Do You Have What it Takes to Grow Fruits and Vegetables

Nothing tastes as sweet as a fresh-picked peach or vine-ripened watermelon. If you have the right stuff, fresh fruits and vegetables can be yours for the picking right in your own back yard.

Great gardens begin with good soil and hardy garden plants. Before you plant any vegetable seeds or fruit trees do a soil test. The test will tell you what you need to add to your soil to create optimal growing conditions.

Choose fruit trees and vegetable plants that have been field tested in your planting zones. Seed catalogs and nurseries will be able to help you select plants that will thrive in your climate. Talk to your local extension agent or nursery owner about plants before you buy.

Choosing the Right Plants

Beyond good soil and plants, you will need time to invest in your garden. If you travel a lot in the summer or like to spend all of your free time at the beach, planting corn and cucumbers might not be a wise move. Vegetables gardens require constant watering, weeding and feeding from spring through fall. Fruit trees don’t need as much constant tending, but you will need to invest some time in pruning and spraying.

Once you’ve made a commitment to gardening, you’ll need a source of good garden supplies and equipment. Look at seed catalogs and local nurseries for fertilizers, pest control products, garden hoses, garden fencing and other vegetable and fruit gardening accessories. Compare prices but don’t be afraid to invest in quality products.

Start your garden venture small and grow into it. If you have a family, make gardening a shared adventure and subtle science lesson. The kids will have fun planting and picking strawberries, pumpkins and apples.

You’ll all enjoy the process more if you locate your vegetable garden in a convenient spot. Keep your produce-bearing plants as close the kitchen as possible. They will be easy to water and nearby when you want to pick fresh vegetables for the dinner table.

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