will you save time, work, money and space.

The first thing you should consider in your planning is the location of your garden. Vegetable gardens need a sunny open space in order for the plants to thrive. So take a look and find the best location that you have available that fits this ideal.

Once you have pin-pointed an open and sunny area for your garden, take note of how much space you have in that location. Space will be an important factor in your planning. You will need to consider the space requirements of the vegetables that you would like to plant. When you know the space that you have available, make a scaled drawing of your vegetable garden.

No doubt, you are already dreaming about the types of vegetables that you want to plant. When you have the location and size of your plot figured out, you are almost ready! But before you go out and buy those seeds or plants, you will want to know the planting zone in your area. You will need to know which vegetables will grow well in your area. Knowing your planting zone will help you estimate the first and last frost dates in your area. This helps you to be able to estimate the length of your local growing season.

Let’s review the top three things that should be taken into account when planning a vegetable garden. 1. Location of the garden. 2. Space available for planting the garden. 3. Your local planting zone, to determine planting times, vegetable varieties suitable to your zone and first and last frost dates.

Gardening is a very rewarding experience. Nothing compares to growing the vegetables that you serve on your own table. If you enjoyed these tips about planning a vegetable garden, find even more information here. http://meg-heartathome.blogspot.com/2008/02/growing-your-own-vegetablesplan-ahead.html

Megan Mart is a mom, wife and friend who knows that “Home is where the heart is”. For more tips visit: http://meg-heartathome.blogspot.com

Spring is the time of year when we think about creating a vegetable garden, especially with all the emphasis on the damage that long transport distances do to the ecosystem, never mind the fact that we are eating vegetables that are not quite as fresh as they might be! When choosing the location for your vegetable garden forget the old idea that the veg patch must be an ugly spot. If carefully designed, thoughtfully planted and well cared for, it will be feature of your garden, bringing a touch of homeliness that no formal bed could ever create.

Bearing this in mind you should not restrict yourself to any area of the garden just because it is out of sight. In the average modern garden there won’t be much choice as to land anyway. You will need to use what you have available and then do the best that you can with it. There will probably be more choice as to exposure and convenience. All things being equal, try and choose a spot reasonably close to the house with easy access. It may seem that the difference of only a few yards is hardly relevant, but if you are depending largely on snatched spare moments for working in the vegetable garden easy access will be much more important than you might realise. Only when you have made a dozen unnecessary trips for forgotten bits and pieces, or ended up getting wet as you dash in and out will you realise that it would have been much easier to have the veg garden just that little bit closer!

Alongside convenience you need to pick out a spot that has suitable exposure to Sun and rain. You don’t want to use a spot that is blasted by cold winds and likely to catch a frost. Choose the “earliest” spot you can find, ideally sloping a little to the south or east, that catches the sunshine early and holds it late. Chill winds from the north and northeast can have dramatic effects on your yield so if you can pick a spot that gets some shelter be it from a garden building, fence or the house itself, your plot will be protected and your vegetables will get an early start. If there is no protection available think about planting a low hedge or putting some other form of protection in place if you are intending to grow all your own supplies.

It is unlikely that you will be able to choose the type of soil as most gardens are not big enough to have a variety of soils available. This is not really a problem as most soils can be improved quite easily to give the ideal growing conditions. The best soil for growing vegetables is said to be a ‘rich and sandy loam’. That is a soil type that is almost never found but always made! It needs to be full of nutrients that are easily available for the plants to grow well. This can be achieved by the addition of compost and plant feed, either organic or chemical depending on your preference. The ’sandyness’ refers to drainage. If your soil is too heavy the water will form a sticky mess that isn’t good for your plants, equally if it is too sandy the water will pass through before the plants can take advantage of it. You can easily add sand or soil conditioners to get your drainage right.

Before planting you should make sure that the plot is well dug and prepared for your precious seedlings. In an ideal world we would plan our vegetable garden in the autumn, digging it over and working in lots of organic material. The winter weather would help to break up the soil and work in the nutrients giving a perfect growing medium when the warmer Spring weather comes. However, it isn’t the end of the world if you haven’t done that. You might have to work a little bit harder at first to make sure the soil is clear of weeds, stones and other rubbish but that won’t take long and the sense of achievement when your new vegetable plot is all prepared is well worth it.

My vegetable garden is one of the most satisfying parts of my garden I love to go out each day and pick the vegetables that we will be eating, knowing that they are as fresh and wholesome as they can be. The constant supply of fresh seasonal foods is a great reward for the little effort that it takes to maintain.

Lizzie Westerley has spent many pleasurable years developing her garden and her gardening skills. You can find more of her insights and information on how to make your garden equally magnificent at The Garden Magazine

Have you ever noticed how happy and centered gardeners tend to be? Could it be from communing with nature, sharing nutrient-rich harvests with others, or knowing that every increased amount of greenery helps battle the environmental problems our world faces? For me, playing in the dirt - as I often refer to gardening - is just that. Play time, time for meditation and to listen to the birds. Yet, gardening can mean so much more.

For many years, my family has been dedicated to preserving rare and endangered garden seeds. We tried the hybrids, but after a while we realized they were just not performing like the old varieties. Whether it was small yields or poor tolerance to heat waves there always seemed to be something wrong with them. About 22 years ago we became members of Canada’s Heritage Seed Program - now known as Seeds of Diversity Canada - and have never looked back. Thousands of Seeds of Diversity members play a critical and rewarding role in saving plant genetic diversity. The program works with many other groups and governments around the world to preserve a vast seed bank. Canadian members, usually backyard gardeners, agree to choose a few varieties from a vast array of crops, grow them out for seed and re-offer some to members the following year.

Terms like ‘Heritage’, ‘Heirloom’, ‘Open-pollinated’, ‘Hybrid’ and ‘Genetically Modified’ used to describe seeds are confusing enough all by themselves, but are made even more so by people using the terms interchangeably.

What is Heritage, Heirloom and Open-pollinated?

Heritage varieties, (known for at least 300 years) and Heirloom varieties (known for at least 50 years), are both open-pollinated crops. Open-pollinated means the pollination duties are left to insects and wind, so seeds and crop variants are produced naturally - providing a large gene pool of disease resistant and environmentally compatible traits. To be environmentally compatible the plant must have the ability to thrive in each area’s unique growing situations (microclimate), such as varied climates and soil conditions, pollution and wind exposure.

Because seed savers pick from the best of the crop, the plant is continually improved and its compatibility with the microclimate increases. Certain aspects - like hardiness, early ripening, larger or sweeter fruits - can be encouraged by saving seeds from those with the desirable attributes. When food crops are not weakened or stressed, the plants are not compromised resulting in a nutrient rich food.

Only a few generations ago every little valley, every little hillside had its own plant varieties. When people migrated they often took their family’s seeds with them. Today, when our elders move into retirement homes or discontinue gardening due to physical restraints, much of their plantings are allowed to die out. Without realizing it we are losing varieties on a regular basis.

These unique breeds are becoming rare and will eventually face extinction if we fail to keep them alive and growing. For instance, two surveys between 1900 and 1981 revealed that 7,000 fewer apple varieties were grown within that time period in North America. Yet even now, after losing so much diversity there is estimated to be around 2,000 varieties of beans and 6,000 kinds of tomatoes. Every single one has a particular history, a particular DNA sequence, and a particular set of nutrients. There are more distinctive color, size and shape variants available in heritage seeds. For example, some tomatoes are red, pink, yellow, orange, black, green, white or purple. However, only a few types are grown commercially, while the others are slowly being forgotten and lost over time.

And the great danger here is when the few varieties that are grown become prone to diseases. Remember the Irish potato famine of 1845 that caused the death of a million people and forced another million to emigrate? There was a similar occurrence in 1970 where corn blight infected some American states by as much as 50%. By growing only a few related varieties, these epidemics can, and will, occur again. By the time we realize that our crops are failing and the only way to save them is to find an old variety; it may be too late. That is the fear.

About Genetically Modified and Hybrid seeds:

Hybrid seeds are created when two unique parents are mechanically cross-pollinated resulting in greater uniformity. But because the process must be repeated each year to produce desirable seed, hybridizing is an effective way for companies to control the seed trade.

Introducing foreign genetic material on a molecular scale produces genetically modified (GM) crops. Big agribusiness sectors are excited about GM crops that either reduce crop-spraying costs or increase marketability. GM foods, they tell us, are essential in order to more safely use pesticides and continue to grow in an unnatural manner. Yet, the use of monoculture (fields of one crop) increases susceptibility to pests, droughts, diseases and soil deficiencies. Organic, biodynamic growers know there are other ways to handle these problems. Growing the appropriate variety for the microclimate, incorporating mulch, attracting beneficial insects and inter-planting to improve soil fertility are some of the methods we employ.

In some cases, it can actually be illegal to save GM seeds. A registered trademark indicates genetic manipulation and that is the legal property of the labs that designed it. Biopiracy, or bioprospecting, occurs when companies purchase patent rights over the development of certain gene combinations. In some cases, they have incorporated terminator genes (a.k.a. suicide seeds), which will not germinate.

Usually, gardeners can legally save hybrid seeds, but when these seeds are grown, they are shocked to find the seeds did not produce true to form. Instead, it will begin to revert to one or another of its parents and its seeds will be different every year thereafter. But heritage seed will always produce true to form as long as proper seed-saving procedures are followed.

Biotechnology promises to feed more people with foods “enriched” with vaccines, antibiotics, nutrients, flavors and chemicals. These altered fruits and vegetables are bred for tougher skins that prevent damage during shipping and reduce moisture loss, resulting in a prolonged shelf life. Here lies the very real possibility of altered nutritional values and flavors. These foods give the illusion that they are fresher than they are, but because foods lose their nutrients as they age, the consumer could be fooled into buying a nutritionally compromised product.

Unfortunately, GM crops can also contain foreign genes from animals, like fish and pigs, (bad news for the vegetarian), or from substances used to control pests, such as Bt and ‘Round-up’. These crops are developed to support commercial growers that desire the convenience of being able to spray, killing the weeds or pests without harming the crop. Yet, pests and weeds build up a tolerance over time and these altered crops have proven to kill indiscriminately. In Thailand, 30% of their bee population died in areas where Bt cotton was being tested and in North America Bt corn proved toxic to monarch butterflies. Sadly, because many plants are pollinated by the wind, an organic grower can be contaminated by these kinds of crops and lose his certification as well as his crop sales for the year.

There is also the issue of genetic engineering resulting in new recombinant compounds. Consider the now infamous case of the GM Brazil nuts that were modified with soybeans and resulted in numerous and severe allergic reactions in human consumers.

No matter how you weigh in on this issue, genetically altered crops are a part of our future. To blindly reject, or accept, a new technology is not wise. Already successes have been attained in places like Eastern Kenya where disease-free GM bananas saved people from starvation. Yet in order for any hope to be had, a huge genetic bank is necessary. It is vital to understand that we are being robbed of bionutrients every time we lose a species. We have no idea what kind of benefits, medically speaking, these endangered plants may have. How do we know if a particular variety may hold our only hope of dealing with acid rain or global warming? We could already have lost the cure for cancer without even knowing it.

What can you do?

“The thing is, to start where you are”, says Joanne, my wise and aging mother. “You can pass on the information. Make a difference by way of example. Choosing open-pollinated varieties is a way you can support biodiversity. Choosing to grow them using organic methods is a way you can preserve the environment from contaminated ground water and poisoned plants.”

Growing crops that your grandparents, or great-grandparents, can remember from their youth can be quite an experience for the whole family. Seeing the exotic array of colors, shapes and flavors on your kitchen table that can not be found in grocery stores, is a thrill on its own. These are the benefits of growing non-hybrid crops. Going one step farther by saving the seeds and sharing with others is a way you can help preserve genetic diversity.

Resources:

- Seeds of Diversity Canada’s periodical magazine & their book ‘How to Save Your Own Vegetable Seeds’

- Canadian Gardening Magazine Vol. 5 No.6 ‘The Seed Savers’ By Ann Rhodes

- Gardens West Magazine Vol.6 No.4 ‘The Importance of Heritage Seeds’ by Dan Jason

- ‘Live Lightly on the Land’ by Dan Jason Avail. Through Salt Spring Seeds

- Special thanks to Jim Ternier, of ‘Prairie Garden Seeds’ for his invaluable comments on this article.

“In the past 3 years (1991-94) 950 varieties of vegetables have become extinct and of the survivors 74% - or almost 4,000 varieties - are endangered.” ~ Ann Rodes article: ‘The Seed Savers’, Canadian Gardening Magazine

“The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command.” ~ Sam McGee of ‘Lord of the Rings’ by J.R. Tolken

“For the sake of future generations, we must collect and study the wild and weedy relatives of our cultivated plants as well as domesticated vegetables. These sources are dangerously neglected. The future will not be so tolerant. We cannot afford to ignore any source of the gene pool.” ~ Jack R. Harlan, Professor Emeritus

“Extinction does not only apply to giant pandas or tigers or exotic species that dwell in the Rainforests. Vegetables can go extinct too and when our food goes extinct then we follow.” ~ The Henry Double Day Research Association, England

~ Lillian Brummet - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment – Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry (http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)

Greening your garden

We think gardens are a major way individuals can help the environment. Having a properly varied garden, rather than putting decking out all over it or turning it into a car port, helps reduce CO2 emissions, as well as increasing biodiversity and reducing flooding. It is also better for your mental health!

As undeveloped land has become scarcer in England, especially the South East, gardens have been developed with summer houses, giant sheds, and now actual houses, causing serious flooding problems.

The former London Ecology Unit carried out an analysis of aerial photographs taken in 1981 and found that private gardens comprise about 20% of Greater London, or about 30,000 hectares. The mosaic of different sized gardens across London or any city is now recognised as providing valuable habitat for a large and important number of our common animals.

The Labour Government as spent 2 million GBP on an investigation by planners and academics into ‘urban densification’. This report (2006) has called for a doubling of the current density of developments in suburban areas.

The report has also declared ‘considerable potential’ for back garden development, recommended that back gardens of more than 30 metres should be sold off for building.

It is estimated that two-thirds of all brownfield housing development is now taking place on former gardens. This is due to a change in planning advice on gardens provided by central Government.

This will have a major effect on biodiversity and also flooding and sewage systems.

What to do in your garden

These ideas about greening your garden are suitable for all sizes of gardens. The location of nearby wild areas or parks will have a big effect on visiting wildlife, but no garden is too small - even on a balcony or in a window box!

Mention them if you are using a landscape gardener or company as they may not be aware of your concerns. Any good landscape gardener should conduct an extensive design consultation in which you can explore these ideas.

Tips

* have trees, big shrubs, vegetation

* long grass

* untidiness - such as dead leaves - this is food and shelter for small creatures

* don’t worry about ‘native’ or ‘non-native’ plants, although keep them leafy

* you don’t need ‘bug boxes’ etc - just provide clutter

Types of plants

Some plants are better than others in helping a variety of creatures co-exist.

Ivy is a seasonally important source of nectar and berries, and provides nesting and roosting habitats for birds. It is also the caterpillar food plant for the holly blue butterfly.

Pyracantha, hawthorn and female holly provide autumn and winter berries for thrushes.

Some plants are actively bad though, such as any double-flowered varieties which produce no nectar, making them useless to insects except as cover.

Some may be harmful to wildlife, such as non-native problem species such as parrot’s feather, and the Spanish bluebell, which hybridises with the UK’s native bluebell.

Otherwise any shrubby plant is good, the larger the better. We prefer those without long tropical waxy leaves as they provide more habitat.

Pesticides

One of the causes of the decline of some species, such as birds and hedgehogs, is the use of pesticides. These are now used liberally on most gardens, whereas 20 years ago their domestic garden use was rare.

Pesticides reduce available food, such as snails and slugs which are eaten by song thrushes and hedgehogs, amongst others.

They also have more direct effects as insecticides will kill beneficial insects as well as the target species.

Organic gardening is better all round and much more fun to do.

Education

Gardening, especially the natural variety, is a great way to introduce children to the joys of nature, in a safe relaxed way. This is another reason to not deck over your garden for the “barbecue and the kids”, since children are losing a major life influence when you do so.

Children’s gardens

Why not have a special area set aside for children, their own patch, perhaps in an old Belfast sink? They will take great pleasure and learn a lot from tending and observing the growth and creatures.

Compost

This is not in this article, see Ecotist for more information. Once you have made your compost, it’s time to use it in your new eco-friendly garden. Just dig it in as soil mix to add vitality.

Decking

This is very popular as it is low maintenance and is good for garden furniture, parties, childrens’ tricycles, etc. However keep to a bare minimum as it is very bad for any green effect you might be after. It has to be varnished and cleaned, and takes up space which could be natural. It also contributes to excess rain becoming flood water.

If you have a little decking:

* Use FSC timber

* Put a lot of tubs on it with a range of plants. This looks good and reduces the negative effect.

* Use eco varnish protection and cleaning products

* Just think how much better is is for your children’s and your mental health to NOT have decking

Disease and pest control

Newer products are becoming more eco-friendly as consumer demand increases. So it is worth asking for it at the store.

Slugs and snails

Disliked by gardeners everywhere, even eco ones. Slugs can be very attractive though when colourful. To another slug, that is!

* Slug and snail traps are designed to protect plants from damage. Attracted by the beer or yeast tablets, it allows them to die without using chemicals. No good if you are a vegetarian though.

* Slug Copper around your pots and along the borders of your beds. Slugs and snails won’t crawl over copper tape.

Aphids

The natural way is to bring in some of their predators. Ladybird larvae are available by mail order. Encourage ladybirds into your garden by providing them with a safe environment to breed and hibernate, such as bug boxes, or wooden clutter.

One brick wall we built in a garden one summer attracted literally hundreds of pupae, scattered all over. The pupae soon hatched and the ladybirds emerged to fly off and eat those aphids.

Companion planting

This can be helpful in keeping pests away from your food crops. It is when two or more plants are grown in closely together so that they provide some benefit to one or all. Some plants exude protective chemicals called allelochemicals from their roots or foliage which deter or act as a decoy for pests and diseases.

* Keep your plants healthy and avoid disease

* Keep your tools disease free - Wash your tools in boiling water after cutting diseased wood, or digging out a diseased plant.

* Keep your pots disease free - Wash and/or scrub out your pots in the winter.

* Space - prune your trees. Allow enough space between the plants for air to circulate. This prevents fungal infections.

* Check for the first signs of disease. Then you can treat the plant early, or move it to prevent infection to other plants.

Mulching

Mulches are coverings put on the surface of garden or field soil. Simple and very effective for many reasons:

* Maintaining soil temperature, insulating against fluctuations.

* Controlling weeds.

* Retaining water in summer.

* Reducing water run-off in winter.

* Adding nutrients to the soil.

* Protection of edible crops from any contact with soil and so risk of rotting.

* Encouragement of beneficial soil organisms.

* Repelling insects.

* Improve soil structure.

* Controlling erosion.

Organic mulches include:

* garden compost

* bark, woodchip (small risk of transferring honey fungus)

* leafmould

* rotted manure

* lawn cuttings (not too thickly)

* straw and hay, or even newspaper

* chopped bracken and even green-manure crops.

* a mulch called Dunweedin is made of 100% recycled tyres and has a natural bark appearance.

How to mulch

Apply the mulch around plants, leaving a some space between the mulch and plant for air circulation, and over bare earth in beds and pots.

Mulch vegetable gardens once the soil has warmed in the spring.

Don’t apply mulch to cold and wet soil.

To protect against frost, mulch with straw or hay in winter.

Drainage

This is an important topic and should be dealt with professionally or you might end up with floods.

Water soakaways - ground sinks for excess water with packed with gravel to assist drainage and slow release of water - need to be designed when you change your garden.

You probably do not know the existing soakaway system which would have been designed in and left buried. Builders will be able to find where they are.

Front gardens - there is a big increase in local flooding in cities due to non-absorbant concreted or asphalted parking areas, which increase run-off during heavy rain into the sewerage system. New incentives are being brought in to make sure all front gardens are porous. Planning permission will be needed for non-permeable paving very shortly.

Various other changes are also coming in such as removing phosphates from washing powders as these cause a lot of water pollution.

Paving

Use recycled slabs. Slabs should be laid on beds of recycled stone chips or bark chips so that water can drain away and not flood.

There are many types of plantable surfaces for parking, such as Grasscrete, a grassed cellular paving in both concrete and plastic. These are much better than just concreting over the front garden for a car.

Even stones are better than straight concrete or asphalt.

Save water

* Use plants that require a minimum of water.

* Use a watering can, or install a passive irrigation system from your water butts with ‘water worms’ - a porous pipe is made from recycled tyres that allows water to seep to roots.

* Water first thing in the morning, or in the evening, to prevent evaporation.

* Compost and mulching both retain large amounts of water

Rainwater harvesting

Use a water butt or tank to collect run-off water from the roof of your house.

This is much cheaper than installing a full greywater system and works well for a garden.

An average sized garden butt will fill very rapidly in rainy weather so make sure it can overflow safely.

Also use greywater from boiling eggs, fishtanks, anything to hand. Plants like this as it has some nutrients.

Xeriscape - a landscape for water conservation, or landscaping in ways that do not require supplemental irrigation, by using plants that require less water. You can also use objects for decoration such as rocks, bricks, benches and gravel, which retain moisture underneath, and provide shade.

This is an good idea in the south of England, where the climate increasingly suits Mediterranean plants.

Garden ponds and water features

These are a good idea as they attract frogs etc. and also provide water to other small animals.

Be careful of standing water as this can be a breeding area for mosqitoes. Any pumps should be solar powered, which are also easier to run as low maintenance.

Buy recycled tools and furniture

When you are buying tools, pots, planters, glass items, and other accessories, buy second-hand or recycled.

Buy tools with wooden handles not plastic - they are more sustainable and look nicer too.

Many items such as planters can be made from recycled tyres.

Reclaimed teak or other wood can be used for garden furniture.

Solar power

Both water features such as pumps for waterfalls and outdoor lighting which use small solar photovoltaic (PV) cells for power are readily available from garden suppliers.

Grow your own food

Growing fruit and vegetables is great fun and also:

* It has no food miles.

* It is cheaper.

* Organic and fresh from your own garden.

* Very enjoyable and educational for children.

* In the recent past gardens were always used for vegetables.

Permaculture

This is a system combining home, garden and lifestyle into an eco-system that makes use of its own waste products. To quote Bill Mollison, the founder of permaculture:

“Permaculture offers a radical approach to food production and urban renewal, water, energy and pollution. It integrates ecology, landscape, organic gardening, architecture and agro-forestry in creating a rich and sustainable way of living. The design principles are equally applicable to both urban and rural dwellers.”

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Planning, planting, growing and harvesting a vegetable garden can be great fun for the whole family. And while you are having fun, you will be growing your own food. Having your own vegetable garden can be a very satisfying undertaking and is an excellent way to teach your children about responsibility as well.

Vegetable Garden Benefits

There are many benefits to planting your own vegetable garden and one of the most obvious ones is the harvest.

When you plant a garden that grows well, you will be able to enjoy the vegetables when they are ripe and, along with pleasing your taste buds, this will also please your grocery bill as well. Growing your own vegetables is much cheaper than buying them, so gardening will leave you with some extra money each month.

Some other benefits of having your own vegetable garden are relieving excess stress and exploring your creativity with plants.

Gardening can be great fun for the whole family and you can give your children their own gardening tasks to keep track of, as well. This will also provide a great means of exercise for the entire family.

Where Do I Plant It?

If you want a quality vegetable garden that will produce well, you are going to have to choose your garden site carefully. Make sure that your garden site gets plenty of sun each day to help your plants grow as they should.

If you do not have enough sunlight hitting your vegetable garden, it will more than likely be a flop. You should also choose a garden spot that will get enough water.

Be sure that water will not just sit in certain areas, but that the water will be able to get to the entire garden. If you are short on rain, you may have to water the garden yourself. Also try to find a garden site that has rich, healthy soil to ensure that your plants grow well.

Choosing Which Vegetables to Grow

There are many vegetables to choose from for your vegetable garden but you need to keep in mind which vegetables you like and how easy they are to grow. If your family does not like beets, you should probably choose something else to grow in your garden.

If this is your first time having a vegetable garden, you may want to stick to vegetables that are easy to grow such as tomatoes, green beans, carrots, lettuce, peas, squash and corn.

Vegetable Gardening Tips

Once you have your vegetable garden planted, you want to make sure that you keep up with the garden to be sure you get the best growth possible. It is important that you keep the weeds out of your garden, since weeds can take away nutrients and water from your plants.

You should also be sure that you do not water your garden too much or you can kill your plants with too much water. When you plant your garden, you will want to leave adequate space in between your rows so that you can cultivate your plants to stimulate growth.

If you plant your garden in a great place and make sure that you take care of it faithfully, at the end of the season, you will reap the benefits of your hard work. When you sit around your table enjoying the wonderful fresh vegetables, it will be with the pleasure of knowing that your vegetable garden was a job well done.

Carol Stack has always enjoyed gardening. She lives with her husband, children, dogs, and cats in the United States. They have a large yard that they are continually trying to keep looking good. You can learn about landscaping, lawn care, organic gardening and more at Carol’s Web site http://www.howtogarden.info

The size of your yard will determine your final vegetable garden layout. What can be fun is the planning of the garden and the decisions surrounding the kind of garden you want. One of the very first decisions is whether it will be a ground level or raised bed garden.

The ground level garden is the cheapest form of vegetable garden layout. Why? Because all you need to do is plow up the area that you have elected to turn into a vegetable garden and remove the grass. Well, it’s never as easy as it sounds, of course. You will have to get the soil out of the clumps of grass and then churn up a good 2 feet deep in this plot to loosen up the compacted earth. We’ll talk later about adding soil and conditioning amendments.

The second type of vegetable garden layout uses a raised bed. The advantages of a raised bed are that it generally warms up quicker in the spring, has excellent drainage and you can tend to the weeds sitting on a stool! The disadvantages lie in the cost of constructing the sides of the bed initially, including the additional dirt necessary to fill the upraised plot.

There are companies that have created an entire business around selling you vegetable garden layout kits. You can study the plans they provide and use these ideas to build your own layout or you can buy one of their kits.

The advantage of the kit is that a good quality cedar is used for the sides. Western red cedar withstands infestations and lasts a good long while even when wet. It also comes pre-drilled and all necessary hardware is provided in packages, so your thinking is done for you. Your only decision is the relative costs associated with doing your own materiel buying versus the cost of the vegetable garden layout kit.

Regardless of which kind of garden you choose, you will want to line the edges of your selected vegetable garden layout area with a grass barrier. The battle with encroaching grass will be eternal if you don’t just give in and buy one of the products on the market that are impenetrable to the most invasive grass, which is bermuda. Line the edges of your selected area to a depth of 8 inches and all should be well.

One word of caution: make sure that however you plan your vegetable garden layout that you leave a pathway all around it. Like an aisle, a path will enable you to pick your vegetables without tromping all through the garden. Not that tromping can’t be fun, it can; but it compacts the soil around your plants and will make nutrients more inaccessible to growing roots.

Now to the soil amendments. It is likely that your converted grass patch needs additional nutrients before it produces great vegetables. Regardless of the vegetable garden layout, you’ll need help.

You can take a sample of your soil to your nearest Soil Conservation office and have it tested for about $15. Or, the cheapskate method: head for your largest garden center and ask them what to add to your lawn soil to convert it to a super-productive vegetable garden layout.

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Perhaps the best way to have a healthy, vegetarian diet is to grow as much of your own food as possible. This ensures that you know that no insecticides have been used on the plants. You are also able to grow particular favorites which are not available in the local market. Vegetarians in the tropics or almost-tropics are presented with both a tremendous opportunity for a bonanza of healthy crops as well as a challenge.

Anyone who is accustomed to having glorious vegetable gardens in northern regions will initially find that warm-climate gardening can be challenging. Many transplanted gardeners give up in frustration after a few failed attempts. However, your southern garden can surpass the one you left behind, but it requires rethinking how and when you plant. You need to know when, how and what to plant.

Instead of one crop a year, two are now possible. You can have both a spring and fall/winter harvest. The key is timing. You can check with your local County Extension Service or local Garden Club for advice. You can also notice when the commercial growers plant their fields. Chatting with growers selling produce at a local farmer’s market can also be helpful. A local garden supply store may also be a good source of information.

In regions such as central and southern Florida, summer is the hardest time to grow vegetables. It’s too hot and humid, stressing plants and increasing disease and insect problems. Many commercial growers leave their fields fallow during summer months. Your best chance at success is to follow the same planting schedule as the growers who do it for a living.

Next take a hard look at your soil. If it is very sandy, with few plant nutrients. You will need to add organics to the soil (composted manure). The sandy nature of the soil causes the organics dissipate, so add more as needed. A good organic vegetable fertilizer will also be very helpful. Nematodes may also be a problem. They are parasitic, microscopic roundworms which attack the roots of plants. While they do not normally kill the plants, they do cause stunted growth and decreased yields. The most effective treatment is simply leaving the ground fallow (unplanted) between crops. Without a food source, the number of nematodes in the soil decreases dramatically.

Knowing what to plant is also critical to growing a flourishing garden. Seeds for seed crops (radishes, carrots, lettuce etc.) can be obtained either locally or from online suppliers. Generally, the online seed suppliers will have a greater variety. It’s important to look for varieties designed for your region. You will find lettuces that will tolerate more heat without bolting, root crops more nematode-resistant and tomatoes, peppers and eggplants more resistant to various diseases. A sturdy plant adapted to the region will be able to provide a bountiful crop and be less bothered by insect pests.

Getting the plants that you set out (tomatoes, peppers and eggplants especially) can be more challenging. Local garden suppliers are more likely to have them available for planting at the right time for your local region. They are also more likely to have varieties adapted for the local area. Chain suppliers are less likely to be a good source for varieties adapted to the local climate and may not have them available at the best time to plant. Growing your own plants from seed is a good choice.

You can have the most fabulous garden you have ever had, with the most luscious tomatoes, abundant peppers, glossy eggplants, large leafy greens and herbs and flowers blooming almost all year. You can have those specialty crops that you never see in the market for the most delicious vegetarian meals you have ever enjoyed.

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