Start your Vegetable Garden in 4 easy steps!

 

 

Step 1: Prepare the pot The size of your pot depends on the size of your plant: 20-inch-diameter pots work well for tomatoes and eggplants, and 4-inch pots are great for herbs. Fill the pot with 2 inches of potting soil. Place one uncracked raw egg in the pot — as it decomposes, it will serve as a natural fertilizer — and cover with soil.

 

Step 2: Make holes Using a screwdriver (or your finger), create five to six holes that are 1 inch deep. New seeds tend to have more successful germination rates than the leftover packets from last year; a good rule of thumb is to expect one plant to grow per every five fresh seeds planted. 

 

Step 3: Plant seeds Drop one or two seeds in each hole, then cover with a thin layer of potting soil. A faster option: Purchase seedlings and transplant them into containers. Use your fingers to gently tease the roots apart before planting. This way the roots will be able to spread easily into the new soil.

 

Step 4: Tend the garden After planting, make sure to keep the soil moist (not wet) to the touch. Push your index finger into the soil about an inch. If it's dry, water the soil itself (rather than the leaves, because wet leaves encourage plant diseases). Add fertilizer to the plants every two to three weeks, according to package directions.

 

 

Read more: How to Plant a Vegetable Garden - Herb Gardening - Redbook Follow us: @redbookmag on Twitter | REDBOOK on Facebook Visit us at Redbook.com