The first step towards building your dream vegetable garden is figuring out how to design it! From choosing the right location and soil to the layout itself, there are several factors to consider. Ready to start planning and designing your dream vegetable garden? Read our guide below to get started.
Before you start, take some time to plan out exactly what you want in your garden. Write down all of the plants that interest you, as well as where they should go in the garden. You can also do research online or at the library and write down any books that seem useful.
Consider Your Garden Space
The first step in designing your own vegetable garden is to consider what kind of space you have available for growing crops. Do you have a small yard or balcony? If so, consider focusing on herbs that don’t take up much room (such as thyme) or edible flowers (such as nasturtiums). Or maybe even consider container gardening if it’s not possible for you to expand into your backyard or garden plot without getting approval from city officials first.
The second factor to consider before planning out your vegetable garden design is what kinds of plants thrive best where they live—some vegetables need lots of sunlight while others prefer cooler temperatures at nightfall; some prefer sandy soil while others grow better in clay soil types, like red clays found around southern California regions such as San Diego County where vineyards can be found throughout many urban areas today!
Consider the Location of Your Garden
The location of your garden will determine how successful your garden is, and what kind of plants and vegetables you’ll be able to grow. Before you start to dig or sow, consider the following:
Sunlight and shade. How much sun your garden will get depends on where you live. For example, if you live in a part of the country that has four distinct seasons and it rains a lot during springtime, then you’ll want to place your garden somewhere that gets good drainage.
This way when it rains, water won’t pool in one area of your garden and drown out all of your plants (which would be bad news for bean vines). On the other hand, if you live somewhere with a mild climate year-round and don’t get much rain during certain seasons (like California), then plant those things that require more sunlight so they can soak up as much warmth as possible!
Depending on how bright or dark your garden area is will also influence what kinds of plants work best there—for example: tomatoes need full sun exposure while eggplants thrive best under partial shade conditions such as those found beneath tall trees with large canopies overhead; lettuce grows well in almost any type of soil, but carrots prefer sandy loam soils.
Prepare the Soil
You’ll need good-quality soil before planting anything in it! The type of soil that will work best for your garden depends on your local climate, as well as the types of plants that you prefer to grow.
A few ways of getting excellent soil include using compost from food waste or purchasing bagged topsoil from a nursery; just make sure the soil you select is nutrient-dense and ideal for your preferred crops.
Before planting, prepare your garden bed by removing weeds and grass, adding fertilizer, compost or manure, and mulch. If you are starting a new bed from scratch, dig about 12 inches deep so that you have enough room for root growth.
You can also add a layer of cardboard at the bottom of your garden to help control weeds by keeping them from breaking through to the surface. This will allow you to cultivate a healthy vegetable garden without having to worry about pulling out unwanted plants every time you try to turn over your soil.
Plant Seeds or Transplants
After planning the location of your garden and preparing soil, you can begin to plant seeds or transplants to start the process of your garden growing. Some plants may grow larger than you expect, so allow ample space between plants. If you find that there is too much empty space in your garden, you can always add more plants as you expand your garden.
If using seeds: Simply plant them according to their instructions on seed packets.
If using transplants: Make sure they’re spaced well apart so they don’t crowd each other out when they grow larger.
Consider Companion Planting
Companion planting is a method of gardening where you are planting different types of plants together. This type of gardening has been around for centuries, but only recently have people started really appreciating its benefits.
In companion planting, you’re creating an ecosystem that works as a whole to benefit each member within it. Ideally, this will lead to your garden producing better results and less work on your part. By planting compatible species of plants together, an ecosystem will form naturally as the plants interact with one another, as well as the natural environment around them, such as native species of birds and bugs.
The goal of companion planting is to encourage interaction between different species’ roots while keeping them separated at ground level so they don’t compete with each other for resources like water or nutrients. Companion planting allows you to create a diverse and functional garden that is rich in beauty and aesthetic appeal.
Planning and Designing Your Vegetable Garden
Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a complete novice, we hope we’ve given you some helpful tips to get started on your dream garden. Remember that the most important thing is to have fun with it, and be open to learning from your mistakes. And if all else fails? Well, there’s always next spring!
As you grow your own produce from your vegetable garden this year, download the Lil’ Broc app to monitor the shelf life of your produce and ensure that it is all used while still fresh.