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Intro:
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| If you don't have direct access to a plot, don't despair. Many urban (and suburban) areas have community gardens in which you can rent a small plot for the season. They're usually very inexpensive (and sometimes free) and are a great way to meet fellow gardeners. Check the community service pages in the phone book or try typing, "(your state or city) community gardens" in your Internet search engine. |
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Where you put your garden can have the most direct effect on its success. Before you start any digging, consider these criteria: Sunshine. The area should get at least eight hours of full sun. Drainage. Choose higher ground with a slight slope to aid water flow. Avoid low-lying areas where water might collect after a heavy rain. Soil. Avoid rocky areas and high mixtures of sand or clay. If you must use less-than-perfect soil, you'll have to fertilize more often than usual. If the soil is excessively rocky, sandy, or filled with clay, you'll need to mix a layer of planting soil and amendments to about 2 feet (60 centimeters) down. Step 5 describes the details of soil preparation. Size. Start on the conservative side. It's better to have a well-tended smaller garden than an unruly large one. Shoot for between 20 and 40 square feet (4 by 5 feet, or 8 by 5 feet, for example) if possible. Convenience. Make sure you don't have to walk too far for those vegetables, and that you can reach them with your hose.
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Pick the plot
