Planning a Vegetable Garden

modern-day victory garden

Planning for success

Growing your own edible plants is an enjoyable and practical activity that supports physical and emotional wellness. It’s practically a rite of passage. Remember the thrill you got as a kindergartener from growing a lima bean in a Dixie cup of soil? Or the memories of Grandma & Grandpa’s garden? Think of all the vegetables, fruits, and herbs you can grow and the satisfaction you’ll get from gathering home-grown produce. It’s easy, and anyone can do it! Just keep in mind these important lessons when planning for a new vegetable garden and, before you know it, it’ll be like harvesting like a pro in your own modern-day Victory Garden!

pick a sunny spot

Location determines what edible plants you can grow. Pick a Full Sun location for your vegetable garden, defined as receiving 6 or more hours of direct sunlight, because most edible varieties prefer full sun. If your available space is Part Shade, defined as 4-6 hours of direct sun, edible plants will still grow – but they may not perform or produce to their full potential. If sunlight is not on your side, don’t be discouraged. Several delicious plant families grow well in lower light conditions; for example, lettuces, leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, beets, brussels sprouts, radishes, carrots, swiss chard, bush beans, leeks, chives, and select herbs.

choose your method

Decide what type of garden you want – in-ground, raised bed, or container. There are benefits to each. In-ground gardens require less water, insulate plants naturally, and need no construction. Raised Beds offer good drainage, fast-warming soil, and reduce weeding. Containers offer the same benefits as Raised Beds (after all, they’re just giant containers) with the added benefit of portability and, the in case of elevated veggie planters, relief and ease-of-use for gardeners who suffer from back issues or other physical ailments that make bending over to plant, weed, and harvest a painful task.

 

sketch size & layout

If growing in the ground or in raised beds, the ideal maximum width for any section is about 4 feet, so that you can easily reach into the middle to accomplish maintenance and harvesting tasks. Length will depend on your available space and goals. If wanting multiple sections, plan to incorporate pathways for walking through and working the garden. Sketch your ideas on paper, reflecting the size and pathways. Take into account the plants you want to grow, the size they will be at maturity, and plan to give them proper spacing. Check out this ‘Summer Grocery Garden’, a suggested garden designed by our team of horticulturists.

view summer grocery garden

know your soil

If planning to grow in the ground, assess the soil in the location you’ve identified for your new vegetable garden. Perform a soil test to discover what nutrients your soil might need to better support plants. Typically in Northeast Ohio, we are dealing with acidic clay soil, which is easily amended and drastically improved by preparing the soil at least 2 weeks before planting it up. If the selected area is part of your current lawn, or if it’s particularly weedy, plan to clear it by killing or removing weeds, hoeing it to loosen the soil, and turning it over.

plan to water

You’ll need an easily accessible water source because vegetables appreciate consistent, even watering. The ideal amount is of 1 inch of water per week, whether it comes from you or Mother Nature. For in-ground gardens and raised beds, maybe you have a spigot nearby to hook up a soaker hose, ideal for delivering water slowly & steadily at the base of plants (many operate on helpful timers, too!). Or maybe you install a rain barrel for catching rainfall that can be used to fill up watering cans. For containers, consider planters that feature a water reservoir designed to allow plants to take up and absorb water from deep in the soil or from the bottom of the container – a healthy, efficient way to support root development. Reservoir containers also allow you to leave home for short vacation (3-5 days) without having to worry about your plants. Many have overflow valves, too, which help if Mother Nature decides to overdo it.

selecting plants

Decide if you’d like to start seeds indoors several weeks ahead of planting, direct sow them, or purchase starter plants. Make a list of the plants you’re excited about, get to know their needs, consider size at maturity, and don’t bite off more than you can chew. Underestimating growth potential and cramming plants together can create or exaggerate conditions for pests, disease, and other destructive issues you’ll need to control. When it comes to starter plants, all varieties of 3.5” Angelo’s Farm Market (AFM) Vegetable & Herb Starter Plants have been hand-selected by Angelo Petitti for exhibiting exceptional traits for the home gardener’s success including superior flavor, easy maintenance, and bountiful yields.

cold crops vs. heat lovers

Seed packets of all kinds are available starting late winter at Petitti’s. Cold crop seeds can be started indoors at that time, and then planted outdoors late March/early April. March-April is also when cold crop starter plants are available at Petitti’s for immediate planting, harvest, and enjoyment all through the cooler spring months. Heat-loving plant seeds can be started indoors late March/early April for planting outdoors mid/late May, once the danger of frost has passed. April-May is also when heat-loving starter plants arrive at Petitti’s. They can temporarily grow indoors, or be placed outside on warm spring days, but should not be permanently planted outdoors until mid/late May.

consider companion plants

Did you know that, if you plant certain vegetable and herb families together, you’ll enjoy a better harvest? Or if you plant certain “trap” plants, you’ll draw pests away from your edible plants? Companion planting is the practice of growing different plants together to accomplish a goal. If this sounds exciting but tricky, visit our guide to companion planting (coming soon) to discover just how easy and beneficial it is to do!

final tips

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

Anyone can grow and enjoy vegetable, herb, and fruit plants. Keeping the above 8 lessons in mind when planning your vegetable garden will drive your success. Even better, growing a new vegetable garden will reignite that same wonder, pride, and satisfaction you got from growing that first seed in a Dixie cup as a kindergartener – or spark the creation of new memories. Only now as an adult, you’ll know more what you can do with all that harvest!

Back to Vegetable & Herb Gardening

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