How to Grow Vegetables

Have you been thinking about growing your vegetables but are not sure where or how to get started? Which vegetables grow best in which climates? Which vegetables are best suited for which season? Which vegetables are easiest to grow for a beginner? We've got you covered here with our projects, videos, discussion boards, and slideshows.

Upcycle Pallets to Build an Almost Free Vegetable and Herb Garden Bed

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How to Grow Vegetables

Prepare a spot for planting the veg: Vegetables enjoy mild sunlight and fertile soil. Prepare for planting by removing weeds and mixing compost into the soil.
Sow your seeds at the right time: Some vegetables thrive in the winter months, for example asparagus, potatoes, celery, sweet peas, and herbs like lavender and rosemary.
Use a form of pest control: Natural pest control can be as effective as chemicals. Planting nasturtiums and marigolds can ward off the bugs that most commonly attack veg.
Use mulch for better soil: Mulch is dead leaves and hay, packed gently around the roots of plants. It helps to minimize water loss and encourages healthy soil microbes.
How to water your vegetable garden: Water your vegetable garden every second day if it’s hot outside. Otherwise, twice per week is fine provided you soak the soil thoroughly.

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Top Projects for Growing Vegetables

Look around our top vegetable how-to projects to get you growing your own veggies.

Upcycle Pallets to Build an Almost Free Vegetable and Herb Garden Bed

I wanted a raised garden bed in the backyard but wasn’t looking to spend a lot of money to build one. The lumber to build deep garden beds can cost quite a bit to build from scratch, but a friend had some old pallets that she was getting rid of and I knew I could upcycle them into a garden bed.

ChickFix

How To Grow Pumpkins - From Seeds

Did you know that pumpkins have been grown in North America for almost 5,000 years? It’s really fun to raise this Native American. However, note that pumpkins require a long season (typically 75 to 100 days without frost). So you need to plant them by the end of May in northern locations. To early July in the south.1. Select a location with full sun and good soil that drains well. Sandy soils high in organic matter are best; if the soil is heavy clay, it might help to add sand and organic matter such as compost, aged manure, or green crops plowed under. The idea pH ranges from 6.0 to 6.8. Test your soil and follow any recommendations given.

Vidura Randeepa

How to Grow Popcorn Shoots

The decision to garden in the winter is an easy one to make. It requires very little time, space and materials to grow tasty salad greens. While reading the seed catalogs, I came across growing shoots, specifically popcorn shoots.

Mark

How to Grow Onions Like a Pro Gardener

One of the oldest known cultivated plants, onions are a staple in kitchens around the world, adding flavor to soups, sauces, stews, salads, salsas, and so much more.Known in the plant world as allium cepa, the onion crop is as diverse as it is delicious, with globe-shaped types you see at the supermarket, more rare heirloom varieties, and mild green onions — and the list could go on.The beauty of growing onions, though, is that no matter what type you’re looking to cultivate in your garden, onions are hardy — they don’t mind a bit of early spring frost — and are consistent in growing requirements, which includes a lot of sunlight and well-drained, nutrient-rich soil.In this guide, we’ll cover all the basics of how to grow onions, tips for tending to your onions as they grow, plus how to harvest onions and store them.

Erin Lindholm

How to Grow Flavorful Garlic in Your Backyard Garden

Delicious garlic has added a divine aroma and decadent taste to kitchens and dishes around the world for centuries. An ancient bulbous vegetable, garlic grows from individual cloves in the ground that breaks off from a whole bulb. As each clove multiplies in the ground, new bulbs of between 5-10 cloves are formed.The pungent plant is great for beginners and green thumb enthusiasts alike. It requires little space in the garden and results in promising food by adding flavor to sauces, stews, meats, and more.Garlic also contains chemical compounds known for a surplus of health benefits, including working as an anti-inflammatory, improving cardiovascular health, and reducing the risk of cancer.Read on to get your garlic growing in no time and reap the delicious and healthy benefits of the flavorful plant.

Alexa

Upcycle Pallets to Build an Almost Free Vegetable and Herb Garden Bed

ChickFix

How To Grow Pumpkins - From Seeds

Vidura Randeepa

How to Grow Popcorn Shoots

Mark

How to Grow Onions Like a Pro Gardener

Erin Lindholm

How to Grow Flavorful Garlic in Your Backyard Garden

Alexa

Slideshows of sun-ripened vegetable gardens to inspire you and get you gardening!

Popular Vegetable Growing Discussions

Join the Hometalk discussion about vegetable growing and gardening.

Is it OK to eat wild onions that grow in our yards?

/> Louise

I read online that it is, as long as it IS onion growing and not garlic. The article said they'll smell like onions if that's what they are. It didn't mention any difference in appearance, however. I just pulled these from my yard and they do smell like onions. But I don't want to eat them if they'll harm me, so I thought I'd ask to be sure. When I first brought them inside, two of my cats went nuts over them since I didn't know how the plant would affect them, I put them on the deck for now. Then I read online that they're VERY toxic to cats -- any part of the plant is. It said most cats don't want to eat them but these two did. But good mom wouldn't let them have any. :-)

Is it OK to eat wild onions that grow in our yards?

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When to Pick BUTTERCUP SQUASH Not to Be Confused With Butternut

/> Berma M

I have never grown this squash. I am not sure when to pick it. From what I have gleaned on the internet this may be right. It said the curly tentacle would have withered and the stem would be turning hard. Also the skin would be too tough to stick your nail through it. I did not want to try that one. What do you think yes or a bit longer? I have a lot out there but a few more I could pick.

When to Pick BUTTERCUP SQUASH Not to Be Confused With Butternut

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What do I feed my rhubarb to get thicker stems? Mine are mostly skinny

/> Bar12887982

plants have some sun during the day-- if I plant more should they be in a sunny location ? Love strawberry rhubarb pie but I don't get a heavy harvest.

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Can I cut sweet potatoes in half for growing sweet potato vines?

/> Pis32485623

I know that when placing sweet potatoes in water for growing vines, one end of the potato should be placed in water. Is it possible to cut the potato in half to make two ends to place in water as per directions? It would help save as the plant vines at the garden center are $3.33 each-rather costly when one needs a large quantity for a spot. Thanks.

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New Vegetable Growing Projects

New vegetable gardening ideas and projects here. Grow your veggies right!

An Essential Guide on How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots

By Alexa EricksonGrowing tomatoes in pots is an easy process that requires little space and yields big results. The sweet, juicy fruit can be grown in pots on balconies, porches, decks, or anywhere you can tuck a pot in adequate sunlight. Luckily, growing tomatoes in pots isn’t too much different than growing them in the ground, but there are still a few important things to consider when planting, like container size, soil type, and plant spacing.Here’s everything you need to know about how to grow tomatoes in pots, whether you start from seeds or transplants.

Alexa

A Complete Guide on How to Grow Winter Squash

By Brooke RessellWinter squash is one of the most versatile foods out there. While it’s technically a fruit, it actually looks, cooks, and tastes more like a vegetable. Plus, it can easily be served as either a main dish or as a side.What foodies love most about winter squash is how many varieties it comes in—all with their own unique flavors, colors, and textures—making it a fun food to experiment with and try out in different ways. From roasting it to frying and pureeing it, winter squash is a delicious addition to any meal and even the pickiest of kids can learn to enjoy it.So when your family starts including winter squash into so many of your weekly meals, it’s only natural to want to start growing winter squash on your own. And while you certainly need a little extra time and patience on your hands, growing winter squash can be a fun hobby for the entire family. In this guide, we’ll show you how to grow winter squash in your own garden this season.

Brooke Ressell

How to Grow Watercress Successfully at Home

By Alexa EricksonNot only is watercress a healthy, yummy vegetable to grow and take advantage of in recipes, but it’s great for your health. It’s a refreshing addition to salads, a delightful layer in sandwiches, and a tasty ingredient to add to sauces and marinades. It’s packed with nutrients, landing it on the list of U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s Powerhouse Fruits and Vegetables list.The best part is that anyone can grow watercress at home. The only caveat is that, instead of sowing seeds in plain, dry dirt as you would squash and green beans, watercress thrives in—you guessed it—water. If you want this superfood at your disposal, read on to learn how to grow watercress.

Alexa

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How to Grow Vegetables

Prepare a spot for planting the veg

Sow your seeds at the right time

Use a form of pest control

Use mulch for better soil

How to water your vegetable garden

Flowers

Landscaping

Plants

Potatoes

Roses

Succulents

Tomatoes

Flowers

Landscaping

Plants

Potatoes

Roses

Succulents

Tomatoes