Essential tips for designing the perfect veggie garden

Food always tastes better when you grow it yourself. Here are some essential tips to help you design the perfect vegetable garden for a bountiful harvest you'll be proud to show off.

Homegrown vegetables always seem to taste better so it's important to plan your garden well. If you've never planted one before, put some thought into the design and jot it down on paper before you dig into the soil. Remember that:

• Vegetables need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. Make sure your garden’s location is suitable.
• A vegetable garden will require ample water, especially during dry spells. Situate the garden close to a water supply if possible.
• Designate crops in rows or in blocks about five feet wide. Give yourself room to access plants for picking crops, weeding, pruning and other maintenance activities.
• Plan to have taller plants in the north or northeast corner of your garden to prevent them from shading smaller plants.

What do you like to eat? Many first-time gardeners get excited by the prospect of endless vegetables only to end up wasting food.

• Do you want enough to eat and freeze for later?
• How many people do you hope to feed?
• Are there friends or neighbours who will be happy to take extras?

Other important considerations include:

• Geography will play a role in what you plant. Aim for foods that are compatible with your specific local growing conditions. They will take less work to grow.
• Keep in mind some crops, like peppers, produce throughout the season while others, such as radishes, produce only once.
• Allocate the number of plantings based on a plant’s projected yield, i.e., how much it might produce.
• Plan to rotate plant families to another area in your garden. This will help keep the soil healthy and avoid disease.

While a 10-foot-square plot is ample space when it comes to designing a decent vegetable garden, don’t feel limited if a balcony or terrace is what you have to work with.

• Containers and pots are a great alternative.
• Some vegetables even tolerate being grown in a hanging basket.

Mix and match plants with attractive foliage, flowers or fruit for a container garden that is beautiful and bountiful. While it may not produce a harvest big enough to feed a large family, it's still satisfying and a real treat to have.

Healthy soil is the starting point of a healthy garden. Soil requires the proper balance of organic matter, clay and sand.

• Increase the organic matter of your soil’s content by regularly mixing in compost, dry lawn clippings or leaves.
• A couple of weeks prior to planting new seeds add compost and give the bed a good rake to loosen and aerate the soil.

Pests are an unavoidable part of the great outdoors. Healthy plants are less likely to suffer from insect infestations. Similarly, healthy soil will keep weeds at bay. There are some measures you can take to avoid pests and fight disease:

• Water in the mornings to avoid mildew growth.
• Pull weeds out regularly.
• Add a layer of mulch on top of the soil to keep weeds under control.
• Introduce natural predators to your garden (ladybugs, toads, birds) that eat unwanted insects. Organic deterrents, like hot pepper sprays, may help, too.

If you love the taste of a fresh tomato still warm off the vine, or carrots so crisp they crunch loudly when you bite into them, then a veggie garden might be for you. With a little planning, the design of your vegetable garden will keep your pantry stocked with fresh produce year 'round.