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Picking Out the Most Beneficial Plants for your Vegetable Garden

Choosing the best plants requires some basic inspection

So, the weather is getting better and your green thumb is getting itchy. Your garden is turned over and the soil is loosened. You are ready to go out and buy your plants for the new season. Before you take that leap of faith, you should invest in a soil test kit. Test your soil first, to determine the pH level of your soil. Your soil could be overly acidic or too alkaline. You might need to add lime or an acidifier. Your test kit will also show what kind of nutrients you need to add such as nitrogen, phosphorous, or potash. Most plants prefer soil that's slightly acidic, but there are some that must have slightly alkaline to neutral soil to grow. You can alter the soil's pH level, but it's much easier to simply plant for the soil you have.

Making a rough garden plan will help you to resist buying plants on impulse. You might find that there is no place in the garden that is really accommodating to all of the varieties that were hastily purchased. Before buying plants, carefully study your garden to determine how much sunlight and shade it gets, whether the soil is well drained or soggy and whether your location is protected or windswept. You'll then be prepared to buy the best plants for your garden site; shade-loving plants for the sheltered areas or sun-lovers for the warm spots.

Choosing the best plants requires some basic inspection. You want to pick the healthiest plants possible because these will make the transition from pot to soil with less strain on the plant. Plants with wilted leaves or shoots should be avoided. Spotting on the leaves could be an indication of a fungus or other infection. Plants that have already begun to flower will take longer to set in the soil and may yield less.

Of course, most people that choose to plant their own gardens pick their favorite veggies. If you start your own plants from seed, you'll need a cold frame, hot frame, or a greenhouse. Most reputable seed companies will automatically ship the best variety for your planting zone. Many times you'll find that plant varieties change from year to year at your local nursery. A call to your local agricultural university could provide you with the newest suggested plant varieties for your area. New hardier plant varieties are always being developed. Some of these newer varieties are great producers and retain an excellent taste.

Now you are finally ready to plant. You could plant in rows or clusters depending on what types of plants you choose. Plants such as tomatoes, peppers, and bush beans do well when planted in rows. Sprawling plants like squash, cucumbers and melons do well when planted in clusters. Be sure to leave enough room for growth between rows and between individual plants when planting in clusters.