Spring is almost here and it is time to start making preparations for your vegetable gardens.  For those that are new to planting a vegetable gardens, there are a few things that you will want to keep in mind.  With a little advanced planning, you can have a wonderful garden that will supply you with many fresh vegetables at home.

First, you will want to select your area.  Choose an area that gets a lot of sun, at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.  These areas are the best for vegetable planting.  Since vegetables like a lot of water, try to choose a spot with access to water (this is especially important if you will have to do a lot of supplemental watering).

Once your area has been chosen, you will need to decide if you want to plant in rows or in beds.  There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but depending on the space the decision might be made for you.  Beds are great space savers and allow you to get more in a smaller area.  They can be a little harder to tend to and can get over crowded (causing poor air movement and more difficulty harvesting).  The other option is planting by rows.  This method is easier to tend to and harvest, but requires a lot more space (so less plants can be added).

Planning ahead can also save you money.  If you are prepared, you can start your seeds indoors.  Seeds are a lot cheaper than potted material, and there is often a bigger selection of seed varieties than potted material.  Before you transplant your seeds outside, prepare the soil with the appropriate nutrients.  This will increase your production so you will have more vegetables!