Many gardeners prefer to make one large planting rather than stagger plantings if crops make a good frozen product. This is especially true with crops like corn and greens. Site Selection Many factors should be considered when selecting the garden site. The size of the garden is determined by the number of members in the family and how the vegetables will be used. Each member of the family will need 2,200 square feet of garden space to provide enough vegetables to use fresh, canned and frozen.
Sunlight is essential to plant growth.
Vegetables should receive a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight during the day. Tomatoes, corn, peppers, cucumbers, root crops and melons need full sunlight. Some of the leafy vegetables like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower will tolerate more shade. The roots of trees, large shrubs and hedges compete with vegetables for nutrients and moisture. Additional plant food and extra water help compensate for this competition but will not relieve shade problems.