Gardening is an activity that most anyone can take part in.  Even if you live in an apartment, you can container garden, or grow houseplants.  It's good exercise and helps your family cut their grocery budget.

Good planning in choosing your garden site can prevent future problems.  It should have ample sunshine, good drainage, and not be too near to tree roots that compete for moisture.  It's a good idea to remove sod if you are making a space in an established lawn area.

Consider the height of the mature plants.  Taller plants such as corn should be planted on the north side of your plot.  Fast maturing crops such as lettuce and radishes can be planted between corn rows.  By the time the corn starts shading them, you have harvested them.  Also consider planting only part of your seed packets, you can extend the season by succession plantings.  More than once I have overplanted in a burst of spring fever. There's only so many ways to eat radishes!

Tomatoes are one of the most frequently planted vegetables in the home garden.  You can start your own seed, or buy transplants.  The advantage to starting your own plants is the huge variety of seed you have to choose from.  Choose your variety for a specific purpose.  Some are better for canning and freezing, others are good for salads and slicing.  Tomatoes come in all colors: white, black, striped yellow and red, and even a mature green.  I did try a black variety last year.

Do not buy transplants that are blooming or fruiting.  They should be about a hand's width tall, with strong blocky stems. You should harden them off in a sheltered area before setting them out.  If you allow them to blow in the wind, they will have stronger stems.  Some growing houses put fans on their plants for this reason.  Try to transplant on a cloudy day.  Strip the lower leaves off, leaving the topknot, and plant the stem to that point.  Or plant the stem sideways, leaving the top leaves out.  They will root stronger stems from the side.  Do not fertilize until the plant sets fruit, as this will prevent the plant from producing all foliage and no fruit.  There's so much information in the news about the disease- fighting chemicals in tomatoes...do give some a try!

You should plant corn in a block of at least four rows to ensure pollination.  Mixing sand with small seeds such as carrots can make for easier planting.  You can also mix carrot and radish seeds.  As you harvest the radishes, you thin the carrots.  Last year I had a large area to cover, and wanted to attract birds and butterflies. I planted a large bag of birdseed for about a dollar.

Three varieties I have enjoyed planting are India gherkin cucumbers, Rouge vif D'Etampes pumpkins, and Bloody Butcher ornamental corn.  The cukes are spiny, and the size and shape of hen's eggs.  They make gourmet-looking pickles.  The pumpkins are also called Cinderella pumpkins, and were used by Disney as the model for the coach.  They are a brilliant red-orange and very lobed and distinctive.  The corn makes huge mahogany-colored ears that are wonderful in fall arrangements. Give the cukes and pumpkins room to explore, or plant on a trellis.

If you are plagued with squash bugs, try planting Butternuts. They are supposed to be considered immune to the bug.

Reprinted with permission.