Vegetable Gardening: How to Grow Healthy, Fresh Food at Home

Get excited as we discuss all the reasons you'll want to get your edible garden growing!

The first step in getting your edible garden started is choosing a site and planning the layout. This section describes the process step by step.

Edible gardens can be established almost anywhere there is sun and access to water. From apartment balconies to large yards, learn how to evaluate your site when planning your edible garden.

Gardening in containers is a great option for small areas, if you have poor soil, or don't like to dig!

Learn why raised beds are a great choice for growing edibles. Advantages of using raised beds and types of raised beds are covered.

The advantages and disadvantages of growing directly in the ground in your native soil is discussed along with strategies to ensure successful in ground gardens.

Specialty growing techniques such as vertical gardens and espaliered fruit trees are discussed in this lecture. Also reviewed is the use of garden structures such as patio covers, trellises, arbors, and greenhouses to grow edibles.

This lecture provides a step by step process to create a layout for your edible garden which will result in a scale drawing to use in installing the garden.

To review what you learned in Section 3: Site Selection and Planning

Soil preparation is the most important step in ensuring a successful, healthy edible garden. This section discusses types of soil, soil amendments, fertilizers and how to prepare your soil to get a great growing environment for your edibles.

The first step to getting great soil is to know what type of soil is in your garden. See the Resources tab for downloadable handouts: 'Soil Basics' and 'Know Your Soil'.

This lecture will describe the different types of soil amendments that can be added when preparing the soil for planting, and which ones to use under what conditions. See the Resources tab for downloadable handouts: 'Ten Tips for Soil' and 'Soil Amendments-What's in that Bag?'

It is very rare for soil to naturally contain an adequate amount of nutrients for healthy plant growth. Fertilizers are added to soil at the time of planting and during the growing season. This lecture will discuss the nutrients needed for plant growth and fertilizer options.

Soil preparation is the key to successful edible gardens. Soil with the right mixture of minerals, organic material, nutrients, air and water will result in healthy, productive plants. Let's start digging!

To review what you learned in Section 4: Soil Preparation

Choosing plants is the fun part of creating your garden! In this section we'll discuss your garden zone and when to plant herbs, vegetables and fruit.

Where you live and when you get frost determines when you can plant cool and warm season vegetables. In this lecture, we'll determine your garden zone, first and last frost dates, and which veggies to plant when.

This lecture discusses annual and perennial herbs and their uses. See Resources section for a downloadable Culinary Herbs reference sheet, and a link to a 'how to' video on creating an herb garden in a single pot.

So many veggie choices! This lecture will discuss cool vs. warm season veggies, plant families and crop rotation. See the Resources for downloadable handouts on 'Vegetable Garden Basics', 'Tomatoes in the Home Garden', and a vegetable 'Planting Guide'.

Including fruit in edible gardens is possible for any size garden. This lecture reviews types of fruit and growing strategies from berries to fruit trees. See Resources for a downloadable Fruit Cultivation Guide and links to Backyard Fruit videos.

To review what you learned in Section 5: Choosing Plants

In this section we'll cover planting seeds in containers and in the ground, planting seedlings, and planting shrubs and trees.

Planting seeds indoors in containers can give you a jump on the season. Join me in the garden as I demonstrate planting seeds in containers.

Some seeds do better planted directly in the ground where they are to grow. Join me in the garden as I demonstrate direct seed sowing in the ground.

This in the garden video demonstrates planting purchased or home grown seedlings from their containers into the garden.

This lecture shows the step by step process of properly planting a shrub or fruit tree into the garden.

Test your knowledge of planting seeds, seedlings, and fruit trees and shrubs.

Great job preparing your soil and planting your plants! This section will discuss how to get those plants to grow and give you a great harvest through proper irrigation, mulching, weeding and controlling pests and diseases.

Water is the life blood of your edible garden. This lecture discusses pros and cons of various irrigation methods. Click on the Resources tab for Ten Tips on Watering, a video on 'Making a Rain Barrel', and a link to more info on Drip Irrigation.

Mulching is one of the best things you can do for your garden. This lecture tells you why, what material to use and how to apply mulch.

This lecture discusses why weeding, the least favorite garden chore, is critical to edible plant health and growth and provides strategies for keeping weeds away.

This lecture discusses pest control by practicing 'Integrated Pest Management' or 'IPM', a safe and effective way of controlling pests with minimal use of pesticides.

This lecture discusses how to prevent and control plant diseases in your garden.

Review what you learned about irrigation, weeding, mulching, pest and disease control.

Hurray! You have great fresh food to harvest from your garden! The last two lectures provide tips for harvesting and storing your yummy, healthy fruits and veggies! Also refer to the external resources for more information on storing, preserving and enjoying your produce.

Harvesting tips and storage strategies are discussed in this lecture so you can enjoy the fruits (and veggies!) of your labors.

Use these storage tips to keep your fruits and veggies fresh and tasty.