For those of you with green thumbs, spring is the best time of year to begin planting your vegetable garden. If youre worried about how labor-intensive it sounds, take the time to plan out your garden and save energy in the long run. Being outside, watching your garden vegetables grow, and harvesting homegrown food are among the rewards that your effort will reap.
First, make sure youre planting vegetables that will grow well in the environment youre providing. Most garden vegetables require a full day of sunlight, so open spaces without a lot of shade are ideal. Greens are a healthy and easy choice. Try planting a row of iron-rich spinach or green-leaf lettuce. You can even plant them together in wide swaths, and then harvest them for salads by the handful.
Once the greens are finished, consider making the most of your garden space by planting a late-season vegetable in its place, such as beans or gourds. There are so many possibilities, and the fun part is getting to plant what you like to eat!
Weeds are always a big concern in spring gardening. Reduce the time you spend bent over your garden weeding by spreading mulch -- bark or hay works well. You can also set up a timed watering system or use drip irrigation to avoid daily watering in dry climates. If you have compost material, working it into the soil before you plant will give your spring vegetables the maximum benefit, though you can spread compost at any point.
Seeing your spring vegetable garden grow is part of the joy of the season. The aroma of fresh herbs, the sight of newly forming tomatoes, and colorful the bounty of your work is a truly rewarding experience. It never hurts to have an excuse to spend some extra time outdoors, and having your own pesticide-free veggies on hand makes having a garden worthwhile endeavor.
