Choosing your site

Before you commit, make sure the plot is right. Choose a site near where you live. Every mile to drive will be a disincentive to go.

Proximity to the water supply will ensure continuous production even during dry season.

Most vegetables need at least six to eight hours of direct sun. If they don’t get enough light, they won’t bear as much and they’ll be more susceptible to attack from insects and or diseases. If possible, shun shade-casting perimeter trees.

Good soil: As with any kind of garden, success usually starts with the soil. Most vegetables do best in moist, well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter (such as compost or peat moss).

Don’t feel obliged to take the first or any plot offered to you if you don’t feel it can work. It is better to wait and get one close by than struggle with one that’s not right.

Designing your vegetable garden

Once you know what you want to plant, figure out a vegetable garden with the right amount of space.

Keep in mind when figuring out what to plant in a garden with vegetables that you don’t need a large space to begin.

If you choose to grow in containers, you don’t even need a yard — a deck or balcony may provide plenty of space.

In fact, a well-tended 10×10-foot vegetable garden will usually produce more than a weed-filled or disease-ridden 25×50-footbed.

There are two basic approaches to planning the layout of a vegetable garden—row planting and intensive planting.

Choosing varieties

Once you start deciding what to plant in a garden with vegetables, you’ll realize that the possibilities for varietal choice are endless. For instance, there are hundreds of tomato varieties alone!

When selecting varieties, pay close attention to the description on the tag or in the catalog.

Each variety is distinctive: Some produce smaller plants that are ideal for small gardens or containers, others offer great disease resistance, improved yields, better heat or cold-tolerance, or other characteristics.

Seed catalogs are one of the best sources for vegetables (get one from your agro-dealer). Once you narrow your choices to types of vegetables, pick two or three varieties that seem promising.

That way if one variety doesn’t perform well, you’ll have other plants to make up for it. Next season, grow the best performer again and choose another to try.