How to Plant a Starter Vegetable Garden
There is nothing quite like the taste of fresh vegetables straight from the garden. They also are more nutritious than store-bought veggies. Many vegetables available in the grocery store have set on the shelf for days or weeks before they make it to the market. Many have lost vitamins and minerals long before they make it to your table. By growing your own vegetables, you control the freshness and save money. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Select an area that receives 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day. Mark the area and till the soil to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. For a small garden, a home garden tiller is sufficient to till the soil. Generally, you must remove the sod prior to using a tiller.
Simply use a spade to dig beneath the top layer of vegetation, and remove the layer of sod. Shake to remove as much soil from the roots as possible and discard the sod. Use the garden tiller to till the area. Remove any rocks or debris. Add well-rotted compost or manure to the soil, and work in. -
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Choose vegetables for your starter garden. Although you want to choose vegetables that your family prefers, consider the ease of growing the vegetable. Peas are a favorite in home gardens and grow quickly with little care. Tall telephone varieties require staking or a fence, but many dwarf varieties produce well in little space, making them ideal for a starter garden. Soak pea seed overnight in tepid water. Plant to a depth of 1 inch, spacing them 2 inches apart.
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Plant salad greens and radishes for a quick summer salad. Purchase individual greens or choose a mix of lettuces and greens. These are readily available at your garden store. Follow the planting directions and care on the package. Radishes grow quickly and are often ready to harvest within 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the variety and weather conditions.
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Purchase tomato plants at your local greenhouse. These come in flats of six or in individual pots. Tomato plants require several feet of space, depending on the variety. Follow the planting instructions provided at the nursery. Two or three plants produce enough tomatoes for fresh salads or as slicing tomatoes for a family of four.
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Consider adding cucumber plants. Purchase cucumber seedlings in flats at the greenhouse, or plant them from seed. Cucumbers grow quickly, but require space to vine. Consider bush varieties if space is an issue. Space seeds 6 inches apart and seedlings 1 foot apart. Four to six plants provide cucumbers for salads or for eating as a healthy snack.
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Grow snap beans in rows. These germinate quickly and grow rapidly. A 5-foot row of beans provides several meals throughout the summer. Plant to a depth of 1 inch and space 2 inches apart. Keep moist until seeds germinate.
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