Your own garden full of vegetables is a smart idea especially if you are a food enthusiast who loves the fresh taste of something just picked right off the vine, bush or plant. However, what do you do when you don't have a huge plot in which to plant your vegetables? The answer is that you can still plant vegetables but it might be wise to selectively choose just a few things that are most tasty to you. You could even utilize containers or build raised beds in available space in order to achieve your garden. Here are a few vegetable garden tips to help you get started on your quest:

Get Real

Be realistic and don't become overly ambitious, especially when it is your first time planting a garden. Do not be afraid to use vegetable garden tips to adapt your plan such as redefining the square footage or planting specialty vegetables in your garden. If you have nothing but a large patio or even front porch area instead of an adequate yard, you could create mini-gardens in large planters or containers.

Location is everything and is among the top vegetable garden tips given to fledgling gardeners who still have quite a bit to learn. You will want a plotted area with a lot of sun exposure as well as soil that is at the proper pH levels for maximum effect. A soil sample should be taken and tested to ensure that the pH levels are properly maintained.

Manual Labor

Among many helpful vegetable garden tips is the advice of renting or borrowing a tiller to break up the earth. It can be back breaking, using a tiller, but the vegetable bounty when all is said and done is worth the aggravation. Sometimes, the patch of land you have chosen for garden requires a bit more depth and health to it such as adding compost, humus, top soil and even fertilizer additives. Some garden centers have soil analysis testing or even a local agricultural co-op may offer the service so that you can determine the proper pH health to grow the healthiest vegetables.

Choosing your Vegetables

Vegetable garden tips also involve the selection of particular vegetables to plant for your garden. One of the things you have to keep in mind is what types of vegetables will grow well within your zone. Tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce and beans are typically easy to grow no matter where you may live, although you might have to protect them from cold or freezing temperatures. Let your taste buds be your guide when following vegetable garden tips on what to plant but just remember to keep in mind the soil conditions and climate to ensure a healthy growing start.