| Many folks are ripping out decorative grass lawns and | | | | the rows of plants that take longer to mature, |
| replacing them with a food producing vegetable | | | | making the best use of all the space in your garden. |
| garden, for many reasons. Having a garden and | | | | Be careful because most vegetables will not handle |
| growing some of your own food comes in handy in | | | | extra moistening. In hot weather or during droughts |
| these not-so-great economic times. Saving some | | | | your plants will need to be well irrigated. When |
| money and having better quality vegetables for food | | | | fruiting you should expect to water about an inch per |
| are a result of growing your own vegetable garden | | | | week. Water by hand or overhead sprinkler for your |
| at home. To have a successful garden you will need | | | | first vegetable garden. Next year plan to add some |
| a teeny measure of knowledge and experience plus | | | | drip irrigation and mulch to help conserve water, |
| the determination to see it through. | | | | lower your water bill, and provide even moisture for |
| By properly preparing you can enjoy healthy food | | | | your plants. |
| day after day. Plants can go in the garden earlier if | | | | You need to check that you watch your vegetable |
| you start them inside under a fluorescent light. The | | | | plants for disease and insect pests. It's simple to |
| harvest will be much sooner than you expected. | | | | solve issues when you uncover a problem early. |
| Once the ground can be worked you should plant | | | | Sometimes rough chemicals are the only way to |
| your seeds, then you will get more food in the middle | | | | save a plant, but try to avoid inorganic chemicals if at |
| of your growing season. Succession planting, which is | | | | all possible. Make sure you clean your vegetables well |
| planting seeds at intervals, will provide you with a | | | | before you eat them. |
| generous crop all through the season. You can get | | | | A beneficial way to keep in shape is through |
| more produce throughout the year if you choose | | | | gardening, and you can supply your family with the |
| seeds that are early, main season, and late varieties | | | | absolute best produce for the least amount of |
| to supplement your transplants. | | | | money with vegetable gardening. There's nothing |
| Quite a large amount of light is needed for a plant. If | | | | more rewarding than feeding your family with the |
| starting indoors plan on giving them 10 -16 hours | | | | tastiest food they've ever eaten. To supplement |
| every day under a good light source such as beneath | | | | your food supply I would recommend you should try |
| a fluorescent light fixture. Vegetable plants need at | | | | gardening. The harvest will make your efforts |
| least 7-9 hours of sunlight each day so make sure | | | | worthwhile. A little effort makes for a great |
| you plant them in an area of your garden that has | | | | experience and the fresh food is an extraordinary |
| many hours of sun exposure. Some vegetables like | | | | reward. |
| lettuce grow fast, so they can be grown between | | | | |