How to Grow Your Vegetable Garden

March 26, 2009 — -- If you're one of the 7 million gardeners taking a stab at growing your own vegetables this year, or even if you're a seasoned veteran, a primer on the basics can come in handy. The biggest question on many peoples' minds today is simply, how do I even get started?

So here are some of the most important things to know for a successful gardening experience:

Before deciding to grow vegetables and herbs, find a sunny spot. These plants do best in full sun, meaning eight hours or more. You can get by with six or so but keep in mind that less sun will affect their performance. The healthiest, most productive plants thrive in all day sun.

If you still want a food garden but just don't have the space or light, consider growing edibles in containers. So many plants these days have been developed specifically for growing in small spaces and containers. Just remember, use the largest container that is practical for you. Once plants take root, they really grow fast and the more room they have to spread their roots, the better. Check with your garden center or seed catalog company for specific varieties ideally suited for smaller spaces and containers.

If you only have a sunny windowsill, don't be discouraged. Although you may not be able to nurture homegrown tomatoes, give herbs a try. Most do well in containers indoors with sufficient light and dry conditions.

Even if you're brand new to gardening, I encourage you to try starting your plants from seeds. Six to eight weeks before the last frost in your area is the ideal time to begin. Seeds are inexpensive to buy but even cheaper when you get them from your friends and other sources for free. To get started, you'll need a box or tray to contain your soil. Although you can purchase trays specifically for this purpose, I like the free route. I use pizza boxes, soda bottles, and take-out containers to plant my seeds. They work just as well and the price is right!

Sow your seeds in seed starting mix. You can find this at the garden center. A 16-quart bag costs about $3.50 and is plenty to fill several trays or boxes. Although saving money is important, this is an area where you don't want to skimp. This specialty mix is lightweight and sterile, two important components for successful seed germination. Just before sowing the seeds, saturate the soil mix. Then plant your seeds and cover them with about a quarter inch of additional mix and add a little extra water.