Garden Planning

Garden Fundamentals

How to Lay Out a Vegetable Garden

Is there anything more satisfying and delicious than growing your own food? From the first tender tips of asparagus in spring to the tasty tang of summer’s homegrown tomatoes, a garden filled with beautiful, productive plants provides a terrific sense of accomplishment—and fabulous, fresh meals.

Garden Fundamentals

Square Foot Gardening

Square foot gardening is exactly what the name says: dividing a growing area into 1-foot x 1-foot sections. In a true square foot garden, an actual grid is placed on the growing area to divide up the space. What you grow in each section depends on the mature size of the crop.

Garden Fundamentals

How to Plant a Garden

There are many reasons to plant a garden. Maybe you love cooking with fresh produce. Perhaps you’ve resolved to eat healthier. Or maybe you’re looking for an activity to engage kids in outdoor fun. Whatever the reason, you’ve decided to take the plunge. But where do you begin?

Garden Fundamentals

Your Gorgeous Front Yard Garden

Yes, you can plant vegetables and herbs in the front yard! Just keep in mind that while some neighborhoods may celebrate your efforts, others will frown. If your community has strict HOA policies, review them first, then check out these beautiful ways to work edibles into the front yard

Garden Fundamentals

Your Beautiful Backyard Garden

A great vegetable garden can be the focal point of a backyard. Tucked back in a far corner, it becomes a destination. Because the backyard is usually more private than the front, maintenance can be more relaxed.

Garden Fundamentals

10 Tips for a Screened Garden

Placing your vegetable garden behind a privacy fence gives you the freedom to experiment and not worry about maintenance 24/7. It also provides the separation you need to create a garden destination.

Garden Fundamentals

Choosing a Garden Bed Shape

In addition to figuring out just where in your yard your garden should go, you'll want to consider the shapes of the planting beds. You can either prep the soil and plant directly in the ground, or construct a raised bed from wood, stone, metal, brick, or even straw bales.

Garden Fundamentals

10 Steps to a Successful Garden Design

Plants need more than a beautiful planting plan to thrive. Here’s how to give edibles what they need to produce a gorgeous garden design and a big harvest.

Garden Fundamentals

Gardening with an HOA

If you live in a subdivision, development, or condo, chances are you have to deal with an HOA (Homeowners Association). While the goal of this organization is to protect the value of your land by enforcing the rules, sometimes those rules can seem a bit unfair to those who like to grow their own food. Some communities limit gardening to back or side yards only, while others prohibit it altogether....

Garden Fundamentals

Crop Rotation Made Easy

Learn why crop rotation will help improve your garden success--plus a simple way to do it.

Garden Fundamentals

Spacing in the Garden

There is no one size fits all for vegetable spacing. Read on to see which spacing works best for what you have to work with, garden or container.

Garden Fundamentals

Select a Good Site

When beginning a garden, choose your location carefully. A good location will include sunlight, drainage, and access to water. Read on for how to pick your spot.

Garden Fundamentals

Rooftop Gardening

It can be difficult to grow a garden in an urban environment. Garden writer Ellen Spector Platt shares her tips for rooftop gardening.

Garden Fundamentals

Which Vegetables Are Most Efficient?

This list from the National Garden Bureau rates vegetables based on their total yield per square foot, average value per pound, and growing time.

Garden Fundamentals

Make a Note

Keep track of important things like weather, types of plants & problems you run into while gardening by making notes. Learn some tips to track your progress here.

Garden Fundamentals

Raised Bed Gardening Tips

What is a raised bed garden? It’s an enclosed planting area on top of the ground that offers one huge benefit: You never have to deal with poor soil, because you control what goes in the bed. What's more, because raised beds don't require planting in rows, you'll actually be able to fit more plants in than you would in a traditional garden of the same size — so you'll eventually end up with a bigger harvest.

Garden Fundamentals

How Much Do I Plant?

"How much do I plant?" That's a common question. The perfect-sized garden yields all the tomatoes and other vegetables that you need and some extra to share with friends. Please use this guide of how much you can expect to harvest from a 10 foot row to help you determine exactly how much of your favorites to plant.

Garden Fundamentals

Begin When the Soil Tells You

When is the best time to begin working the soil in preparation for your spring garden? Find out how to tell when it's time.