If you've never gardened before or just haven't planted anything in a while, you might be wondering where to start. Well, the best place to begin is the place your plants will grow: the soil. Treat your soil properly, and it'll grow great vegetables for years to come. Here's how to get growing the right way:
Test the soil
The first thing you want to do is make sure your soil is healthy. By taking a soil sample and sending it to lab at the University of Minnesota (soiltest.cfans.umn.edu), technicians can determine if your soil has major problems, such as a lack of potassium or other important nutrients or if it's too alkaline (most vegetables like a slightly acidic pH of about 6 to 7). The charge for the regular lawn and garden test is $15, with additional fees for some special tests.
Many garden centers sell soil test kits, which usually work quite well. The advantage of the university's service is that it tests for all the most common soil problems and includes recommendations on how to fix what (if anything) ails your soil.
Find the right site
Most vegetables need plenty of sun, so try to locate your garden where it will receive at least six hours of sun during the spring and summer.
Also, garden soils must be well drained. If you can, place your garden in a part of your yard that is a little higher than the rest. If you have a low-lying yard where water collects, consider building a raised bed. (Plant roots can rot if they're in standing water.)
You can make a simple raised bed by mounding soil in your garden into small hills. Or, you can use timbers, rocks or some other material to build a frame atop your existing garden, then fill it with soil.