How to Create a Kitchen Garden

One of the main advantages of establishing a kitchen garden is gathering the produce while it is still fresh and eating it right away. Most people imagine that a large garden plot is needed to grow vegetables, which is not true. A small patch in any garden can yield a good return of salad vegetables and a couple of containers on a sunny back deck will give you a nice crop of your own tomatoes or beans. The concept of a kitchen garden is where the gardener can step out the back door and pluck a vine-ripe tomato, rinse it, slice it and add it to a salad. A kitchen garden can be as rewarding as it is tasty.

Things You'll Need

• Sketch pad
• Measuring tape
• Stakes
• String

Instructions

1. Survey the site. Vegetables should not be planted in heavy shade. An open site is best but they do need shelter, particularly from the wind, so a hedge or woven fence to filter the wind would be ideal. Provided the area is not too shaded, the ideal place for the vegetable plot is near the greenhouse and shed, with space enough to have a compost heap.

2. Study the amount of sun the garden receives. Watch the path of the sun as the day passes. Plan your garden so that taller plants will be established at the rear of the garden where their height won’t prevent the sunlight from reaching the lower growing vegetables. Plant spreading and climbing vegetables, like squash, beans and cucumbers, where they can grow up a wall or fence.

3. Select which vegetables to cultivate. It is easy to get swept up in the excitement of growing your own food, but try to reign in your enthusiasm and choose a few vegetables that you are likely to use in your kitchen. You can always supplement with container plants like tomatoes and peppers.

4. Divide the garden into planting zones or sections. A simple design of crossed paths creating four planting sections and surrounding walkways is effective. Use the stakes and string to section off planting areas and distinguish walkways.

5. Introduce mulch and plant. Turn the soil and work good quality organic mulch into the planting sections with a garden rake. Wet the soil and wait for a day or more before introducing the seedlings or plants into the garden.

6. Water the sections as directed by the vegetable's description. It is best not to plant vegetables that require frequent watering by those that prefer dry soil. If the quadrant planting method is used, it is easy to keep the sections healthy.

7. Harvest the vegetables. The beauty of a kitchen garden is that once it begins to produce, it is not uncommon for some vegetable to be ready whenever you walk out the door. Save a portion of the seeds for future use.

Tips & Warnings

• Add containers to the kitchen garden to increase the number of plants you can grow.

• Never let vegetables decompose on the plants.