How to Grow a Vegetable GardenIf you follow the right steps, it's not difficult to grow your own vegetable garden. However, it takes patience and time.The majority of vegetables require a full day of sunshine to flourish. Place your garden in a sunny area and away from tall trees that might shade it for part of the day.Picking a SiteThe success of any vegetable garden depends on a number of factors, including field site selection, soil type and the availability of water as well as its quality. According to horticulture experts at Iowa State University, a successful vegetable gardener can minimize production problems by selecting right land and planning carefully.Start by choosing an area with plenty of sunshine for your garden. Vegetables require full sun for at least six hours each day. If a place only gets partial sun, consider planting vegetables that can tolerate low light intensity, such as leaf lettuce or radishes.It is important to have your garden situated near a freshwater source. If you need to drag a water hose a long distance to reach the garden, there is a high risk that you won't take care of it enough often and your plants will suffer. Ideally, your garden will be close to either a spigot, or an irrigation pump when you have an irrigation system for wells. This means that you can hook up the garden to the pump for simple irrigation.You also want to choose the location for your garden that is easy to reach and one that you are likely to visit frequently. If you put the garden far away you are more likely to you will not pay attention to it, and weeds begin to take over. If the garden is in your backyard you are more likely to take the time to take care of it. Your garden will also benefit.You should also be aware that there are buried utility lines, such as water, gas, or power lines. It could be hazardous to yourself and others if you dig up one of these lines.It is also possible to protect your garden if you own pets. If you don't, your pets could use the garden as a private bathroom and you'll need to battle weeds on top of the veggies you're trying to cultivate. gardening tips for beginners of your soil can make a huge difference in how well your garden will perform. You want a nutrient-rich organic soil with plenty of nutrients. Vegetables are a major source of nutrients and when your soil is not as good, you will need plenty of organic matter to help them grow.Ideal is to work the soil in your vegetable garden either in the spring (for lighter soils, which are sandier) or in the fall (for clay soils). This gives the soil time to break down due to rain and frosts, and to improve its texture before you plant it.If you have to cultivate the soil in the spring, make sure to allow it to dry completely before planting. Wet soil can cause problems for vegetables, including rotting the roots.Choose a location near an water source like a garden hose or sprinkler. Vegetables are extremely dependent on water and a watering system allows you to keep your soil evenly moistened throughout the growing season, without excessively watering.Before you plant, kill all perennial weeds. They will compete for water and nutrients with your crops. This can be done with repeated tillage or cultivation or by mulching. In most cases, it takes a few seasons to completely kill perennial weeds in a new garden.Vegetables thrive best in full sun. Look for a place that gets at least 8 hours of direct sunlight every day. It should also be sheltered from the wind, particularly in an area that is dry and the soil may remain wet after a rainstorm. If your soil is rocky or compacted, or has poor drainage, you may think about a raised garden bed.It is recommended to amend the soil with organic matter at least six months prior to the time you plan to plant. This will help loosen the clay soil and make it easier to dig, work and enrich it with nutrients. Compost, which is made from decomposed or shredded plant material such as vegetable scraps and leaves, is a great organic material. beginners gardening is also a good alternative. However, it has more salts and must be worked into the soil some time before planting.PlantingWhen the temperatures are dry and warm it is time to start your vegetable garden by sown seeds directly into the ground or planting seedlings that have been hardened off. It is important to not overcrowd your garden because plants that are too close will fight for space, nutrients and moisture. It is recommended to begin your garden in the spring earlier so that the plants can be established before it gets too hot and arid.Plant your vegetables in beds or rows to make it easier to weed, cultivate, and harvest. Vegetables that are tall (such as corn and beans on a tree) should be planted on the north-facing side of your garden to avoid shading shorter vegetables. Avoid planting your vegetables in areas that provide a lot of shading, as many of them need full sun to grow.If you do not plant your vegetable garden inside the fence, you can cover it with chicken wire or bird netting to keep birds and animals out. This will prevent them from eating your plants and transferring into the garden. Keep your garden watered regularly. Water new seeds and transplants each day until they are established. Plants that are mature should be watered according the weather and rainfall.Aside from stopping the development of invasive, undesirable plants, mulches will aid in maintaining the health and quality of your soil. Mulches also aid in controlling the growth of weeds by blocking their warmth and light, which is necessary for them to grow. To reduce the amount chemicals that enter the food chain, it's recommended to employ non-toxic methods for pest control, such as floating row cover handpicking or Slugtraps.Be sure that your vegetable garden is close to a water source, so you don't have to carry heavy buckets or hoses across the backyard. It is important to realize that vegetable gardening is a labor-intensive task. Being able to transport water to the right place without having to drag it long distances can save both time and energy.HarvestingA vegetable garden requires regular attention. Unlike ornamental plants, vegetables don't wait until they're ready to water or weed, and they require regular monitoring for indications of insect damage and disease. With the proper guidance and perseverance even the most novice gardeners will reap the benefits of a plentiful crop.Vegetables are an excellent way to add fresh flavor and nutrition to your diet. Everyone loves eating a crisp, juicy tomato or snapping into sweet, crunchy cucumbers. These treats can reduce your family's dependence on the convenience store's fruits and vegetables.A few vegetable gardens at home are grown in containers, on patios, decks, balconies, or porches. beginners gardening can be grown in these containers, like beans, kale, swiss tomatoes and chard. Choose a container that has a minimum diameter of 12 inches for maximum yields.Find a location that receives at least six hours of direct sun each day. If you can, place the container near the faucet to make it easier to water your plants. This will save you the effort of carrying water hoses around the yard. Watering is important, especially during the growing season when pests are more likely to attack vegetables.When it's time to harvest a vegetable, the key is to make sure it's ripe. The best-tasting veggies are those that are harvested when they're at their peak in terms of eating quality, but this isn't always simple to determine. For example, novice okra growers tend to allow their crop to stay on the plant for too long, hoping for larger pods. They usually end with over-mature, woody vegetables that aren't worth the effort.The positive side is that a majority of vegetables will provide information about their state of readiness to be harvested. A glance at seed packets, or the information provided on transplant tags can help you figure out when a vegetable is ready to harvest. However, these projections can be affected by soil fertility and weather conditions. So, it requires some practice to master how to understand these subtle signals.