Gardening TipsBe Creative. Stay Active!

Planting A Garden (page 1 of 2)

Vegetable gardens are fun, interesting, and easy to create. They’re also healthy—for you and for the planet: fresh-picked vegetables are very nutritious, and the plants they grow on help clean the air. With your parents’ permission, follow these simple instructions, and you’ll soon be chomping and crunching your way to veggie-happiness.

1 Spot A Spot:

Vegetables can be grown in almost any size garden, from a big backyard to a tiny milk carton window box. But every garden needs three things: soil, water, and sun.

You can bring in soil and water, but you can’t bring in sun, so before you decide what to plant, you’ll need to see how much sun your spot gets.

Check it out at different times of day—morning, early afternoon, and late afternoon—and see if the sun is hitting it directly, partially, or not at all.

3 Select Your Seeds:Most vegetables grow from seeds, so in order to get your garden going, you’ll need to locate some.

You can buy them in any garden supply store, or in the garden area of your local super store. If you can’t find them anywhere nearby, you can even order them online.

You can also try starting with veggie seedlings—seeds that are already sprouted into little plants. These save time and give your garden a great head start, and are available at many of the same places.

2 Pick Your Plants:Some veggies (like tomatoes, peppers, and squash) prefer lots of sun. Some (like spinach, lettuce, and tasty greens like arugula) can grow in the shade. Others (like broccoli, kale, and turnips) do well with some of each.

Once you know your sun situation, you can choose plants that will grow well in that environment.

4 Toil The Soil:

Plants grow best in dirt that is loose, rich in nutrients, and well drained.

If you’re starting your garden in a container, fill it with enriched potting soil, but keep it fluffy (instead of packed-in like a sandcastle.) If you’re starting your garden outside, you can loosen hard soil by breaking it up and turning it over.

You can enrich the soil by adding some compost and natural fertilizers. And you can keep your soil from turning to mud by making sure water has someplace to go, either deeper into the ground, or through holes in your container.

Make sure to get your parents permission first.

Gardening TipsBe Creative. Stay Active!

Planting A Garden (page 2 of 2)

5 Sow Some Rows:Sow means: to plant.

Your seed packages will have important information on things like how deep in the dirt to plant the seeds, how far apart each seed should be, and how much space there should be between groups of seeds.

Follow these directions carefully: whether you’re planting inside or out, your plants need room to grow!

7 Crunch and Munch:Once your veggies are grown, pick them, wash them, and put them in everything: sandwiches, salads, soups, snacks, and sides. Vegetables wake up any dish, and are delicious and nutritious.

6 Guard Your Garden:You’re not the only one who loves veggies. Animals, birds, and insects may be interested in tasting what you’re growing.

A little fence made of stakes and garden netting (available at any garden supply store) will keep out many animals, and sprays you can make from natural liquid soap or even garlic soaked in mineral oil will keep away many bugs and pests.

Also, make sure to pull up weeds so they don’t steal water from your plants and vitamins from the soil.

8 Plan Ahead:Don’t forget to start thinking about next year’s garden!

Make sure to get your parents permission first.