Top Ten Steps to a Successful Vegetable Garden

To have a successful garden, there are a few easy steps that you will need to consider.

Here are the top 10 steps to a successful garden!

1.Pick a good site. One that is close to the house but has protection from strong winds. Ideally you want it to have full sun all day, and be free from weeds and rocks.

2.Start with good soil. Plants need a good soil to grow well. Start with a good loose soil, and add compost or aged manure to it every year. Every two to three years, you should test the soil.

3.Plan your garden. Layout for the garden should vary from year to year to keep a good rotation. Don't plant tall plants in an area that will block the shorter plants from receiving sun.

4.Don't go too big the first time around. There is a lot of work involved in gardening successfully. Start small and don't overwhelm yourself with a large garden that is difficult to maintain.

5.Only grow your favorite vegetables. Growing what you like eating keeps your motivation going! If you plant vegetables that you have no interest in, it tends to dampen your will to keep your garden going. Think of all those vegetables that will be going to waste!

6.Grow for your area. Read seed packages carefully and do searches online. If you are in a cold area, seeds that are meant for high drought areas will not do well and vice versa. Know your "zone" and stick with seeds that will do well in your climate.

7.Water, but don't drown. Since your plants will be in full sun, the soil will dry out. Try to water as early in the day as possible, and water deep near the base of the plants. If you get water on the leaves, the sun can burn them. Cover the base of the plant with mulch or compost to retain moisture. Don't over water!

8.Check your garden everyday. If there are rabbits coming to munch, or you have bugs chewing on your leaves, you want to know quickly to stop the problem before it becomes a bigger one. Just a quick trip to the garden on a daily basis will alert you early before small problems can become big ones!

9.Identify your problem. If you do find that insects are chomping away at your plants. Do some research to make sure you identify the correct problem before taking steps to stop it. Using an insecticide on plants is not only expensive but could be damaging. Make sure you have a problem before applying anything.

10.Keep your garden healthy. Remove weeds, vines and dead leaves to promote growing.

It's not difficult with due diligence to have a successful garden! Even expert gardeners will tell you though that it's out of their control if a vegetable occasionally has a bad year. Doing the above steps will help insure you are doing your best to have a great garden!