Preparing your vegetable garden for spring

Itching to do some landscaping in your garden? Now is a great time to start preparing for your spring vegetable garden.

As we move towards the end of winter it's time to turn our attention to growing things in our gardens again. Most plants go through their most dramatic growth phases in spring, and vegetables are no exception, so the last months of winter are a great time to get your vegetable garden ready for planting.

And you don't need heaps of land to enjoy home-grown vegies. Even small gardens have enough room to grow a few things to eat and vegetables can also be planted in pots if you only have a balcony or tiny outdoor space. The key is placing your vegetable patch in the right position, preparing your vegetable garden's soil correctly, and choosing the right vegetables to grow.

Placing the vegetable plants in the right garden area

First, choose a section of your garden that receives plenty of sun right through spring and into summer. Ideally this spot will also be sheltered from strong winds.

Unless you're particularly fortunate and your soil is already well drained and nutrient rich, you will need to do some preparation to give your vegetables their best chance of flourishing. Dig as much organic material as you can through the soil, especially if it's on the sandy side. Compost and mulch will add valuable nutrients, encourage the necessary microbes to get active and help aerate the soil. Adding organic matter also assists the soil to absorb and retain water.

If your soil is thick and full of clay, then add some gypsum - along with organic matter - to break down the clay.

Choose the vegetable plantation wisely

Certain vegetables prefer certain conditions; beans, cabbages, lettuce, carrots, zucchini and pumpkin all like alkaline soil, while potatoes and tomatoes prefer it on the acidic side. If the soil is too acidic, then add some dolomite or lime, and if it's too alkaline, then leaf mould and manure work well.

One clever (and natural) way of adding nutrients to the soil is to plant an early crop of vegetables in your garden - like peas or beans - and in the period when the flowers are budding but not flowering, pull them out and dig them back into the earth. As they break down they will add valuable nitrogen to the soil, giving the vegies a better chance of succeeding.

A vital part of preparing a vegetable garden is, of course, your choice of vegies. If you're buying vegetables as seeds or seedlings, it's best to read the instructions that come with the plants. They will tell you which conditions best suit your vegetables. Follow these instructions as spring approaches and you will end up with a lovely garden and a crop of fresh vegetables for your dinner table!

If you're still unsure about how best to prepare, get professional advice at your local nursery to prepare your vegetable garden for spring: