Grow Your Own Backyard Fruit and Vegetables

Fruit and Vegetables

I know a lot of people who say they would love to grow their own food in a backyard garden but are so intimidated because they think to have a successful garden it needs to be big. The best way to start gardening is on a small scale. Choose just a few of your favorite vegetables or herbs to start with. I like to buy heirloom seeds because the seeds can be re-harvested and saved for next year. This is something you can choose to try or you can just buy seeds again for next year. I like buying seeds because it's less expensive and it's fun. Here are some tips to get you started for the upcoming spring season.

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• If you have never gardened before begin with 1 or 2 of your favorite herbs. Most herbs grow year round. You can plant these in containers or choose a spot in your yard as part of the landscaping.
• If you want to grow vegetables and you don't already have a garden bed, you can start with container gardening to make sure this is something you want to do. We all have good intentions but a garden does need some time spent in it to be productive. Choose a few vegetables that grow well in containers (about 6-inches in diameter and 8-inches deep) like tomatoes, lettuce and radishes.
• If you plan to make space in your yard for a vegetable garden, don't make it bigger than a 10x15 area. You can have a very productive garden in a well tended place. If your garden is bigger it will require more time and if your like me you don't want to spend all your time in it.
• If your yard doesn't have one large sunny spot, its ok to plant your vegetables in smaller plots. This way you can also incorporate them into your landscape easier.
• Choose varieties of seeds that will grow in your area. If you don't have a local garden nursery, ask a seed company to help you choose the best types for your area.
• Cultivating or preparing the soil is an important step to control weeds. Break up the soil about the depth of a spade and turn the soil over.  This step is only done in the beginning process of preparing your garden for the initial planting.  After that nutrient loss can take place.
• Mulching on the other hand is very beneficial. It conserves moisture, controls weeds, and improves the soil.
• Don't forget to plant  fruit trees or berry bushes that grow in your area. These are wonderful because once they grow you will have a crop every year with minimal effort.