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Growing Your Own

Choosing proper site is key garden decision

Choosing a garden site is as important as selecting the vegetables to grow in it. All vegetables need sunlight and fertile, well-drained soil, and they will contract fewer diseases if the site has good ventilation. Place the garden so it will be convenient to plant, care for, and harvest. Protect the garden site from invading insects or animals.

Few of us are lucky enough to have the ideal place that provides all of the needed conditions. You might find that the perfect place to grow your sweet corn is along the back fence, where it becomes a backdrop for your dahlias. Or the sunniest site for growing your chard or beets may be along the sidewalk entry, where the planting becomes an edible edging for your front walk. Innovative gardeners will find spaces that fit their plants' needs.

First, select for sunlight. An open, south-facing, gradual slope is best, but if you don't have that, look for a shade-free place. All vegetables need a minimum of 6 hours of sunshine. Less will cause the plants to be weak and spindly no matter how much tender loving care you give them.

Next, get to know the soil in your yard. Good gardening soil warms early in the spring, is loamy enough to provide oxygen to the roots of growing plants, holds water for several days, and is fertile enough to grow a good crop of weeds. Early warming is related to drainage. Poorly drained soil will remain wet and cold late into the spring, making it difficult to grow early-season vegetables. If your soil is heavy and remains wet long after rain has stopped, consider using raised beds or installing some sort of drainage system. Raised beds will not only be better drained, they also will warm earlier. (See story on raised beds.)

An indication of the general fertility of your garden soil is its natural vegetation. The healthier the weeds or grass already growing on the site, the better the soil will be for growing vegetables.

Try to locate your garden away from trees and large shrubs. The roots from nearby woody plants will take nutrients and water away from your vegetables.

Avoid placing the garden where there is little air movement. A natural breeze helps prevent foliage diseases. Stagnant, humid, warm air creates ideal conditions for development of problems such as tomato blight, mildew on squash, or mold on green beans. (See story on plant diseases.)

Place your garden where it will be easy to care for. If you have to drag a 50-foot hose out to water each time, it becomes a chore. Because Oregon's vegetable-growing season coincides with the dry season, you must water frequently. If irrigation is time-consuming, your enthusiasm about gardening can fade quickly. (See story on watering.)

The most useful garden site is near the kitchen so the cook can move fresh vegetables quickly to the dinner table. Nothing can beat the flavor of corn that was picked just 20 minutes before you bite into it.

Produced and distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Extension work is a cooperative program of Oregon State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Oregon counties. Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination based on age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran's status. Oregon State University Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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