A vegetable garden can yield all kinds of benefits in better tasting, healthier food, but taking the first steps can be daunting. Going organic sounds like a wonderful idea, but you wonder how you will protect your produce from pests and diseases. Visions of perfect tomatoes fill your head but when you look at the seed catalogs there are too many choices. Don't worry. Here are six steps to get you on your way to vegetables and herbs for all to enjoy!

Step 1 - Location, Location, Location

Almost any spot will work for your garden but there are a few things that will make it more productive and more enjoyable to work in:

Step 2 - Soil Preparation

Whether or not you've grown things in your garden space before, the  soil will need to be prepared for the plants. One of the most effective methods of soil preparation is a technique called "double digging."

To double dig a garden, start at one edge and use a spade to dig a  trench as long as the edge of the garden. The trench should be as deep and as wide as the blade of the spade. Lay the dirt from the trench aside. Sprinkle manure or compost into the trench. Dig another trench next to the first  one, laying the dirt from the second trench on top of the compost or manure in the first trench. Continue like this until you have dug the entire
garden, using the dirt from the first trench to fill in the last one. Congratulations! Your garden is now ready for plants!

Step 3 - Choosing Your Plants

A small garden (6'x 6' or 6'x 8') can easily contain the following  plants. These vegetables are all fairly easy to grow and resistant to pests and drought. All of these can be started from seed but most of them will do quite well as transplanted seedlings. Your local garden store should be able to help you find organically raised seedlings.

• Tomatoes (seedlings or seeds): 1 cherry tomato, 2 Italian tomatoes and 2 beefsteak tomatoes

• Squash (seedlings or seeds): 2 zucchini and 3 summer squash plants will be plenty

• Peppers (seedlings or seeds): 4 Sweet peppers and 2 hot peppers

• Lettuce (seedlings or seeds): 20 Lettuce plants

• Broccoli (seedlings or seeds): 12 broccoli plants

• Green beans (seeds only): 6 plants on a trellis to save space

• Cucumbers (seedlings or seeds): 4 plants on a trellis

Around the edges of the garden you can plant:

• Basil (seedlings or seeds) - 6 plants

• Sage (seedlings or seeds)- 2 plants

• Parsley (seedlings or seeds)- 2 plants

Step 4 - Planting

Planting and transplanting should be done once all danger of frost has passed and the soil has had a chance to warm. I usually choose a warm  day, that is either overcast or raining. While this does make for messy gardening, the extra moisture in the soil helps the everything get off to a good start. Make sure that you loosen the soil around and under your plants so the roots can penetrate easily. Water your transplants well and watch them over the next couple of days to make sure they are adjusting to their new homes.

Step 5 - Maintenance
 

At the peak of the growing season watering should be done once or twice a week for 30 to 40 minutes in each section of the garden. The soil should be moist under the surface but should not stay muddy. Use a watering can or hose as sprinklers do not provide enough moisture to penetrate the ground and the effects of watering will quickly be lost. Weeding will also be an important part of caring for your garden. You  can eliminate some of the time spent weeding by laying two sheets of newspaper (black ink only) between your plants and cover the newspaper with grass clippings, compost or mulch. Your soil will stay moist longer between watering and you should have far fewer weeds.

Step 6 - Harvest and Enjoyment

Be sure to take a walk through your garden every day, Look for vegetables that are ripe. Pick them and use them in salads, stir fries, or on the grill. If you have the time freeze or can some produce for use over the winter. You'll be glad you did when a soup in January brings back the pleasant memory of your garden in June. Most of all enjoy your garden! You are starting this whole project to enjoy the outdoors. Don't stress too much if some of your plants don't do too well. Take some notes for next year and sit back with a glass of iced tea. Breathe the warm summer air and relax in the beauty of your own back
yard.

Kyndra Ferguson is a freelance writer and gardening expert from Richmond, Virginia. Her latest book, Cooking From Your Patio—A Guide to Container Gardening and Using What You Grow!, was published in April 2004. Kyndra grew up on 26 acres in rural Virginia, with goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits, and a large garden. She developed her gardening skills by selling produce with her sister and working on neighborhood yards and gardens. You can reach Kyndra through her website, GardeningGirl.com.