# First vegetable garden. I have no idea what I'm doing **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 8, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-vegetable-garden-i-have-no-idea-what-im-doing/618172 "2012-04-08T13:57:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-vegetable-garden-i-have-no-idea-what-im-doing/618172/22 "2012-04-09T19:32:10Z")
I’m not a farmer (but I do come from a farming community), but it is the usual routine on farms to rotate crops and fields, so I’d say yes, that’s a good idea if you have the room. I can’t wait for the fresh tomatoes, either - there’s something about the flavour of a home-grown tomato that you just can’t get from store-bought. And the leaf lettuce, too - I’m not a huge lettuce fan, but the homegrown stuff is very nice. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-vegetable-garden-i-have-no-idea-what-im-doing/618172/23 "2012-04-09T20:27:22Z")
Can I get some input on my garden, too? My garden doesn’t grow prolificly. Rather, it grows herbs and such like crazy but the veggies just don’t come. I get just a few small veggies. I have a small patch, 8 x 8 in a “u” shape. I limit the amount of plants, and I don’t think they are crowded - 4 on one side, 4 on the other side, and then on the bottom of the “u”, I plant a row of basil. The basil grow phenomenally, to the point where I made enough pesto to freeze and take some out every month in the winter. However the veggies just don’t do it. I water them daily with a sprinkler when it’s hot, and they are in the only sunny spot in the yard. I also use fertilizer, and weed and stuff… This year I am planning to start a compost pile. But I’m still stuck for answers. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-vegetable-garden-i-have-no-idea-what-im-doing/618172/24 "2012-04-09T20:30:55Z")
Vegetables usually need more fertilizer and more sunshine than herbs. I always assumed that was because they’re providing so much more in the way of calories for us. It’s quite likely that the patch you’re using is sunny enough for herbs but not _quite_ sunny enough for veggies. Could also be nematodes or some other soil-borne pest. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-vegetable-garden-i-have-no-idea-what-im-doing/618172/25 "2012-05-31T01:28:20Z")
**Crafter\_Man** do you have a update for us? ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-vegetable-garden-i-have-no-idea-what-im-doing/618172/26 "2012-05-31T04:03:25Z")
First garden, I’d go with established plants, and choose zucchini and cherry tomatoes. And plant radish seed. Save your coffee grounds. I’ve found that tomatoes must love caffeine! ~VOW [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-vegetable-garden-i-have-no-idea-what-im-doing/618172.md?page=1)