Seed Bed Preparation for Vegetables

Site Selection

• Choose a site in your yard that gets the greatest amount of sunlight each day. At least six hours of sunlight per day is needed for most vegetables. Plants like tomatoes and eggplant need the full amount of sunlight. Other vegetables, like lettuce and broccoli, tolerate shadier conditions. Avoid sites with encumbrances like roots from large trees that compete with vegetables for nutrients and low areas that see standing water during rainy periods.

Soil Testing

• Testing your garden soil determines what kind of drainage it provides for plants, what nutrients are needed and what the pH level is. Good drainage provides moisture for the plants without soaking the roots for a long period of time, which contributes to rot diseases. Knowing what additional nutrients are needed allows the gardener to accurately provide only what is needed, without waste and without fertilizer runoff into the environment. The correct pH range helps plants to take up nutrients effectively to grow larger, healthy vegetables. To get a comprehensive soil test, consult with your local agricultural extension service. They provide soil testing with accurate results at low cost.

Proper Tilling

• Till the soil to a depth of at least 6 to 7 inches, pulverizing it finely with a shovel or mechanical tiller. Small seeds require finely-tilled soil to germinate properly. Remove all rocks, wood, and other debris. Avoid cultivating soil when it is wet. Remove all weeds from the garden area.

Soil Amendments

• Your soil test will indicate whether your soil is acidic, alkaline or neutral. Most vegetables prefer a slightly acidic soil in the range of 6.0 to 6.8, according to Ohio State University horticulturist Marianne Riofrio. To get the soil pH in this optimum range, gradually add garden sulfur to lower the number, or garden lime to raise the number. Adding soil amendments such as compost, processed manure or peat moss will help to break up clay soils and aid soil aeration and water retention.

Weed Control

• Keeping weeds under control in your seed bed requires daily attention to hand weeding. If this is not feasible, the spreading a synthetic mulch, such as black plastic, or using a clean, organic mulch, like flax straw, will keep weed growth in check.

Fertilization

• Adding fertilizer will help to get seedings off to a good start. Leafy vegetables benefit from a 12-12-12 formula fertilizer, while root or fruit vegetables need a 6-24-24 formula type. The numbers indicate the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the product. Do not over fertilize vegetable seedlings, as this can burn the tender root systems.