The document provides guidance on starting a vegetable garden, including choosing a location that receives full sun, working the soil at the right time depending on soil type, selecting crops that you and your family will enjoy eating, knowing when to plant different types of crops depending on their hardiness, caring for the garden by mulching, watering appropriately, weeding, dealing with pests organically, harvesting at the right time, and keeping records for future gardens. The overall message is that planting a vegetable garden has benefits for health, self-reliance, and the environment, while also being an enjoyable activity to share with family.

1. Plant the Seed!
Karen Eaton
Conservation Garden Park
Horticulturist

2. Why plant a vegetable garden?

3. Higher quality produce

4. Health

5. Self- Reliance

6. Sense of
accomplishment

7. Can be environmentally more
responsible

8. Where to plant a garden

9. Full sun (at least 6 hours/day)

10. Plant large garden plots, use
garden boxes or raised beds,

11. Tuck crops into existing landscape
or plant vegetables in pots.

12. When to work the soil

13. Clay soil takes longer to dry out and
warm up than sandy or loamy soil.
•Too moist forms clods •Should crumble when dropped

14. Improve soil by adding organic
matter

15. What to plant

16. Choose crops
you and your
family like to eat
and share
• Let family members
participate in choosing
crops.
• They will be more
likely to eat those crops
is they have a vested
interest in it.

17. Try a few new
crops every year,
but in small
quantities
• Plant crops adapted for
our area (not blueberries)
• Pay attention to planting
and harvesting times

18. Rotate crops for more disease
resistance and soil nutrition

19. When to plant what crops

20. Very hardy crops, such as peas and
potatoes, can be planted as early as mid-
March, depending on the weather.

21. Semi-hardy crops: lettuce, broccoli, spinach,
cauliflower, radishes, beets, carrots, chard,
onions can usually be planted in April.

22. Tender crops: tomatoes, peppers, melons,
cucumbers, corn, beans, and basil, are best
planted mid-May after frost danger is past.

23. Transplants should
be hardened off
before planting
outside
•Gradually expose
them to full sun, cool
nights, wind etc.

24. Care of the garden

25. Mulch
Straw Compost

26. Watering: drip, sprinkler, furrow

27. Watering your newly planted garden

28. Watering according to soil type

29. Weeding and
pest problems
•Plant disease resistant
varieties of crops
•Use organic gardening
principles
•Enjoy healthier plants which
are healthier for you to
consume

30. Pest Problems We Can Live With
(What, us?)

31. Harvest

32. Saving Seeds

33. Record keeping
• What was planted?
• Where it was planted?
• Did you like it?
• What would you change?
• What to do in the fall to
prepare for next season?

34. If you have children,
involve them in the
process. “…they will
find it far more
interesting both to
work and to eat the
results.”
(P. 7 Family Kitchen Garden)

35. Specific Vegetables
Corn Tomatoes

36. Second Plantings
Lettuce Spinach

37. Asparagus

38. There’s always next year to try
again.

39. Plant the
Seed!