Summer Potager Style Garden with Freshly Harvested Vegetables in Wooden Trug, Norfolk, UK

When we first consider planting a garden, the location is of prime importance. A little garden planning now will pay off later. We may be limited by space or the lay of the land, but there are ways to get around most any limitation. Landscaping with vegetables and herbs is a clever way to add color and fragrance to your property and make use of areas that normally wouldn’t be thought of as viable garden plots.
Many gardens are located in the back of properties because this is usually where your garden will receive the least amount of shade from buildings and trees. Another consideration is to have your plot close to the kitchen door for convenience if there is enough sunlight in that area.

The ideal location for a garden is a gentle slope with an east, southeast or southern exposure. Good drainage is essential to the success of your garden and a slope is likely to be well drained. A southern slope warms up early in Spring and with some protection can be kept warm to lengthen the growing season for several weeks into Autumn.

Keeping your garden location away from shallow rooted trees is also something to consider. These shallow roots will steal the nutrients and moisture needed by the vegetables.

Because most of us don’t have the room or ideal location for our gardens, raised bed vegetable gardens have become a favorite choice of many gardeners. They allow you to grow vegetables in an area that may have poor soil composition or where the terrain is incompatible to planting a garden by terracing the beds.

A few years ago we built a raised bed on top of compacted crushed rock on our back lot. We were able to grow tomatoes along with a host of other delights and had bumper crops due to the great soil and compost we added to the beds.

Once you’ve chosen the best location for your garden, it’s time to decide which vegetables you will include in your garden. Some easy to grow vegetables include lettuce, tomatoes, snap beans, squash, spinach and green onions.

Garden planning is essential to a productive, healthy garden. It will also minimize your time tending the garden. Whether you spend your time in the garden tending to flowers or edible delights the color, fragrances and tastes of the garden is bound to bring pleasure to all of your senses.

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