If you're just getting started on your vegetable garden - congrats! Once you've decided you want to turn your backyard into a kitchen garden, you might be overwhelmed. I certainly was, and wished for a "vegetable gardening for dummies" (though I have a degree in food systems!) So, I wrote this Vegetable Gardening 101 post to answer one key questions.
Where to place your garden, and how big should it be?
Choosing your garden placement
Most people have a rough idea of where they want your garden to be, whether that's the backyard, patio, balcony, or somewhere else. Here are my top considerations for choosing where to put your vegetable garden.
Space limitations: If you live in an apartment or don't have a ton of yard space, consider starting with a container garden. But if you have tons of space, make sure you consider the amount of time you'll have to spend wedding, cleaning, planting and harvesting before you plant.
Permanent versus temporary planting: Raised beds and container gardens are easy (or rather, easier) to empty and move. If you rent your property, this might be an important consideration.
Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine. You're probably bored of hearing this all the time, but choosing a spot with ample sunshine is CRITICAL for most vegetables, fruits and herbs (think 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight). You can probably make do with 4 to 6, but anything under that won't work super well for most of the veggies you have in mind. I'm working on a sunlight tracking post that can help you easily figure out what you can plant in the area you've picked based on sun exposure. Stay tuned.
Protected from pests. Pests can range from simple insects to large animals. For instance, I have a huge issue with raccoons in my backyard. So, in addition to the investment in the garden, I also had to figure out how to keep the raccoon out!
Good soil with ample drainage. Soil is the plant's primary nutrient source, so finding a good spot that already has or can be amended with nutrient-rich soil is super important. Further, you want soil that drains well and doesn't stay wet. Wet roots lead to rotted roots!
Determining the size of your garden
Okay, I know we all want to dive right in and dedicate as much space as we have to our vegetable gardening efforts. But, word of caution: this can quickly get overwhelming unless you truly have several hours each week to tend to it. So depending on your availability, always better to start small and then expand!
Planting in the ground. Most experts recommend a 10' x 10' plot if you're planting directly in the ground. You'll be able to grow 4 to 5 of your favorite vegetables in a plot this size.
Raised beds. If you're using a raised bed like me, I suggest starting with a 4' x 8' (or two 4' x 4' beds) depending on how much space you have. The thing to consider is that potting soil can add up super quickly!
Container gardens. If you're going the route of container gardening, make sure to get sufficient depth based on the plants (for instance, herbs need a lot less "root space" than a tomato!)
