Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84GoodLifeFamilyMag.com MARCH | APRIL 2017 29 Whether you’re a beginner or an old hand, planting in a pot or a plot, this advice will help you to plan and grow your tastiest vegetables ever. Why garden? If you’ve never tasted garden-fresh vegetables (lots of people haven’t!), you will be amazed by the sweet flavors and vibrant textures. There’s absolutely nothing like them, especially if you grow the vegetables yourself—and you can! We’ll highlight the basics of vegetable garden planning: how to pick the right site, figure out how “big” to go, and how to select which vegetables to grow. Ready, Set, Grow! GET STARTED GARDENING STARTWITH A SMALLVEGETABLE GARDEN Remember this: It’s better to be proud of a small garden than to be frustrated by a bigone!Oneofthecommonerrorsforbeginnersisplantingtoomuchtoosoonand waymorethananybodycouldeatorwant.Unlessyouwanttohavezucchinitaking up residence in your attic, plan carefully. Start small. WHERE AND HOWTO PLANT AVEGETABLE GARDEN • Plant in a sunny location. Vegetables need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.The more sunlight they receive, the greater the harvest and the better the taste. •Plantingoodsoil.Plants’rootspenetratesoftsoileasily,soyouneedniceloamy soil. Enriching your soil with compost provides needed nutrients. Proper drainage will ensure that water neither collects on top nor drains away too quickly. • Space your crops properly. For example, corn needs a lot of space and can overshadowshortervegetables.Plantssettooclosetogethercompeteforsunlight, water, and nutrition and fail to mature. Pay attention to the spacing guidance on seed packets and plant tabs. •Buyhigh-qualityseeds.Seedpacketsarelessexpensivethanindividualplants. Ifseedsdon’tgerminate,yourmoney—andtime—arewasted.Afew“extra”cents spent in spring for that year’s seeds will pay off in higher yields at harvesttime. VEGETABLE GARDEN PLOT SIZE Agood-sizebeginnervegetablegardenisabout16x10feetandfeaturescropsthat are easy to grow. A plot this size, based on the vegetables suggested below, can feedafamilyoffourforonesummer,withalittleextraforcanningandfreezing(or givingaway).Makeyourgarden11rowswidewitheachrow10feetlong.Therows should run north and south to take full advantage of the sun. SUGGESTED PLANTS FORVEGETABLE GARDEN The vegetables suggested below are common, productive plants, but you’ll also want to contact your local cooperative extension to determine what plants grow bestinyourlocalarea.Thinkaboutwhatyouliketoeataswellaswhat’sdifficultto find in a grocery store or farmers’market. •Tomatoes—5 plants staked • Zucchini squash—4 plants • Peppers—6 plants • Cabbage • Bush beans • Lettuce, leaf and/or Bibb • Beets • Carrots • Chard • Radishes • Marigolds to discourage rabbits! (Note:Ifthisgardenistoolargeforyourneeds,youdonothavetoplant all11rows,andyoucanalsomaketherowsshorter.) WHENTO PLANT AVEGETABLE GARDEN See The Old Farmer's Almanac's Best Planting Dates chart—a gardening calendar customized to your local frost dates—covering both sowing indoors as well as planting in the ground for different types of plants. TRY A GARDEN PLANNER It’s easy to plan your garden with the Almanac Garden Planner. They’ve done all the research for you. This planning tool helps you design your garden bed, automatically spacing the crops properly and integrating your local planting dates. Plus, you’ll see many free garden plans for inspiration! Try the Almanac Garden Planner for free at gardenplanner. almanac.com.