Growing your own vegetables is fun and rewarding. But to get the most out of your vegetable garden bed, you want soil that has what it takes to grow healthy, luscious plants. While you can prepare your garden bed any time of the year, the fall is best. During winter, the soil has a chance to absorb any amendments you put in before you plant. Consider it pre-season training for your dirt.
You don't want hard, compacted soil in your garden. So start by digging it up. While you're at it, take a moment to remove any rocks and weeds you expose. If you pull the weeds, make sure you get all the roots. Otherwise, they'll come back next spring. A good idea is to spray them with Roundup® Weed & Grass Killer during your fall cleanup.
It helps to study the soil you're working with. Is it sandy, or full of clay? Does it drain well, or remain soggy? No matter what kind of soil you have, you can improve it for a superior harvest. Miracle-Gro® has a wide selection of premium garden soils enriched with Miracle-Gro plant food for healthy, vibrant plants.
Different crops like different kinds of soil. Acidic soil tends to predominate in wet climates, while dry areas have primarily alkaline soil. For you, the important thing is to know which type your future crops will like. That means a soil test. You can buy a kit and test it yourself, or bring a sample to your local nursery. Once you know what you have, you can amend it as needed.
Bring out the sketch you made of your garden. It's your guide. Use it to lay out stakes to mark where the rows will go.
Some plants, such as peas and beans, need support. Now is a good time to put in trellises or sturdy stakes to hold them up. Build mounds of earth for your vine plants, such as cucumbers, pumpkins, and melons. Since you won't want to walk on your dinner while it's growing, add a few pathways.
