How to Plant a Starter Vegetable Garden

Overview

Starting a vegetable garden at home has many incentives. Fresh homegrown vegetables can compliment practically any meal. Impress neighbors and friends with lush rip organic vegetables as gifts. By planting vegetables at home, you have control over the variety and size of the plants. Having a home vegetable garden stops the worrying about wasting food, no more vegetables going bad in the crisper. Growing vegetables at home enables you pick the right amount for each meal.

Step 1

Decide on the location of the vegetable garden. The amount of space for a small vegetable garden is usually 4 to 5 feet, and 10 by 10 feet for larger gardens. Use a tiller to clear the site of sod, rocks, grass and weeds. Dig soil to a depth of 6 to 10 inches. Apply fertilizer and compost to the top 2 to 4 inches of dirt and mix well.

Step 2

Choose starter vegetable plants for quicker results. Pick out vegetables that are easy to grow in a small garden and will also be used, such as tomatoes, peppers and carrots. If planting a bigger garden, you could try corn, sweet potatoes and cucumbers.

Step 3

Place vegetable crops the appropriate amount of space apart to allow them room to grow. Space out smaller vegetable plants 1 to 2 inches apart and in rows 1 to 3 feet apart. Group larger vegetables in rows 3 to 4 feet apart, with each vegetable planted 1 to 2 feet apart.

Step 4

Take the trowel and dig holes for the starter plants. The spot you choose should be as large as the container the plant comes in. Remove starter plants from containers and cover the roots with soil. Water plants immediately after you finish transplanting.