Six in 10 gardeners grow vegetables. Growing them successfully, though, takes some careful preparation. Place your garden in a spot that gets 6 to 10 hours of sunshine per day. As you select vegetables to grow, learn how much space, water and fertilizer each needs to grow well. The most important factor in your success -- presuming the garden is in a sunny spot -- is the condition of the soil. To make sure your soil is in good condition, send a sample to your county agricultural extension agent for testing. A basic soil test is inexpensive, costing as little as $4 to $6, and the results will indicate exactly what you need to add to your soil so you can grow bountiful, healthy crops. If you have average soil, adding compost can improve the soil's nutrient value and texture. Leftover potting medium, manure, ground leaves and straw are all good soil amendments. Use a shovel or a rototiller to incorporate the amendments to a depth of at least 12": roots on most annual vegetable crops don't go any deeper than that. Level the soil to eliminate low areas where water would pool. Once you've amended the soil and sketched a garden plan, you can begin planting. Place perennial vegetables, such as asparagus, on one side of the garden so you won't disturb them when you plant annual crops and condition the soil. Plant annual seeds by making a shallow trench in prepared garden soil and watering gently (figure A). Don't plant too deeply: the seeds should be no deeper than 1/4" below the surface, depending on the size of the seed. If you're in a hurry, buy plants in cell packs or 4" pots. Select plants in perfect condition -- with no yellow leaves, no leggy or weak growth and no roots growing from the bottom of the container. Make sure your new plants have had a good drink of water before you place them in the ground. You can also plant seedlings in peat pots, which eliminate transplant shock because the roots are never disturbed (figure B). The peat containers are planted directly in the soil and gradually rot as the plant grows and pushes through the soft organic material. Protect new seedlings from hungry insects by surrounding them with collars made from milk cartons (figure C). Cut the bottom off a milk carton, and place it over the young plant to protect it from cutworms and other pests. Push the carton into the soil about 1". A plastic gallon milk jug with the bottom cut off works like a miniature greenhouse. Leave off the cap to provide air circulation. Once the plant is large enough to survive on its own, remove the jug. Water your garden well after planting, and put down a layer of straw mulch. Mulch stabilizes the soil temperature, slows moisture loss so you don't have to water as often and reduces weed growth.
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