Intro:
Before you begin
Step 1:
Pick the plot
Step 2:
Know your growing season
Step 3:
Buy your seeds
Step 4:
Plan the garden
Step 5:
Prepare the soil
Step 6:
Plant your seeds
Step 7:
Tend the garden
Step 8:
Harvest the garden

2torial #0568:
Learn2 Plan a Vegetable Garden (Continued)

Harvest the garden

At last--the big payoff. But don't get so excited that you forget special harvesting needs. Some vegetables (like squash, beans, and zucchini) need to be picked when they're young and tender, otherwise their taste will grow bitter. Other types, like lettuce and spinach, will grow back if picked properly. Follow the package instructions.

When the plant has yielded all its vegetables, remove it completely, root and all, from the garden. (Exceptions to this are herbs, which will grow back on their own in the spring--cut the plants down to the stems and they should be fine.) When the last plant is removed, repeat Step 5 and you'll be ready for next spring with even healthier soil.

Once you get involved with your garden, you probably won't think of it as work. The satisfaction you get goes far beyond what ends up on your table. You'll be surprised at how relaxing and invigorating it is to become a part of the natural process, from beginning to end, and all over again.

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