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How to Start Your Very First Northern Virginia Vegetable Garden

Northern Virginia Vegetable Garden

Creating your first vegetable garden in Northern Virginia takes considerable preparation, but yields delicious and economical results. When planning your first vegetable garden, think small and don't overwhelm yourself - you can always expand later. Follow these steps when preparing your vegetable garden and before planting your vegetables.

• Choose a location that receives as much sun as possible.
• Test your soil. The best type of soil for vegetable gardens is sandy loam, which can be distinguished by a squeeze test. Take a handful of dirt and squeeze it into a ball; if it crumbles once you let go, the soil is on the sandy loam variety.
• Add topsoil or a small level of compost to predominantly clay or sandy soil.
• Dig and loosen your soil to allow air in and allow roots to breathe. The best time to dig soil is in the the early spring when the soil is moist enough to dig easily.
• Measure your new vegetable bed to vegetables can be set apart with plenty of room for growth.
• Expect to weed often, usually once every two to three days, to keep your vegetables healthy.
• Stock up on organic insecticides to use when you see something that is easting a leaf and causing damage. Do not try to kill insects that are not causing damage, as most inspects are actually supposed to be there for pollination and to eat caterpillars.

Once your vegetable garden is properly prepared, plant your vegetables! Plants to grow for summer harvest include tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, and peppers, and, if you have plenty of room, corn. Spring and fall crops include leaf lettuce, peas, broccoli, and spinach. Make sure that all tender crops, including tomatoes, squash, watermelon, and beans, are planted after all potential of frost has passed. Looking for vegetable garden preparation assistance? Contact Second Nature Inc. Located in Linden, Virginia, Second Nature Inc. provides a full suite of landscaping design and construction services to the entire Northern Virginia and Washington DC region.