How to Set Up a Vegetable Farming Project

Determine your market. Where are you going to sell your vegetables? Farmers' markets offer local producers the chance to have their products seen by the public. Consider contacting local stores or restaurants to inquire about wholesale opportunities. You may even want to set up a roadside stand. Look up the local rules and ordinances concerning selling vegetables publicly.

Find land to grow the vegetables. A smaller project can be started in the backyard, but larger operations may require renting ground from someone else. The soil must be suited for the intended crop.

Prepare the soil for planting. This may be done with a hoe for a smaller project or a plow if the crop consists of several acres. It may be useful to pay a local farmer to plow and disk the ground for you if you intend to plant a large plot .

Add fertilizer to the soil in an amount that is appropriate for the types of vegetables being grown. Aim for a pH level that best suits a majority of the plants. You can also fertilizer sections of the plot more heavily than others to best meet the needs of specific plants. You may decide to get the soil tested to determine the pH of the ground and know how to best adjust it. You can send a sample to a local agriculture extension agent to accomplish this.

Plant each type of seed according to the conditions that are most appropriate, including time of year, planting depth and planting density. It is generally best to plant in rows to make the best use of the allotted space. Mark each row with a sign to indicate the type of vegetable planted.

Weed and irrigate the vegetables as necessary as they grow. Pick them when the weather is cool to help keep them fresh, or right before you intend to sell them. Store vegetables in a refrigerator or a cooler before selling them.