Tips for starting a backyard garden

Several homeowners recently have commented that they want to start a garden in their backyard this spring. I usually ask them why. The answers are quite varied. Some want to make sure their children really understand where food comes from. Others say they always helped their grandparents pick tomatoes during the summer, and they just want to see if they can grow tomatoes as large as grandpa did. Or they say the corn on the cob they can get at the grocery just doesn't taste like that from their uncle's garden.

If you decide you want to start a garden this year, here are a few suggestions that will help you be successful. First, find a place on your property that receives sun all day long, or at least all afternoon long. I suggest you start out small, say 10 feet by 10 feet or 20x20. You want to enjoy gardening. You don't want to be a slave to the garden.

Next, cultivate the area with a tiller, or turn the soil with a spade. Then add organic matter to the soil and turn the soil again to mix the organic matter with the soil.

The importance of organic matter cannot be overstated. Organic matter improves the physical structure of the garden soil. If the soil has a high clay content, the organic matter will improve the permeability of the soil. If the soil has a high content of sand or silt, the organic matter will increase the soil's water holding capacity.

There are several sources of organic matter. You can collect leaves or grass clippings and compost them before you add it to the soil. Some homeowners collect vegetable waste and compost it before they add the product to the garden.

You also can purchase organic matter in various forms such as peat moss, compost, worm castings or organic soils. Usually you can find them in bags or in bulk at vendors in our area.

As you use your garden area, be sure to make organic matter additions annually. You will find that your garden will produce more and larger vegetables throughout the years.

Happy gardening!