How to Start a Vegetable Garden
Find out which USDA Plant Hardiness Zone you live in., Choose a spot with at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Find out which USDA Plant Hardiness Zone you live in.
Hardiness zones are based on the average minimum winter temperature in a given area and are divided into categories separated by 10-degrees Fahrenheit.
They can tell you which plants will thrive in your area and which plants will not do well in the climate of your area.
Additionally, you can find out when the best time of year to plant is based on your hardiness zone.
Visit http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ to find out which zone you live in.
The interactive map will even display information about microclimates in your yard., Most vegetables require a lot of sunlight to grow into healthy producers, but you may want to vary the sun to shade ratio of your garden to allow for some shade growing plants as well.
However, if your vegetables don't get enough sun, they won't produce as much and will be more susceptible to pests.
It's best to have an idea about what plants you want to grow before choosing a site.You can grow dark, leafy vegetables like broccoli and spinach in places in your garden that do not get full sun.
If you live in an area with little sun, don't be discouraged.
You can still plant a magnificent garden, though you'll probably have to leave tomatoes out of the equation.
Alternately, if you live in an extremely hot climate, you may want to choose partial shade for some of your vegetable varieties in order to protect them from extreme heat.
For example, cool-season peas may benefit from growing in partial shade. -
Step 2: Choose a spot with at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
Detailed Guide
Hardiness zones are based on the average minimum winter temperature in a given area and are divided into categories separated by 10-degrees Fahrenheit.
They can tell you which plants will thrive in your area and which plants will not do well in the climate of your area.
Additionally, you can find out when the best time of year to plant is based on your hardiness zone.
Visit http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ to find out which zone you live in.
The interactive map will even display information about microclimates in your yard., Most vegetables require a lot of sunlight to grow into healthy producers, but you may want to vary the sun to shade ratio of your garden to allow for some shade growing plants as well.
However, if your vegetables don't get enough sun, they won't produce as much and will be more susceptible to pests.
It's best to have an idea about what plants you want to grow before choosing a site.You can grow dark, leafy vegetables like broccoli and spinach in places in your garden that do not get full sun.
If you live in an area with little sun, don't be discouraged.
You can still plant a magnificent garden, though you'll probably have to leave tomatoes out of the equation.
Alternately, if you live in an extremely hot climate, you may want to choose partial shade for some of your vegetable varieties in order to protect them from extreme heat.
For example, cool-season peas may benefit from growing in partial shade.
About the Author
Sarah Torres
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow DIY projects tutorials.
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