A backyard vegetable plot does not have to be large, but it does need a plan. Light, soil and timing usually matter more than most first-time gardeners expect.
Begin with light and dirt
Give the bed full sun whenever you can, meaning at least six hours of direct light a day. Some crops tolerate a little shade, but more sun generally means stronger plants and a better harvest.
Look for ground that drains well and has some fertility already. Heavy clay or soggy soil can rot roots and shrink the crop. Mixing in compost after the fall harvest, again in spring, or both, steadily improves the bed.
A soil test is worth doing before you add fertilizer or manure. The results can also show whether you need lime or nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium.
Wait until the ground is ready
Do not dig when the soil is soaked or bone dry. If mud clings to your boots or the spade, wait — the ground is still too wet. When the moisture is right, a handful crumbles into small clumps instead of staying packed in a ball.
The temperature of the soil is often a better planting cue than the date on the calendar. When it is about 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, cool-season seeds such as peas, spinach, lettuce and radish can often go straight into the ground.
Keep the first bed modest
Choosing a location, a size you can keep up with, and a realistic planting time makes success more likely. A small bed you actually water and weed will beat a large plot that gets away from you.
Filed under: Washington DC Home & Garden News
