• Start small, with an area two to three metres square, so that you don't get overwhelmed.
• Look for a level, sheltered site that's sunny for six to eight hours a day, and close enough to a faucet or rain barrel that watering won't be a problem.
Pick the plants
• List your favourite vegetables, then add a few that are hard to find or expensive at the market. Consider the amount each plant can produce; plan for preserving or freezing extras so nothing goes to waste.
• Look for varieties that are disease-resistant and early-harvest (a real plus with Canada's short growing season).
• For small spaces, choose compact, dwarf or bush hybrids; pass on corn.
• For lots of variety, buy directly from seed companies; most now have online shopping (see page 3). A combination of seeds, homegrown seedlings and nursery plants may work best. Some vegetables thrive when sown outdoors; other varieties do better and yield faster when whole plants go into the garden.
• Keep co-planting, or companion planting, in mind. For example, for pest control, plant basil close to tomatoes; marigolds keep bugs away; borage attracts bees.
Plan the plot
• Draw a rough design (graph paper is great for this), consulting seed packets for spacing, spread and height information. Place tall plants along the northern edge of the plot so they don't shade short ones.
• Design plantings in single wide rows, staggered rows, in blocks or in raised beds (each about one square metre). You may want to plant a few rows of annual flowers to cut for bouquets, or devote a space in the garden for perennial herbs.
• Include permanent paths, 30 to 60 centimetres wide (a good idea, since soil gets compacted underfoot).
• Mulch with bark or straw, or lay stone or brick pavers.
Prepare the soil
• Be patient in the spring – working soggy soil compacts it, making it harder for plants to thrive. Squeeze a handful of soil; if it falls apart when you open your fingers, it's dry enough to dig.
• Measure and mark out the plot with stakes and string, then use a squareended spade to cut it into a grid. Lift out each square of grass with a garden fork and shake off any soil. To deter weeds, you can push in metal or plastic edging around the perimeter.
• Using a garden fork and shovel, turn the soil to a depth of at least 30 centimetres, removing all roots. Cover with about three centimetres of composted manure, then work that in, adding compost and a few handfuls of bonemeal, if desired. Finish by raking the surface into a fine texture.
Plant the garden
• Follow seed-packet instructions for planting, then tamp soil and keep it moist until plants are established.
• Plant homegrown or nursery plants on cool overcast days, if possible, to reduce transplant stress.
• Stake peas, beans and tomatoes; use branches, a fence, tomato cages, old hockey sticks or ski poles.
• Leave space for successive plantings, such as lettuce, to ensure a fresh supply, or a midsummer planting of corn or beets.
• In the following years, remember to rotate crops. Don't plant the same thing (or a related plant) in the same spot two years in a row.
Page 1 of 3 – On page 2 learn tips to start a backyard compost bin.
