#Best vegetable garden planner full#

When soil or landscape space is unavailable, vegetables can be grown in containers. Also, people are more likely to work in the garden and check for pests when the garden is close to the house. Because water is required by vegetables, especially during droughty periods, a site within close proximity to the house should be considered this site is usually located close to an abundant water supply. Plants grown for their leaves or roots can be grown in partial shade. If a garden must be planted near trees, reserve the sunniest spot for vegetables grown for their fruit or seeds.

#Best vegetable garden planner full#

Leafy vegetables can tolerate partial shade vegetables that produce fruit, such as peppers and tomatoes, must be grown in full sun.Īvoid planting your garden close to or beneath trees and shrubs because shade and the competition for nutrients and water may reduce vegetable growth. In South Carolina, gardens should receive at least six hours of direct sun each day. The garden should be as small as possible to cut down on unnecessary work.

Joey Williamson, ©2015 HGIC, Clemson Extension Try not to plant the same vegetable or a related vegetable in the same location year after year. Place perennial crops to the side of the garden where they will not be disturbed by annual tillage. Consider the length of harvest as well as time to maturity. Plant spring crops together so that later crops can be planted in these areas after the early crops mature.

Group plants by the length of the growing period.

In your plan, place tall and trellised crops on the north side of the garden so they will not shade the shorter vegetables.

Some plants may be started indoors as early as January.

Plan the garden and order seeds by January or February.

If you wish to keep the garden growing all season, you may need a spring, summer, and fall garden plan. Draw a map showing the arrangement and spacing of crops.

Finally, how much space is available? How much area can be converted into usable garden space, and how much garden do you need? Do not plant more garden than you need.

Care should be used in choosing the seeds, making sure the varieties you select are adapted to your area and intended use. Some varieties have much better keeping quality than others.

How do you plan to use the produce from your garden? If you plan to can, freeze, dry, or store part of the produce, this will be a factor not only in planning the size of the garden but also in selecting varieties.

As you plan, list recommended varieties and planting dates. Successive plantings of certain crops, such as beans, can be harvested over a longer period of time and increase your yield. This will be a useful guide in deciding how much of each vegetable to plant. Make a list of your family’s favorite vegetables, ranked in order of preference.

What do you and your family like to eat? Although the pictures in the garden catalog look delicious, there is no value in taking up gardening space with vegetables that no one eats.

Who will be doing the work? Will the garden be a group project with family members or friends who will work willingly through the season to a fall harvest, or will you be handling the hoe alone in between camping and swimming? Remember that a small weed-free garden will produce more than a large, weedy mess.

When planning a garden, it is important to ask a few basic questions: Success or failure of home vegetable production can depend on many things, but some major reasons for failure are negligence, not following the proper instructions, and not keeping up with current vegetable developments. The number of home vegetable gardeners is steadily increasing in the state. Many who have grown vegetables for the excellent fresh flavor or as a hobby now find home gardening profitable with today’s high food costs. Home garden vegetables can be grown abundantly in most areas of South Carolina with proper care. Millie Davenport, ©2015 HGIC, Clemson Extension