Where Can I Plant Vegetables In My Yard?

The short answer to this question is “Anywhere you have the proper growing conditions for the plants you want to grow”.  So, for those that have limited reading time, stop here and grow grow something.  For those who would like a bit more detail, pop some popcorn and settle in for a good read.

The longer answer to this question can be explained best by looking at the requirements of any plant:

• Soil type preferred (growing medium)
• Water requirements
• Light requirements
• Growing period needed

Soil Type (Growing Medium)

Soil is probably the most important factor when trying to produce a quality vegetable.  If the soil doesn’t fit the vegetable, the outcome will be less than desirable.  Some soils are sandy and others are more clay based.  Some have little organic matter, others have no soil in them at all (soil-less mix).  The list can go on and on.  The important thing is to make sure that you are growing the vegetables in the right medium for best results

Water Requirements

There is nothing worse than to do the work of putting in a garden and then not having the right amount of water available to see those vegetables thrive.  Their water requirements will depend on the variety and type, your climate and location, and the availability of water on site.  For instance, if you have to haul the water to your garden in a bucket everyday, chances are, those vegetable will not get watered as often as they should.  At least that would be my case.

Light Requirements

Every vegetable you plant will need a certain amount of sunlight.  Some can grow well in a  cooler, more shaded area, such as lettuce and other leafy vegetables.  Others need all the sun they can get, such as watermelon.  It is important that you give the right vegetables the right amount of light.

Growing Period

If you want to feel successful in growing vegetables, make sure to try varieties that will mature in your growing season.  For example, I would not try and grow a long season wine grape in my yard in Utah.  I just don’t have enough frost free days for a great quality wine grape.  But concord grapes thrive great on my north property line.

Being the inquisitive person I am, I have several types of growing areas in my yard and I try different things each year.  I have a dedicated garden plot, some grow boxes, a few flowerbeds, a couple containers, and a window sill.  (I’ll try and include some pictures of each through this next year)  My garden plot is about 30 feet by 30 feet with a dedicated drip system for watering.  My grow boxes consist of two 3 foot by 5 foot boxes filled with a soil-less planting medium.  The flowerbeds are full of flowers except for some spaces here and there where certain vegetables can be grown and enhance the landscape design.  The containers sit on my patio or porch where needed and can work great for herbs and flowers.  And the window sill is a great place in the house for sprouts, herbs, and staring seeds.

I guess my bottom line advice to you would be to try and put vegetables where ever you have the space and watch and learn.  Through some effort, you will be able to find what you can plant where and get some incredible results.  And in the words of Larry Sagers (Instructor for all Utah Advanced Master Gardeners), “If is doesn’t work, tell people that it was research.”