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Start out small! Pick a spot in your yard where your vegetables will thrive. Sunny spots are perfect for tomatoes and squash, while partially shady areas are great for beets, carrots, and greens. In either case, starting out small will help you to see what works well and what doesn’t. You can always build on it next year! Remember that full shade areas which face North, are behind walls or fences, or in densely treed spaces, are not great for vegetables; you’re better off to plant annuals or perennials for shade in very dark spaces.
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PH testers for soil will help you determine if the soil is too basic or acidic, and other testers will assess nutrients. For example, a space that has had lots of evergreen needles decomposing in the soil is likely to be very acidic and need augmenting. You may need to add compost, peat moss, or additional soil depending on how viable your soil is. Clay should be replaced or treated with gypsum. Perlite can be added to heavy soils for drainage.
Pick crops based on where the growing space is. Alternatively: if there is a specific set of vegetables you would like to grow, you may need to place your garden accordingly.
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Vegetables That Thrive in the Sun
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Vegetables That Thrive in Sun or Partial Shade
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Vegetables That Thrive in Shade
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Measure your space and plan accordingly.
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Some plants have mutually beneficial relationships. Tomatoes are compatible with onions, marigolds, and carrots, while corn grows well with pumpkins and beans.
Companion planting works in a bunch of different ways, but often the companion plants provide shade, protection, or even capture nutrients for one another to create a mutually beneficial growing space.
Some plants also don’t like to be near each other; for example, broccoli and cauliflower should not be planted near peppers, squash, strawberries, or tomatoes. Corn and tomatoes should not be planted near one another since they will compete for nutrients. Companion planting is as much about planting beneficial plants together as it is keeping antagonistic pairings apart!
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Maintain the garden space by pruning tomatoes, thinning carrot shoots, and harvesting cucumbers and cherry tomatoes as soon as they are ripe. Apply a vegetable fertilizer consistently. And be sure to weed your garden frequently! Weeds compete with the plants for nutrients, so be sure to remove them.
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Water frequently; some vegetables require more water than others, so be sure to check frequently until you get into a rhythm with them.
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Next year, plan on rotating crops. Be sure not to place potatoes, eggplants, or tomatoes in the same spot year over year. You can try this three-year crop rotation plan to ensure that the nutrients in the spot are being used and replenished effectively.
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Try new things. Try growing a vegetable that you might not have considered previously. You might discover that brussels sprouts are delicious when you grow them yourself (can confirm!).
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Make sure you make note of names, yields, and any other relevant information. Everything that feels obvious and unforgettable will probably be forgotten by next year, so take great notes to help you make decisions next year.
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Call us at Dutch Growers if you have any questions – or better yet, come visit us so we can help you pick out your vegetable plants!
Happy Growing!
Every year, more people are interested in starting their own gardens! Our grandparents and great-grandparents used to keep gardens, but some of that gardening knowledge became less important in our parents’ generation. That’s ok! They were busy, and gardening seemed like too much work or too difficult. These days, people are interested in knowing where their food comes from, eating healthily, and maybe even saving some money by planting their own vegetables. For some people, it’s just fun! If you’re new to vegetable gardening, follow along for more information on getting started.
.png)
Every year, more people are interested in starting their own gardens! Our grandparents and great-grandparents used to keep gardens, but some of that gardening knowledge became less important in our parents’ generation. That’s ok! They were busy, and gardening seemed like too much work or too difficult. These days, people are interested in knowing where their food comes from, eating healthily, and maybe even saving some money by planting their own vegetables. For some people, it’s just fun! If you’re new to vegetable gardening, follow along for more information on getting started.
Start out small! Pick a spot in your yard where your vegetables will thrive. Sunny spots are perfect for tomatoes and squash, while partially shady areas are great for beets, carrots, and greens. In either case, starting out small will help you to see what works well and what doesn’t. You can always build on it next year! Remember that full shade areas which face North, are behind walls or fences, or in densely treed spaces, are not great for vegetables; you’re better off to plant annuals or perennials for shade in very dark spaces.
PH testers for soil will help you determine if the soil is too basic or acidic, and other testers will assess nutrients. For example, a space that has had lots of evergreen needles decomposing in the soil is likely to be very acidic and need augmenting. You may need to add compost, peat moss, or additional soil depending on how viable your soil is. Clay should be replaced or treated with gypsum. Perlite can be added to heavy soils for drainage.
Pick crops based on where the growing space is. Alternatively: if there is a specific set of vegetables you would like to grow, you may need to place your garden accordingly.
Vegetables That Thrive in the Sun
Vegetables That Thrive in Sun or Partial Shade
Vegetables That Thrive in Shade
Measure your space and plan accordingly.
Some plants have mutually beneficial relationships. Tomatoes are compatible with onions, marigolds, and carrots, while corn grows well with pumpkins and beans.
Companion planting works in a bunch of different ways, but often the companion plants provide shade, protection, or even capture nutrients for one another to create a mutually beneficial growing space.
Some plants also don’t like to be near each other; for example, broccoli and cauliflower should not be planted near peppers, squash, strawberries, or tomatoes. Corn and tomatoes should not be planted near one another since they will compete for nutrients. Companion planting is as much about planting beneficial plants together as it is keeping antagonistic pairings apart!
Maintain the garden space by pruning tomatoes, thinning carrot shoots, and harvesting cucumbers and cherry tomatoes as soon as they are ripe. Apply a vegetable fertilizer consistently. And be sure to weed your garden frequently! Weeds compete with the plants for nutrients, so be sure to remove them.
Water frequently; some vegetables require more water than others, so be sure to check frequently until you get into a rhythm with them.
Next year, plan on rotating crops. Be sure not to place potatoes, eggplants, or tomatoes in the same spot year over year. You can try this three-year crop rotation plan to ensure that the nutrients in the spot are being used and replenished effectively.
Try new things. Try growing a vegetable that you might not have considered previously. You might discover that brussels sprouts are delicious when you grow them yourself (can confirm!).
Make sure you make note of names, yields, and any other relevant information. Everything that feels obvious and unforgettable will probably be forgotten by next year, so take great notes to help you make decisions next year.
Call us at Dutch Growers if you have any questions – or better yet, come visit us so we can help you pick out your vegetable plants!
Happy Growing!
Building a Vegetable Garden for Beginners
Every year, more people are interested in starting their own gardens! Our grandparents and great-grandparents used to keep gardens, but some of that gardening knowledge became less important in our parents’ generation. That’s ok! They were busy, and gardening seemed like too much work or too difficult. These days, people are interested in knowing where their food comes from, eating healthily, and maybe even saving some money by planting their own vegetables. For some people, it’s just fun! If you’re new to vegetable gardening, follow along for more information on getting started.
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