Vegetable Gardening

Barbara J. Feldman

Author Orsen Scott Card once said "Unemployment is capitalism's way of getting you to plant a garden." And while I hope that is not your reason for planting a vegetable garden this spring, this topic seemed appropriate for both Gardening Month and the current economic malaise.

Aggie Horticulture Texas A&M: Vegetable Gardening In Containers

4 stars

Container gardens are perfect for small spots such as patios, window sills, balconies or doorsteps. They also sidestep problems related to poor soil conditions and soil-borne diseases. "Vegetables which are ideally suited for growing in containers include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, green onions, beans, lettuce, squash, radishes and parsley." This single-page site from Texas A&M covers the how-to gamut including synthetic soils, containers, seeding, transplanting, watering, light and controlling diseases and insects.

Kiddie Gardens: Growing Vegetables

5 stars

"Vegetables are actually some of the easiest plants to grow, especially from seed. To encourage your child's enthusiasm, let them choose from the easy vegetables to grow list and you will both be delighted with the results." Kiddie Gardens is chock full of advice on what to plant, how to plant and why to plant. The long list of benefits of growing your own vegetables includes value for your money, being assured of freshness, eating organic, and teaching your children a valuable life skill.

Kids' Valley Garden: Veggies

5 stars

"Vegetables are one of the most rewarding things to grow in a garden because you get to enjoy the end result of your hard work by eating it!" Kids' Valley Garden provides kid-friendly instructions for growing seven common vegetables: beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, peanuts, potatoes, and tomatoes. "Read the directions for each vegetable carefully to get the maximum yield from each plant and watch over them for signs of disease or bugs."

No Dig Vegetable Garden: Gardening for Kids

5 stars

A no dig garden is one that is planted in a raised bed created with layers of organic material such as compost, fertilizer, straw, hay and newspaper. "Building a no dig garden is a particularly good gardening for kids project because the garden can be built and planted in just a couple of hours." And for something edible in just a few days, try starting with bean shoots, alfalfa, cress or snow pea seeds. "Put the seeds into a clean, wide mouth jar and place a mesh material over the mouth. It must be a material that water and air can pass through, but not the seeds."

University of Illinois Extension: Vegetable Gardening Basics

4 stars

"All gardens have problems. One year it may be insects and disease and the next year it may be a drought. Gardening does require work, but by learning a few basic skills and techniques, you can make your vegetable gardening experience a pleasant one." And this University of Illinois Extension site is a terrific spot to learn those basics. It covers topics such as location, basic tools, soil prep, and planning tips. It also includes an illustrated Vegetable Directory and a glossary of gardening terms from "acidity" to "zucchini."