Creating a Vision for Your Homegrown Vegetable Garden
If you're new to growing vegetables, you may be wondering where to begin as you plan your first veggie garden. Before you put the plants in the ground, there are several things to consider, so let's take a step back and create a vision for your space.
What to Grow?
With so many veggies, narrowing down the best ones for your garden can be challenging. An important question to ask yourself is: What do I enjoy eating? A clear answer will help you maximize your plot, especially if you have limited space. We recommend growing fun and easy veggies for your first garden, such as cucumbers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and lettuce. Herbs, such as basil, are also good options.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers grow on vines and provide you with lots of cukes that can be used for fresh eating or pickling. If your space is limited, you can grow a container-friendly variety or use a trellis to grow the vines vertically.
Zucchini
Zucchini is known for its heavy production that will satisfy you and your neighbors all summer. This veggie comes in various shapes and sizes, giving you many options to find the right ones for your garden.
Cherry tomatoes
Most cherry tomatoes grow on plants that continue producing all summer, giving you an endless supply of tasty snacks. While many varieties have red tomatoes, others produce uniquely colored fruit: yellow, orange, black, and even white. You can also grow compact varieties that are suitable for containers and the garden.
Lettuce
Lettuce is the perfect veggie to grow early in the season when the temperatures are cool. You can try various types of lettuce, including heirloom, looseleaf, and butterhead. Lettuce tends to bolt in the heat, but you can start new plants in mid-summer for a fall harvest.
Herbs
Like many herbs, basil is fragrant, tasty, and easy to grow. It's right at home in containers or mixed with other veggies in the garden. And with many different scents, there's a basil for everyone.
Know Your Garden
After deciding on the plants you'd like to grow, consider your growing space. Do you have access to traditional beds or raised beds? Perhaps you're gardening on a patio or balcony. In any case, you'll want to choose the right plants for your site. In recent years, many dwarf varieties of veggies have entered the market, giving you options for any garden.
It does take commitment to grow veggies, so it’s better to start small for your first garden and gradually expand as you become more comfortable. Most veggies prefer full sun, so selecting a site that receives at least six hours of sun each day is vital. You'll also want a water source near your plants, especially when they're getting established early in the season. Healthy soil is crucial, so consider getting a soil test and adding organic matter, like compost.
Growing your food has many rewards, and one of the best parts is watching a tiny plant become a bountiful harvest.