Vegetable Gardening

Brightly-colored photographs accompany each how-to section, offering a visual accompaniment to each chapter. The images of striking green cucumbers and crimson tomatoes alone will create a sense of longing for the outdoors in readers and prompt even the most amateur gardener to get out and plant a garden.

Choosing a Site

Growing vegetables takes a lot of expertise, and choosing the right location for a garden generally determines its success. A poorly-planned garden is often doomed to failure. Take some time to plan the location of your garden and your efforts will be rewarded. For example, a wall that faces the sun can be an ideal location for a vegetable garden, since the wall offers protection from the wind. It will also absorb the sun’s heat and release it at night after sundown.

A small yard space can be optimized by using raised beds for vegetable gardening. Raised beds can be a deterrent for pests, and can be used to interplant many varieties of herbs and vegetables. Flowers such as marigolds–when added to a raised garden bed–add color to the garden while keeping insects at bay.

Dealing with Pests

Rabbits and birds make nice house pets, but they are nothing short of a nuisance when they invade the garden. Netting, wire cages, and horticultural fleece can be used to keep fledgling vegetable plants safe and sound from unwanted visitors. Keep plants healthy by maintaining well-watered, rich soil and pests will not be able to destroy them so easily. Encourage beneficial creatures, such as ladybugs and toads, by creating a hospitable environment, and insecticides will not be needed frequently.

Vertical Vegetable Gardens

Vertical space is often underused, and offers great potential for small gardens. Attach pots of herbs to sturdy wire mesh on a sunny wall and create a feast for the eyes and palate. Climbing beans, squashes, and cucumbers can be planted in large containers and trained to grow on sturdy mesh or poles. Always remember to optimize all available space in the garden.

Root Vegetables

Radishes are a quick, easy-to-grow crop that mature fast and can be planted early in the season. Cherry Belle radishes are perfect for beginners, tolerating poor-quality soil and boasting a tasty and mild flavor. Turnips are also a quick crop and can be enjoyed raw or cooked. The Snowball variety can be sown in early spring to midsummer, and are deliciously crisp and firm.

The Author

Jo Whittingham has also written Grow Vegetables: Yards, Balconies, Roof Terraces (DK Publishing, 2008). This volume on vegetable gardening is for those with imperfect garden plots, offering tips and techniques for growing delicious vegetables in unusual spaces.