Planting vegetable gardens can be a very rewarding endeavor, not to mention that it’s good for your body because of all the exercise you will get, and the vegetables that you’ll get to eat. One of the best benefits of planting your own vegetables is to make sure they are pesticide free.

Vegetable gardens tend to be easier to maintain than flower gardens when the weather fluctuates. Flowers struggle more with changes in the weather. Vegetable gardens typically need a lot of space, though some vegetables can survive in a plant box. It depends on what you expect from your vegetable garden and what kind of vegetables you want.

Planting Styles The more traditional way of planting vegetables is laying them out in straight, organized lines. Some gardeners choose to alternate rows of different types of vegetables so that when one vegetable is harvested there will still be plants in the rows between. Having to stomp between rows can quickly damage the structure of the soil.

Many people plant vegetable beds today instead of the traditional rows. Your beds must be layed out to allow you to reach each row to pull weeds. A raised bed will allow heat to be kept inside the bed longer during cold weather. In addition, it makes a good drainage system for the beds.

When you combine vegetables with flowers and herbs in your garden it is referred to as the potager style of planting.

If you are trying to grow a vegetable garden in a small amount of space try using plant boxes. Vegetables grow better in open spaces with a lot of sunlight. If you want to reap a lot of vegetables, you should invest in bigger real estate.

Preparing the soil A very important aspect of planting vegetable gardens is preparing the soil. The same holds true whether you are planting in a plant box or in a small piece of land. Soil preparation is an essential step. There are two kinds of soil, sandy or clay-like. Silt is a fine mixture of both. Clay particles mixed with sand help the ground retain water longer and absorb water faster. Having sand in the soil is important because it not only aids the water flow, but also helps air get to the roots so they can breathe.

Prepare you vegetable garden soil for planting by mixing a balanced combination of sand, clay and silt. A mixture of 20% clay mixed with 40% each of silt and sand is ideal for your gardens soil. Test your soil by scooping up a handful and try to form it into a ball. Don’t let the soil get crumbly. It should hold its shape when you press hard on it.

Vegetable gardens require patience. Take your time to experiment with different types of soil and vegetable mixtures to you get one that works for you. Eating home grown vegetables is hard work, but its very rewarding to enjoy something you grew yourself.

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