A new leaf

Maybe it's a sign of the economy. Maybe it's a sign of the times. Whatever the reason, growing your own vegetables is one of the hottest trends in gardening. If you want to get in on the action, do yourself a favor and start small. There's a limit to how many hours anyone wants to spend in the garden. Besides, trying to get your family to eat six bushels of Swiss chard is a losing battle.

Even if you don't have a yard, plenty of veggies can be grown in containers on a sunny deck or balcony. One word of caution: If you grow plants in containers, you'll have to take more care with watering and fertilizing.

The one thing you can't grow vegetables without is sun. Most veggies need at least six hours of full sun per day. So pick a garden site that won't be shaded by nearby trees or buildings.
SEEDS OR PLANTS?

Lots of veggies can -- and should -- be grown directly from seed sown in the garden. Examples include quick-growing leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, arugula), root vegetables (carrots, radishes, beets), and peas, beans, squash and cucumbers. You can find plenty of seed selections at garden centers and hardware stores.

Other vegetables generally do better from transplants (seedlings that were started indoors, then gradually conditioned for outdoor planting). These include warm-season veggies such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants as well as some early crops such as broccoli and cauliflower. While you can start your own transplants indoors, first-time gardeners and those without the space for indoor growing will find plenty of vegetable transplants available at local garden centers. In addition to standard varieties, many growers now carry at least a few specialty plants such as heirloom tomatoes.
WHEN CAN I PLANT?

Vegetables can be roughly divided between those that like cool growing conditions and those that need plenty of warmth.