A vegetable garden depends on three main factors:  Sun,  Soil and Water Accessibility:  a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight daily; avoid soil in soggy areas or slopes to prevent soil erosion; and water that is easy to reach. Good news - you have other growing options!  A sunny spot can grow vegetables in pots, raised bed or metal trough -

just click below. 

Before you begin, know your Plant Hardiness Zone, i.e., last frost dates. (Simply click button below to identify your planting zone.)  To make an effective garden drawing, measure and label each area of the entire garden site.  This guide will help identify specific areas for soil samples, assist in documenting garden history and aid in healthy crop rotation.

Eliminate weeds or grass on your site before ground is tilled using Organic Weed killer Recipe:  (1 gallon vinegar; 2 cups Epsom salts; 1/4 cup Dawn liquid soap  Mix together in a sprayer and apply to previously mowed or close cropped grass and weeds on a sunny morning after dew has evaporated.)  Similarly for raised beds first eliminate all grass and roots in site.  Then lay 6-8 thicknesses of cardboard or black and white newspaper in bottom of frame. (Do not use plastic or landscape material in bottom as this prevents worms from burrowing upward and creating healthy soil.) Now you are ready to add soil - but first click below.

How will you water your garden? Will you use drip irrigation (best - most efficient), a garden hose or oscillating sprinklers? Tip: Consider purchasing a water timer which can be attached to the hose at the spigot because daily watering will be required in hot weather. Important: watering at daybreak is best as fungus will grow if leaves are wet overnight. 

Seeds or plants? Choose your crops according to the growing season and clients' preferences.  (Example:  we grew kale and our clients had zero interest, so next season we grew collards and mustard greens which they welcomed.)  Plants are least expensive early in the season when they are sold in trays of 18 or 36.   Seeds are very inexpensive, and some crops can be planted as seeds directly into the soil. Read the seed packet! Other crops can be started by seed indoors but may take 6-8 weeks to be ready to plant in the ground. (If grown indoors in a sunny space use a seed germination kit and specialized heating mat.)  When setting plants in ground give plants enough room to grow, by following recommended spacing guidelines. Click below for recommendations.

Use a calendar, journal, or simple composition book and a pencil to record garden design, crops, seed germination, planting, fertilizing, disease and pest control, as well as harvest dates.