Start a Vegetable Garden from Seeds: A Step-by-Step Gardening Guide

Vegetable gardens are not only practical; they are also beautiful. You can enjoy your plants while they are in bloom, with butterflies fluttering about. And then you can later enjoy the fruits of your hard labor, or should I say vegetables of your hard labor. For less then $10, you can have a garden that produces hundreds of dollars worth of vegetables, and it's easier than you think.

SEEDS:

Many gardeners choose to buy plants that are already 6 inches to a foot high. Even though this option will save you time, it will not save you money. Vegetable plants range in price from $2.00 each to $6.00 each on average. However, you can buy a pack of great seeds for less then $2.00 and grow 15 - 25 plants yourself. Burpee has a wonderful line of seeds, with an amazing germination rate. Usually, if planted right, 85% or more of your seeds will emerge. The most important thing to remember is to plant the seeds during their planting season for your zone.

STARTING A GARDEN:

After you know what you want to plant in your garden, you will need to make the garden itself. Start by picking an area in your yard that gets full sun, or at least sun through most of the day. All though a nice spot under a shade tree will keep you cool while gardening, it will not allow your plants the needed sunlight in order to grow. Once you have chosen your area, measure off the exact spot your garden will be. For a small garden consider using a 10 X 8 foot area. Using a can of spray paint, you can mark off your exact area if you need to. Next you will need to remove all the grass, weeds, flowers, and other debris from your potential garden. The easiest way to do this is by using a tiller, or you can use a shovel. Try your best to remove all the roots you can, so they don't grow back.

LEVEL AND SOAK:

Once your area is free of all grass, and other plant life, you will be left with a patch of soil. Even though it looks ugly for the time being, this is the way it's supposed to look. Now you will need to soak and level the dirt. To do so, evenly spray the area with a garden hose until the soil is level, and completely wet. If you live in an area with sandy soil, it will take longer to soak the ground. You can check to see if the ground is soaked by scraping the soil back 2 inches or so, and checking to see if it is wet or dry. You want at least the first 2 inches of your soil to be wet.

MAKING ROWS:

Now that the ground is level and moist, it is time to make your rows. To do so, start at the front of the first row. Using a flat shovel remove 2" deep of dirt, piling it beside you as you go. Once you done this step all the way to the end of your row, move over one foot, and repeat the same process. The part you are shoveling out will be an area in which will divide you plants, and allow you room to walk. After your done shoveling out the walk ways, you will need to hand mold your mounds. If your soil is drying out, you can lightly moisten it again. You want to make your mounds or rows 6 inches high (at the highest point), and 8 inches to a foot wide. Be sure to firm the soil by pressing, and patting it, this will remove all air pockets.

PLANTING THE SEEDS:

If you live in an area with sandy soil, you will need to buy a bag of potting soil. Potting soil can be found at any home improvement store, and you can find 40 pound bags for as little as $1.50. To plant your seeds, using your finger make a small hole in the dirt, on the top of the mound. Be sure to read the instructions on the back of your seed packet. Some seeds only need to be covered 1/4 of an inch, while others require a full inch. You can eyeball the depth, but try to stay close to the suggested depth. Plant your seeds 1 inch apart all the way down the rows, or mounds. If you have sandy soil, scoop out a 3 X 3 inch plug of dirt, and fill the hole with potting soil. Once you have your potting soil in place, use your finger to make a hole in the middle of it, and then place your seed and cover.

SEED CARE:

After you have all your seeds planted you need to water them. You do not want to wash your seeds up, so for the now use a fine mist when watering. It is important to keep the ground moist, so you will need to water your garden everyday. You do not want the soil to dry completely out, so your garden will need at least 1 inch of water a week spread out over a 7 day period. The best time to water your garden is first thing in the morning, or late afternoon. Between the hours of 11am - 4 pm the soil will be to hot, and will absorb the water, leaving nothing for your plants. With in a week or even 3 weeks depending on what you planted, you will start to see the seeds breaking ground. Once your seeds are 1" to 2" high you will need to thin them out. This information will also be found on the back of your seed packet.

FROM SEEDS TO PLANTS:

Congratulations, you now have a garden. Once your plants are 2 inches high you can begin to fertilize them. Be sure to use fertilizer that is made to be used on vegetable gardens, and follow the directions carefully. You will also need to water your constantly growing plants daily. If your lucky enough to get rain, take advantage of it. A good rain will give you a 2 day break from watering, plus it makes your plants grow even faster.

Gardening isn't easy, but it is relaxing. There is nothing better then walking out to your garden first thing in the morning, to find your seeds breaking ground. It's an amazing feeling of accomplishment that last from day one, until you pick the vegetables from your garden to eat. Gardening is also a great way to get children outdoors, and involved in a family activity. And when it's all said and done, everyone can enjoy the remarkable vegetables that you grew at home.