There is one rule to remember when planning a vegetable garden, says Cindy Sparkman of Sparkman's Nursery. Otherwise you'll have so many vegetables to harvest, you'll have to throw them away or give them to the neighbors. For your garden, choose those varieties of vegetables which are well-suited to your growing conditions. And use common sense in your planning. Both Cindy and Larry recommend purchasing seeds for most of your vegetables because it is much more cost-effective.
Vegetables are easy to grow from seed, with the exception of tomatoes and peppers.
To have a bountiful garden throughout the growing season, work up a growing list, suggests Ed. Decide which crops to grow, where to plant them, and when to plant to spread out your harvest. With a little planning, you can spread your plantings out over the next several months and enjoy vegetables for a longer period of time. Every seed packet gives all necessary information on the back. It's important to remember to space the seeds according to the recommendations, and don't cover seeds too deeply.