Starting a Vegetable Garden
Renovators Place Columnist
Oct 08, 2009
Fresh cucumbers. Juicy tomatoes. There are many reasons to
add a vegetable garden. Here’s how to get it started.
Location
Selecting the right spot for your vegetable garden is key.
Vegetables grow best in sunny spots that are well drained. Try to avoid
locations near large trees, as their roots may interfere with the growth of
your vegetables.
Proper Soil
As with flower gardening, the soil is an important consideration. Conduct a soil test, which measures the amount of acid and alkaline in the soil. The scale goes from 1 pH, which is highly acidic, to 14 pH, which is highly alkaline. Most soil falls somewhere in the middle. Ideally, you want soil that has a pH level of 6.2 to 7.2.
If the soil has a lower pH and, thus, has more acid, add lime. If it has a higher pH, and more alkaline, add aluminum sulfate.
Most garden centers have easy-to-use soil testing kits.
Laying Out the Plan
Before you begin digging, layout the garden on paper. Do
you want a raised bed garden or one that is part of the natural lay of the
land? Raised beds often are used in areas where the terrain is rocky or
otherwise difficult to work with. They also are ideal in cool, wet climates because
they warm up quickly in spring and dry out quickly in summer. The traditional
flat garden works well in hot, dry conditions.
Then go out in the yard and use stakes to mark off the
area.
Prepare the Bed
As you prepare the soil:
- Look
for soil that holds together well, but also crumbles easily
- Add
in plenty of peat moss or composted yard waste to stimulate growth
- Plan
out your plantings to allow for enough space between vegetables
Once the soil is ready, use a rotary tiller or a shovel to dig down about 10 inches. Break up the soil and work in the peat moss or other organic matter. Rake until you have a smooth surface. Now you’re ready to plant.
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