How to Create a Spring Vegetable Garden

The economy has made many of us take a closer look at how we�re spending money, especially when it comes to our grocery bill. With food costs continuing to soar, many people are looking to their backyards for relief.

Even a modest vegetable garden can slash your grocery bill. A study by the nonprofit Gardening Association found the average family with a vegetable garden spends about $70 a year on it and grows an estimated $600 worth of vegetables! Besides the extra cash in your wallet, growing your own vegetables, many will agree, taste better than what you�ll find at the store. Never mind sifting through piles of produce that have been sitting around for a week or more. Pick your vegetables from your garden right when you need them. Plus, when you grow your own vegetables, there are no unwanted pesticides, fertilizers or contaminants in your food; you have healthy, chemical-free vegetables right at your fingertips.

However before you pick up that shovel, no matter what garden size you are thinking of, here are a few helpful tips to consider:

1. LOCATION. LOCATION. LOCATION.
A rototiller is a piece of lawn equipment that can penetrate and dig deep into the soil with some models being able to dig down at least 12 inches. However, the very nature of this �digging� tool should make you stop and think to call JULIE before you use it and get your underground utility lines marked for free. That way you�ll avoid the potential for injury, disruption of service to you or your neighbors and the need for costly repairs.

The location of your garden can also depend on where your underground utility lines are located. Since depths can vary, there may be multiple utility lines in the area where you want to dig for your garden. That�s why every digging project requires a call. You may think, I already know where the utility lines are located, I�m not digging deep enough for marking or this particular project is not in an area that needs marking. Those are dangerous assumptions. One quick phone call to JULIE at 811 gets your underground utility lines marked for free, or you can click here and fill out an online locate request right now. Once a professional locator from each member utility company comes out and marks where all the utility lines are and you wait the required amount of time (2 working days), you�re ready to start digging a spot for your garden.

2. KNOW THE MAKEUP OF YOUR SOIL.
One of the secrets to growing a successful garden is soil preparation. When preparing your soil, first remove all the weeds. It�s best to avoid any weed killers and to get rid of them by hand (or you can use a machine like a rototiller). Test the pH level of your soil; anything around a reading of 6.5 is ideal. If you are unable to test it yourself, head over to your local gardening store for assistance.

If your soil�s pH is either too high or too low it can restrict important nutrients from getting to your vegetables. Garden lime is commonly used to bring up low pH soil levels. Dig the soil over and look to get to depth of about 30cm (12"). You should allow 4-5 weeks before you begin to plant any vegetables after adding any soil amendments.

3. USE A ROTOTILLER TO PREPARE YOUR GARDEN BED.
While there are many types of gardening tools, a rototiller makes digging a garden a whole lot easier than if you just used a shovel. Rototillers dig deep into the soil with some models being able to dig down at least 12 inches. The rotating blades turn over the dirt, aerate the soil and wipe out fully-grown weeds and other unwanted plants. It can also be used to work in different types of soil and nutrients into your garden creating a light fluffy soil that�s ideal for planting.

Some gardeners find it economical to purchase a rototiller, however many hardware stores and home center stores rent a number of different types. If you plan to rent a machine for the weekend though, be sure to notify JULIE or fill out an E-Request right here before you make your appointment to pick up the machine.

4. ADD COMPOST.
Using good compost for your garden before planting will reduce the need for fertilizer. Most recycling centers have excellent compost that you can buy at a reasonable fee by the yard or even get for free. If you use too much fertilizer though your plants may shoot up fast, but may not be able to support any fruit.

You can also start your own compost heap away from your gardening area. Don�t put any animal products in the compost heap. Any trimmings from plants, grass trimmings and leaves can go on the heap. Turn it with a pitch fork at least once a week. You can also put some worms on the compost heap as they help to decay the trimmings quicker and their elimination is very healthy for your plants. This compost can be used the following year for your garden.

5. SPACE SEEDS AND PLANTS EVENLY.
Planting depths and spacing are critical, so don't crowd too many plants into the allotted space or you may end up with spindly plants and no food. Be sure to place a tag or marker on each row or area so that you will know what to expect will sprout there and when! Water your garden thoroughly the day before you intend to plant.

6. KNOW WHEN TO WATER.
It�s important to water your garden properly. Don�t water after the sun goes down, as this will cause root rot and fungus. Make sure if it is very hot to water the root systems and not the leaves as they will burn. Water consistently. Press your finger in the soil to see if it is damp. If the soil is not damp then your plants need watering.

By following these tips you�re sure to set up your spring garden for success. If you�re not sure what to plant in your vegetable garden here are a few fail-safe picks:

	Tomatoes. An ideal choice for beginners, tomatoes come in a number of different varieties. They grow quickly and produce all season long until the first frost.
	Bell Peppers. In addition to ample sunlight and regular watering, all you need is a stake to help hold up these care-free plants.
	Chili Peppers. Give your garden a kick! Like bell peppers, chili peppers are fairly hardy and continually produce throughout the growing season.
	Carrots. They grow best in deep soil and really don't need that much attention. Plus you don't have to plant them at the beginning of the season; carrots can be planted at various times all season.
	Lettuce. The great thing about lettuce is that it grows quickly and can be picked as needed.