Vegetable gardening is nutritious in both body and mind. It’s exciting to watch a little seed turn into a sprout, then into a small plant, and eventually, into a big ole squash plant that’s bursting with bright yellow gourds and giant green leaves. Digging your hands into cool soil is meditative. Smelling the basil and dill is heavenly. And you don’t have to live on a country estate to grow your own food at home, either.
City dwellers can plant vegetables in patio container gardens. In cold climates, you can start a small garden indoors or even grow vegetables outdoors most of the year if you have a greenhouse.
When it comes to planning a backyard vegetable garden, ideas are easy to come by. There are plenty of pictures of elaborate gardens with rows of sun-ripened tomatoes, entire sections devoted solely to peas, raised beds for root vegetables, and, of course, a fountain and seating area. We don’t all have gigantic yards, though. As nice as it would be to have row after row of heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers, it’s just not realistic when your backyard garden is a two-foot by four-foot rectangle between your driveway and the foundation of your house.
The thing is, you can create a really nice garden in that small rectangle of space. It’s a simple matter of timing, design, and plant selection. But if you have a large backyard, even better!
In the articles below, we dive into everything you need to know about vegetable gardening. You can learn even more in our How to Grow a Vegetable Garden: 10 Things Every Gardener Needs to Know Before Starting a Food Garden freebie. Enjoy!
As an avid food gardener, I can honestly say that the Bush Pickle cucumber is one of my all-time favorite plants to grow. This unassuming, squat little vine produces pint-sized powerhouses of flavor, charm, and attitude. If vegetables could talk, the bush pickle would probably say, “I may be short, but I’m dill-lightful!” Let’s take […]
Sometimes, gardening advice gets passed around like gossip. It could be gardening tips from your grandfather on your mother’s side or a neighbor’s anecdotal vegetable garden evidence. It’s easy to hear something a few times, begin to believe it, and then adopt it into your own gardening practice. Here are some gardening myths that I’ve heard passed around and how they are based on misinformation or outdated methods.
There are two ways to think about unique vegetable garden ideas: one is design and layout, and the other is what vegetables you grow. But why not combine them? There’s no rule that says you have to choose between interesting vegetables and fun garden design. At least, I don’t think there is.
Hey there, fellow green thumbs and food enthusiasts! We’ve embarked on an epic quest through our vast network of food gardeners and scoured the Internet’s deepest, darkest corners to unearth the absolute cream of the crop when it comes to garden-related humor. We’ve suffered through countless puns, endured a deluge of garden gags, and emerged […]
As an avid food gardener, I’ll admit it: I’ve fallen head over heels for a squash. And not just any squash. I’m talking about Dunja squash—a sleek, dark green, high-yielding zucchini variety that has become the diva of my summer garden. If you’ve never grown Dunja, prepare to be dazzled. If you have grown Dunja, […]
Some of the most innovative solutions to the world’s pressing problems tackle multiple issues. Such is the case with urban gardens powered by renewable energy. Many households struggle with food insecurity that prevents them from getting enough affordable, nutritious meals. This challenge may mean they skip meals to stay within their budgets or choose junk […]
When the summer starts to wind down, and the early frost warnings start to kick in before you settle in for a long winter’s nap, you probably have a few fledgling tomato plants left. If they’re like mine, they’re probably not pretty; a bit of disease starts to crop up, leaves are beginning to change with the season, but yet…the tomatoes live on. Once it’s colder, though, they’re just not changing color anymore (or at least not quickly), and you’ll want to know how to ripen tomatoes quickly so you can get your lunch on.
Let me introduce you to the crowned jewel of my summer garden: Scarlet Emperor Runner Beans. If you’ve never grown them, you’re in for a treat. If you have, then you probably already know why I beam with pride when I spot those fiery red blooms climbing sky-high on my trellis. As an avid food […]
When it comes to a backyard vegetable garden, ideas are easy to come by. There are plenty of pictures of elaborate gardens with rows of sun-ripened tomatoes, entire sections devoted solely to peas, raised beds for root vegetables, and, of course, a fountain and seating area. We don’t all have gigantic yards, though. As nice as it would be to have row after row of heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers, it’s just not realistic when your backyard garden is a two-foot by four-foot rectangle between your driveway and the foundation of your house.
Some delicious vegetable crops can take months to mature. And while I’m more than happy to get my hands dirty and play the long game, I also need to have something to look forward to in the short term. That’s why I like to stagger my vegetable planting so that something is always nearing harvest. In Springtime, I frontload crops that can stand cooler temps and try to get new veggies in the ground each month. Here are 15 of the best veggies to plant in spring and what months to start growing them.
