the size you
choose for your vegetable garden will be determined by the amount of available
space you have in your backyard.
Orientation
to sun - the plants in your garden will want to face south, and will require a
minimum of 5 hours of direct sunlight per day, The area of maximum continuous
light will likely be the best location for your garden.
in-ground garden beds
- easiest
way to get a bed established; nothing to build
- cheaper
than buying lumber for raised beds
- pathway
weeds can creep into the bed
- more
likely that pets and children will walk on the beds
- you have
to reach further down to tend the plants
raised garden beds
- provide
the best drainage and prevent soil compaction
- soil warms
up more quickly in the spring
- the bed
sides prevent weeds from creeping into the bed
- easier to
tend the plants because the soil level is raised
- serve as a
barrier to pests such as slugs and snails
- for more
information, including how to build.