Turn this rainy season into a perk by using your newly fertile soil to grow a vegetable garden! Though vegetable gardens take plenty of work, the rewards are infinite! Not only can you enjoy the sights and smells of this type of garden, much like a flower garden, but you can also save money on your groceries and add healthy nutrients to your lifestyle! By beginning to plan now, you will be knowledgeable and ready to plant by the time warm summer weather appears! As you venture into this new hobby, here are some components to consider:

Location. Where you place your vegetable garden is vital for its future success! The area must receive ample sunshine, which means a minimum of eight hours per day. Even if your space is limited, still take note of tall trees that might shade the garden or nearby air conditioners that might blow air on it.

Pre-planning. In order for success, you must plan ahead. Do research in your area, ask around to see if neighbors have had success, find out what is easiest to grow and what is native in your area. Obviously choose vegetables that you enjoy, and opt for plants that flourish at a variety of times so that you always have something to enjoy!

Smart planning. Even with your eagerness to begin, don’t plant too early. If there is a frost, that’ll be the end of your toddler seedlings. Wait until the soil is nutritious, the weather is warm and your knowledge is plentiful. Then, plant away!

Experience. Start small. Try planting a few different types of vegetables to see how they take to the soil and location. Begin with easy plants, such as lettuce and peas. If you grow everything at once and it doesn’t go as planned, you might choose not to waste more time and money in round two.

Soil. Get your soil tested to make sure that no bad particles exist. In suburban areas, lead or other poisonous factors might exist, or the soil might not be nutritious enough to grow vegetables. The soil is vital for the success of your garden, so don’t overlook this step.

Nutrients. Your soil must be fed nutrients before you attempt to start growing vegetables! Start planning early by creating compost piles from your kitchen scraps or from yard scraps. Rip out weeds immediately so they don’t steal the nutrients from the plants.

Plant. Some vegetables can be planted as brand-new seedlings, which are less expensive. Others are much harder to start from scratch and should be bought as startup plants. Do some research to find out what is appropriate for beginners.

Placement. Place the taller plants in the back side of the sunrise so they don’t shade the shorter plants later in the day. A safe distance between roots is, on average, 20 inches, but you can usually get away with less. The seedling packets should specify how much space the plant needs to grow.

Water. Vegetable gardens need to be watered a lot so purchase a sprinkler or a garden hose that can easily water a large area for a long amount of time. Set it on a timer or set a schedule in your mind so you don’t forget or overwater.

Safety. If rodents or small animals rummage through your yard, keep your vegetables out of harm’s way with individual cages, wiring, fences or whatever you think will keep the plants safe. This will also prevent plants from getting tangled.