Starting Your Own Vegetable Garden

There are few things as satisfying as picking your homegrown vegetable, warmed by the sun, and eating it while standing in the garden that you created. There are many reasons to start your own vegetable garden. Firstly, is the taste. In these days of genetically altered grocery store produce, many people forget how produce should taste. With your own vegetable garden, you will remember, and be hard-pressed to return to store produce. Another reason is in these days of rising food costs; a vegetable garden makes economic sense. Lastly, there is nothing as soothing to the soul as being able to say, "I did this."

There are many different type of gardens: deep bed, container, and hydroponic, just to name a few. However, the most straightforward type is a tilled row garden. This can be as simple as staking out a piece of your yard and tilling it. One thing to keep in mind when starting your vegetable garden is the location. Find an area that experiences full sun all or most of the day. Also, be sure that is located near and outdoor water faucet. There is noting as frustrating as hauling 200 feet of hose around your yard!

One of the first things you will need to do is till the soil. I recommend using a front wheeled self-propelled tiller. This allows more control over the machine, and does not leave wheel tracks over your freshly tilled soil. A tiller will likely be your largest investment. They can range from $200 for a good used one, to upwards of $1000 for a top of line model. For your first time, you might consider borrowing one from a friend. If you do this, do not forget to give them some of your harvest at the end of the year.

Some other supplies you will need will be a large spade, a hand spade, a hoe, a cultivating hoe, and a dirt rake. In addition, you should have sufficient lengths of hose, a sweeping type of sprinkler, a rain gauge, and a soil test kit.