Vegetable gardens need plenty of sunlight. Generally speaking, the more sun the better. Don't plant your garden too close to trees or anything else that will shade it too much.



Vegetables need good drainage when they grow, so it's a good idea to plant them in raised beds. You can make these out of cement blocks or wood. If you don't have these resources, you can plant on raised mounds of dirt.

Growing Tomatoes

There are so many varieties of tomatoes to choose from. It's a good idea to plant tomatoes when the soil is warm, after danger of frost is over.

If you're planting dwarf plants, place them 12 inches apart in the row. If you're planting staked plants, place them 15 to 24 inches apart.

Tomatoes need plenty of water, especially during dry summers. Water them thoroughly every couple of days. Tomatoes in containers may need daily or even more frequent watering.

You'll know when your tomatoes are ready when they're firm and fully colored. In hot summer weather, pick your tomatoes every day or two. Even after they're picked, they'll continue to ripen slowly over the next several weeks.

Growing Sweet Corn

Like tomatoes, there are lots of different varieties or corn. Sweet corn needs warm soil. You should plant corn just before the frost-free date.

Place the seeds 1/2 inch deep in cool, moist soil. Space the kernels 9 to 12 inches apart in the row. It's a good idea to plant two or more rows side by side to ensure good development. Allow 30 to 36 inches between rows.

Fertilize around the tomato seeds right when you plant them. When your corn reaches almost 10 inches, fertilize again. Corn will be ready to harvest 3 weeks after the first silk appears.

Your corn will be ready to harvest in 60-85 days. To pick them, break the ear from the stalk close to the base so as not to damage the ear or the stalk.

Growing Radishes

Radishes need a fine, well-prepared seed bed. It's a good idea to apply animal manure or compost about 6 weeks before planting. This helps build up the water-holding capacity of the soil, and it balances the nutrient supply.

Plant small radishes 1-2 inches apart, and larger varieties 6 inches apart. You can grow several rows of radishes in a bed as long as you keep your beds at least 2 feet apart.

Radishes need consistent moisture. If they dry out during their growth, they'll become bitter. Keep your radishes plenty moist throughout the growing season. You can use straw mulch to help retain moisture in your soil.

Most radish varieties mature in 25 to 35 days. They're only mature for a short time, so if left in the ground too long, they can become pithy and mealy. It's a good idea to watch them closely, and pick a radish every so often to determine their maturity.