Having a garden to call your own can be a great thing. It gives you a sense of satisfaction as you watch all of your hard work pay off and can bring you closer in touch with the Earth as you nurture growing things from small seedlings to full grown plants over the course of weeks and months. However, it is important to properly plan out your garden in order to maximize its produce and minimize the amount of wasted effort. Here are five things you should factor in when crafting your very own vegetable garden plans.

1. Garden Location

Where you place your garden is every bit as important as what you put into your garden. All plants need sunlight to produce energy for themselves. However, some plants can get by with less than others while some species of vegetables require heavy doses of solar radiation. When coming up with vegetable garden plans, find a good spot that has access to direct sunlight for a good portion of the day. Don’t worry about plants that need to keep cool. Tarps and blankets can be purchased to shield these delicate leafy greens from the hot sun if necessary.

2. Planting Style

Vegetable gardens aren’t necessarily always in ground. There are elevated beds and trellises that allow you to grow vegetables in different settings. However, should you have the space or lack of need, you can use these growing techniques in your backyard. When designing your vegetable garden, determine how you want to plant your vegetables when coming up with plans. Raised beds are handy if you live in the city but they often limit growth and the size of your garden.

3. Soil Quality

All vegetables need to be rooted in soil. Make sure when you are drawing up plans that you factor in soil to the equation. If your natural soil is too barren or sandy, enhance the power of your garden’s soil by adding fertilizers and potting mix in order to provide essential nutrients. Even beneficial insects can richen the soil when it comes time to put your garden plan into action.

4. Crop Choice

Very often the types of vegetables you want to grow will dictate how you layout your vegetable garden. Certain vegetable plants need to be kept away from each other or may have specific growing requirements. Think about what you want to grow in your garden when you are in the planning stages. Tomatoes need lots of sun and hot temperatures but planting lettuce next door can cause problems because lettuce needs cooler temperatures and will wilt if left in direct sunlight for too long.

5. Design

Depending on your space requirements, this may be the deciding factor in your vegetable garden plan. Design your garden to accommodate the space you have. Make it not only functional but aesthetically pleasing.

Formulating your own vegetable garden plans is a pretty simple process. Make sure you do it right to save you wasted time, effort and money.

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