plants. gardens. friends.

digthedirt is about gardening, outdoor living and loving our planet!

learn more »

Vegetables

 

If you are one of the many people starting their first vegetable garden this year, congratulations! You have just entered into the world of health, vitality, nature and some really great eating! Whether you are planning on producing acres of fresh produce to sell in markets, or are an urban gardener with a raised vegetable bed on the roof of your apartment building, the ingredients for your vegetable garden are all the same: sun, soil, water, seeds and plants!

Growing a vegetable garden is one of the simplest ways to enhance not only your garden but to put a little extra flavor into your life. There is nothing better than a ripe tomato fresh off the vine, or a sweet strawberry patch that your kids can pick tasty treats right out of the backyard. You can even start a salad garden with a wide variety of lettuces, cucumbers, and herbs to give yourself the gift of fresh greens right outside your doorstep. Container gardening is a good way for urban dwellers or small-spaced gardeners to grow their vegetables and herbs. As long as you have a container with adequate drainage, good soil and some sunlight, your vegetables will grow just as well as any garden plot! Container gardening can make vegetable growing a little easier, as you can control the moisture and help prevent pests from getting into your small but bountiful garden. Try sprinkling some lettuce plants into a container on your front stoop, add some water, and you'll have a fresh salad in no time! Building a raised vegetable bed is an inexpensive way to start a vegetable garden, as well as a great way to plan out exactly what you are going to grow. Having one spot where your vegetables grow can make the process not as intimidating for the beginning gardener. Try making your vegetable beds a square or rectangular shape which also helps to ease your confusion, as you can map out your garden easily with the "square foot gardening method". Choosing which vegetables to grow can be a fun adventure in culinary dreaming as you think of what to eat. Do you love hearty soups that stick to your ribs? Try growing an array of root vegetables such as carrots, turnips or potatoes. Or do you love nothing better than the simplicity of a ripe tomato sliced with mozzarella cheese and topped with fresh basil? Choosing what you plant can give your diet diversity that you may not otherwise have thought of if you’re just going to the market, and it opens up a whole new world of cooking with new recipes. So welcome to the world of vegetable gardening. We hope to hear all about veggie adventures; please share your stories and pictures here!

Gallery Pictures

More gallery pictures »




Articles & Posts

earth friendly landscapes

posted on 03/06/10. 0 comments


Blog_logo_for_twitter

maintaining a friendship with the environment
more »


Pepper Care Guide: How to Grow Peppers

posted on 03/05/10. 0 comments


Bolivian_rainbow_peppers

As their name would suggest, peppers like it hot! While not the hardest vegetable to grow, they do not like cold temperatures, similar to eggplants. Here are some quick tips for growing peppers.
more »


Pepper Care Guide: Types of Peppers

posted on 03/05/10. 0 comments


Corbaci_pepper

Peppers have an incredibly wide range of tastes, shapes, colors and texture. They are a staple for so many types of cuisine. And, they're fun to grow! Here is a quick guide to the different types of peppers.
more »


More articles & posts »




Q & A

How do you prevent squash bugs?

posted on 03/10/10. 1 answer


Gourds

Squash bugs can really wipe out a sqash crop, and I wanted to know how to prevent them before they attack!
more »

Answer this »


when to start, and with what??

posted on 03/07/10. 2 answers


Thumb

Based on Steve Solomon's `Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades' and `The Maritime Northwest Garden Guide' from Seattle Tilth, I think I'm ready to order seeds and start sowing spinach, bulb onions and maybe a few potatoes, plus some flowers.  Is i
more »

Answer this »


Varieties specific for Pacific Northwest

posted on 03/04/10. 3 answers


Thumb

Howdy!  I want to grow radishes, carrots and peppers in the garden bed- do you guys know of a specific variety of any of these that are good for the PNW?
more »

Answer this »


More q & a »