This time of year, everyone in Crock Country is busy planning their kitchen gardens. The whole family joins in on the fun—and no space is overlooked. In fact, even a few square inches of soil is enough for a vertical plant like green beans. Just give it something to climb and you’ll enjoy lovely flowers and an endless supply of beans for weeks on end.
Check out a few spring gardening tips straight from the Crock Country gardening experts:
Plot your spot.
The great thing about veggies is you can grow them almost anywhere. Have a huge yard? Choose a sunny patch that is easy to water. Not a speck of earth to call your own? Many vegetables thrive in pots! Don’t want to commit to a full vegetable garden? Consider potager gardening and mix a few veggies in throughout your flower beds.
Dig up some dirt.
The quality of your crop starts with the quality of your soil—so before you plant a thing, dig up as many clues as you can about your patch of dirt. Is yours a heavier clay-type soil or is it lighter and more sandy? Is it acidic? Alkaline? Neutral? What was growing there previously? These answers will help you determine what crops would do best in that spot and how you might need to prepare your soil before planting. To learn more about getting your soil ready, grab a vegetable gardening book, contact the Master Gardeners for free advice, or pick up a soil-testing kit at your local garden shop.
Link Master Gardeners
Pick your veggies.
Next comes the fun part. Decide which veggies you and your family want to grow and eat! Here are a few other factors to help you decide:
Pure deliciousness
With some vegetables—especially peas, beans, corn and vine-ripened tomatoes—nothing compares to that just-picked garden flavor. Be sure to include some of these favorites in your plan!
Smart pairings
Planting certain vegetables close together, like corn with beans and squash, can help each plant better flourish. Search a garden book or gardening websites for information on companion planting.
Winners for beginners
- Beans
- Beets
- Carrots
- Lettuce
- Snap Peas
- Squash
Great for containers
- Chard
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
Show-Offs
- Asparagus
- Beets
- Carrots
- Climbing beans
- Kale
- Red cabbages
Shade tolerant
- Beets
- Peas
- Radishes
- Spinach
Cold hardy
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Parsnips
Sun worshippers
- Artichokes
- Bush beans
- Corn
- Eggplant
- Sweet potatoes
- Tomatoes