It's hard to beat the high nutritional value and the fresh taste of vegetables harvested from your own garden. Before you get to this point, however, you need to plan your vegetable garden layout so that you can reap the most from your handiwork.
Planning Your Vegetable Garden Layout

image: rows of lettuce in garden
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If you have never had a vegetable garden before, you could probably use some information and advice on the different options for a vegetable garden layout. In order to have the best possible vegetable garden, you really should do some planning on paper before you start planting.

This way you can figure out which type of vegetable garden will work out the best for you, as well as the best places to put each of the different vegetables that you wish to plant in your garden.

One of the first things you will need to do when planning your vegetable garden layout is determine where you are going to put your garden. You should try to find the location with the most sun and the most light possible for the best results.

Of course space limitations may mean that you don't have a lot of choice in the location of your garden, and if this is the case you will have to take into consideration the limitations of the spot when you decide which vegetables you are going to plant.
Selecting the Type of Garden You Want

image: backyard vegetable garden
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Another consideration is the type of garden you wish to plant. You need to decide whether or not you want a more traditional flat garden with rows, or a garden with raised beds, or a container garden.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these different types of vegetable garden layout. Traditional gardens are one of the easiest to set up since you don't need a lot of additional materials.

You just need to plow the area and add any nutrients that the soil needs. Raised beds can be easier to tend to and easier to grow vegetables since they heat up faster and retain the heat for longer, however, they take a bit more time and materials to set up. For those without a lot of space a container garden can be the perfect answer.

Since smaller beds allow you to easily get around the garden area while weeding, watering, or harvesting, the beds should not be more than a width of 3 or 4 feet for an ideal vegetable garden layout design.
Vegetable Selection is Important

image: rows of corn in vegetable gardenOnce you have decided on the location and type of garden, you can set up your vegetable garden layout. Most people advise that rows go in a north south direction, with the taller plants at the northern end of the garden and the shorter plants at the southern end of the garden.

As there are some plants that don't do well near each other, you should be sure to check out the plants you are planning to grow to make sure that you know which can be grown near each other.

Rotating your crops is also a good idea. You should plant root crops in one area, brassicas in another area, and everything else in a third area. Rotating your plants not only helps control pests and diseases but it helps you get the most nutrition from your garden.

Copyright 2009 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
About the Author

Denny Soinski writes about garden decor, gardening, bronze garden sculptures, water fountains, and outdoor metal sculptures. For more information, please visit http://www.water-fountains-and-garden-decor.com right away!