DIY How-To
How to Plant Vegetables
A productive vegetable garden starts with the soil and good timing. Here are the basics for Southeast Michigan beds.
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Quick checklist
- Choose a sunny spot (8 hours is ideal) close to a hose.
- Loosen the soil 8 to 12 in deep and work in a few inches of compost; raised beds help on heavy clay.
- Wait for warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) until after the last frost, usually mid to late May here.
- Plant cool-season crops (lettuce, peas, spinach) earlier in spring and again in late summer.
- Follow the spacing and depth on the seed packet or plant tag; tomatoes can be planted deeper to grow extra roots.
- Water at the base of the plants early in the day, about 1 in per week including rain.
- Mulch between rows to hold moisture and keep weeds down, and feed with a vegetable fertilizer as the label directs.
Watch how it's done
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