Making farm-to-table meals from your backyard produce is one of the most satisfying benefits of homeownership. There’s nothing quite so rewarding as eating a ripe, red tomato right off the vine. However, if you want to a bountiful harvest, there are guidelines to follow. Before you head to a garden center to buy seeds, seedlings, and trellises, here’s what you should know.

A Guide to Growing a Backyard Vegetable Garden

1. Find the Sun 

The very first gardening task is to familiarize yourself with the landscape. Most vegetables require 8 hours of direct sunlight. If shade covers most of your backyard, don’t despair. Baby beets, herbs, and lettuces all thrive with just 2 to 4 hours of light. 

2. Use the Right Soil

Along with ample sunlight, an edible garden requires nutrient-rich soil. Backyard soils, therefore, may need amending. If you install raised beds, you can buy crop-ready, nutrient-rich soil from a garden center—usually a mix of top-quality compost and topsoil—and avoid the labor-intensive work of upgrading the soil in your yard.

3. Aim High

Go vertical. Climbing crops like peas, peppers, pole beans, squash, and tomatoes can be grown in small yards if you train and stake them to wind upward. Give them extra support with trellises, cages, string, and wire, all conveniently available at garden centers. Garden supports also add visual interest to your landscape and are available in a variety of materials and colors.

If you’re eager to start planting vegetables in your backyard, head to Glynn Young’s Landscaping & Nursery Center. This garden center has everything you need to plant and harvest delicious vegetables, herbs, and leafy greens. If you want to beautify your outdoor spaces, they also have an experienced landscape designing team. To learn about the garden products and services they offer, visit their website, or call 859-881-8111 to speak with the staff.