How do I Plant Vegetable Garden Seeds?

Planting vegetable garden seeds is a wonderful way to follow the life of your plants from seed to crop. Depending on the type of vegetables you wish to grow, the season, soil, available light and planting container can all affect your how well your vegetable garden seeds grow. Although vegetable gardens require initial work and constant maintenance, the result is a beautiful bounty of produce from your very own yard.

The first key to planting vegetable garden seeds is knowing the type of soil you have available. Purchase a pH testing kit from a local garden store to test the acidity in your soil. If the pH is above 7, the soil is alkaline, while soil below 7 is considered acid. Knowing the acidity of your soil can help you determine what plants will grow well. If you are growing a container or potted garden, simply ask at your local nursery what the best type of potting soil is for the vegetable seeds you have chosen.

Check gardening magazines, seed catalog,s or a nursery to determine what plants are appropriate for your vegetable garden. Most vegetable garden seeds have very specific sunlight and moisture requirements that must be met in order for growth. Be sure your planting area receives the correct amount of sunshine for flourishing plants, or, if you are growing in pots, be certain to move them around as necessary to get the requisite amount of light.

Most seed packets list information regarding the spacing and depth of planting. Pay close attention to the suggestions, as you want to give each plot sufficient room to grow and reach the sunlight. If spacing seems excessive, consider how large the plant may grow. Small vegetables like turnips may survive well close together, whereas larger plants such as corn need more space to reach their ideal height.

Label your garden carefully as you plant. By keeping plants together by type, you will ensure that each seed receives the correct amount of water, fertilizer and sun. Try to plant seeds in orderly rows, with a label at each end of the row listing what the plant is. If you plan to travel during the growing season, you may want to add watering instructions on the labels for the benefit of whoever is looking after your plants. Nothing is less pleasant than coming home from vacation to a garden of wilting or dead plants.

Planting vegetable garden seeds is a wonderful way to get children involved in gardening. Unlike cuttings, which may be delicate, it is difficult for a young child to damage a seed garden. After you've dug your holes, allow the children to drop the seeds in and cover with soil. Give each child a watering can and designated areas of the garden to water each day. Be sure to let little helpers aid in harvesting your vegetables; the satisfaction of pulling that first carrot from the ground may turn a child into a lifetime gardener.