Setting Up a Vegetable Garden: It Takes Time But It Is Worth It!
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Just like any worthy endeavor, setting up a vegetable garden requires some thought and planning. This is especially true if you are in an area where you have not gardened before. There are five pages of information to help you more thoroughly. Both ground gardening and container gardening are addressed. If you are a beginning gardener, start small. If you are a beginning gardener, start small.
Spacing Spacing requirements as you see on seed packets are just for your guidance. Actually, if your garden soil is nutrient-rich, the vegetables can be planted close together. There is even the added benefit of the closely grouped plants becoming natural protectors against weed germination as they shield the soil from sunlight. For nutrient-deficient soil, you may need to provide more space than recommended on the packet so that you can mulch between the vegetable plants to control the weeds. Bear in mind that those weeds take nutrients from the soil as well. Equidistant Spacing The scientific method of equidistant spacing is enlightening. You draw imaginary circles around each vegetable plant as if they were already grown, with the circles slightly overlapping. To achieve this effect, the distances between the vegetables should be the same as the distances between the rows. The overlapping parts correspond to the garden areas covered by the full-grown vegetables where they receive nutrients and moisture. Further Guidelines
Soil pH
Knowing the acidity and alkalinity of your soil is very important. Get an inexpensive soil tester. You can also submit a soil sample to your local extension office. Your local garden center may also assist you with soil testing. Follow the suggestions in the soil report. Below is a list of some plants for your garden that have been grouped according to their soil requirement:
Soil for Container Gardening Plant roots in containers are quite hungry for both water and air. You will need lightweight, porous media. You can buy premixed potting soil in garden centers, or you can make your own potting soil. The latter may be the better alternative for sizeable container gardens due to the expense of prepackaged potting mix. Check the other five pages for this topic. They will help you in setting up a vegetable garden that is well worth your effort!
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