Grow your own veggies: How to start an edible garden

Vegetable plots are great for more than just saving money -- though that's why I'm encouraging you to plant one this year. More than any other kind of gardening, growing vegetables makes you happy. The sense of reward is remarkable, the flavors unbeatable. Plus, even though grocery stores have expanded their variety, when you grow your own, the sky's the limit ... almost, anyway.

In my dreams, my garden would have tomatoes: big, juicy slicers, pop-in-your-mouth cherries and firm romas. There would be at least two kinds of cucumbers, basil (lots!), cilantro, corn, melons and more melons, crisp peppers, earthy potatoes and the surprise of carrots. I'd grow radishes and eggplants, even though I don't eat them. And certainly, peas and beans and bunch onions. Maybe even squash. 

Starting to fantasize about your garden? If you're a newbie to the veggie garden, here are some tips to get you started: 

SITE 

• Grow vegetables in as much sun as possible, at least six hours a day. 
• Invest in a soil thermometer. More so than light and air temperature, soil temperature determines when you should plant certain vegetables. The first to go in are cool-weather veggies, such as greens, peas, green beans (plant those now). Move on to dry beans, cauliflower, broccoli, turnips and onions (plant toward the end of April). Last to go in should be tomato, eggplant, peppers and melon, in late May or early June. 
• Raised beds will help warm up soil quickly.

PREP 

• Before planting, make sure soil is dry enough to work. Grab a handful, press it into a ball and open your hand. If it comes apart when prodded, it's OK to work. If it's too wet, the soil will compact. 
• Prepare soil by digging in compost, bark mulch, well-rotted manure or leaf mulch. Let that sit for about a week, then get planting. 
• Top with mulch to fight soil compaction, keep weeds down, conserve water and stop erosion. 
• Use a general-purpose vegetable fertilizer when planting and again about a month later. 

WATERING 

• As seeds are germinating, water garden lightly with a soft spray. 
• After germination, soaker hoses or drip irrigation are best; overhead sprinklers promote mildew.
WEED, PEST CONTROL 

• Keep your garden weeded; weeds compete for water and nutrients. 
• Use layers of cardboard covered with bark mulch or compost to control weeds. 
• Use floating insect barriers. 
• Choose disease-resistant plant varieties. 
• Don't spray insecticides or use fungicides.