Planning a Vegetable Patch

Planning the vegetable garden is one of the most highly anticipated and gratifying activities for a vegetable gardener. Envisioning next season’s rows of growing edible plants somehow makes winter slightly easier to handle. As affirmed by Adam Caplin in the introduction to his New Kitchen Garden, “Growing edibles is a source of satisfaction in itself, creating esthetic opportunities that would not exist if the separation between ornamentals and edibles persisted.”

There are several factors to consider when planning what will be grown in the vegetable garden or kitchen garden.

Growing From Seed

Gardeners should consider whether they are willing and able to grow any of their plants from seed under fluorescent lights. In cooler climates, starting seeds indoors helps to extend the growing season and provides the gardener with more control over what specific varieties of tomatoes, peppers, beans and other vegetables will be cultivated. When planning the vegetable garden, decide which plants will be grown from seed, and which plants will be purchased as seedlings. Edibles that are ideal for direct-sowing into the soil in spring include greens such as lettuce and cabbage, carrots, beets, beans and peas.

Growing Fruit in the Vegetable Garden

Gardeners who grow vegetables may also enjoy growing fruit in the garden. Raspberries and strawberries are easy to grow and maintain, as long as the birds are held at bay. Planting a fruit tree such as apple, pear or cherry is also a satisfying addition to the vegetable garden. There is nothing quite like picking a fresh handful of raspberries to be enjoyed on a summer morning over granola and yogurt.

Growing Culinary Herbs

No vegetable garden is complete without a row of culinary herbs. The basic herbs that will complete an herb patch are basil, oregano, chives, thyme and mint. Because mint is such an aggressive plant, plan to bury the mint plant in a pot so that its runners will not be able to spread into the rest of the vegetable patch.

Avoid Wasting Vegetables

Gardeners tend to neglect the plants they don’t like to eat. To avoid being wasteful, gardeners should grow only those edible plants that are regularly eaten in their household. If nobody likes to eat broccoli, avoid growing it. Alternatively, contact local food banks to determine whether they will accept donations of fresh vegetables, and donate that homegrown broccoli to those who need it most.

Growing Colourful Vegetables

Although most vegetable plants grow in varying shades of green, some heirloom vegetables grow in a wide variety of colours. For example, instead of growing simple green bush beans, try a colourful variety such as ‚”Purple Queen” or ‚”Yellow Pencil Pod.” Some hot peppers change colours a number of times during the ripening process, such as Chinese 5-Colour hot pepper, the fruit upon which begins purple, turning white, yellow, orange and then red before it is ready to be harvested. Incorporating edible flowers such as nasturtiums or violas also adds a touch of colour to the vegetable garden.

When planning the next season’s vegetable patch, gardeners will also need to consider the time and energy they have available to spend working to maintain the garden, as well as any storage space required once the baskets of fruit and vegetables begin to be harvested.