I think you have gotten a lot of good advice here. I would like to underline the importance of taking care of your SOIL. Cheryl emphasized doing good initial soil prep before planting your bed. I would like to add that whenever you add new plants to an existing bed, it is good time to continue to improve your soil by adding compost. The exception to this would be plants that need thin soil & quick drainage. The other suggestion I have is to protect your soil by using a mulch. It reduces weeding, keeps moisture in, and reduces soil compaction due to heavy rains. And, it goes without saying, try not to walk all over a prepared bed. That compacts the soil too. Create paths or stepping stones so you can access your plants without stepping on their roots.
What wonderful advice! The watering worries me too. Also preparing the soil. I think I need to do more research. So glad you asked his question!
try something new each year. Don't over-do it, but do something with a new vegetable or flower. The vegetables you can eat... There are so many to try that you will never run out of "new" ones. Take tomatoes for example...there are THOUSANDS of varieties and new ones being developed every year. Potatoes come in many colors besides white. There are blue ones and pink ones and yellow fleshed ones, not just a skin color, but all the way through. Eggplant, long skinny ones, short fat ones, white and green and purple and lavender and bi-colors.... peppers called yummies and orange blaze, blocks, and pendants, and hot and sweet and "sweet heat"... oh, yum! Just don't try them all at once.
