How to Plant a Summer Vegetable Garden

Vegetable gardens are easy and enjoyable to care for.

Planting a vegetable garden in the summer is practically a rite of passage for a homeowner. Summer vegetable gardens provide you with a bountiful crop without a lot of work. Additionally, the vegetables that are produced are often healthier and tastier than those you can purchase at the store. They are also much cheaper. Planting a summer vegetable garden requires a bit of planning and thought, however.

Instructions

1. Find an area in your yard that receives plenty of sun and has well-drained soil. Most vegetables need abundant amounts of sunshine. They also need water that will drain away when not needed, instead of hanging around and potentially causing damage to the roots. Look around your yard on a sunny day to scope out a bright spot. This should also be a spot that absorbs the water quickly after a rain.

2. Create a raised bed if your soil is not sufficient or you cannot find an area that has both sun and well-drained soil. Raised beds are essentially gardens that sit on top of the soil. Outline your bed with wood, concrete blocks or bricks and then fill it in with soil.

3. Dig holes in the soil that are about twice as big as the plant's root ball. Space the holes out according to their variety. For instance, cucumbers should be spaced about 18 to 24 inches apart from others and tomatoes should be spaced about 30 to 36 away from other vegetables. The container the plant came in should have information regarding its space requirements.

4. Place the plants inside the root holes, once the threat of frost is gone. Cover the plant's roots firmly with soil by pushing the dirt gently down with your hands. Apply mulch or compost around in the garden, if desired. Water the plants until the soil is soggy. Monitor the soil and add water whenever it appears dry.

5. Remove weeds from the garden whenever they appear. Be sure to remove the roots to the weeds, or else the weeds will continue to reappear. Use your fingers or a small shovel to remove the roots.

Tips & Warnings

• Many summer vegetables benefit from the use of fertilizer. The type you need, along with how much and how often it should be applied depends on your vegetable. The container in which your plant came in should have information regarding the use of fertilizer.

References

• The Garden Helper: Vegetable Planting Guides and Growing Tips
• Natural Hub: Grow Vegetables and Culinary Herbs in Summer