How does your garden grow?

It doesn't get any fresher than making a meal with vegetables picked in your backyard. As you plant your vegetable patch, here are some tips to get the most from your garden:

Sun and soil

Selecting the right spot for your garden is the most important step to ensuring a bountiful garden, says Jennifer Shull, general manager at Culver's Garden Center and Greenhouse in Marion.

A vegetable garden should get six to eight hours of sunlight each day and have good drainage.

If you have clay soil, it won't drain well. You can amend the soil by tilling in organic matter such as compost.

No matter your soil type, working compost or fertilizer in before planting will provide your vegetables the nutrients they need. Try to wait until the soil is dry before tilling and planting.

Right plant

Next, pick your plants.

'A lot of people pick things they think look cool, but a lot can go to waste if your family isn't going to want to actually eat it,' Shull says.

Some tomatoes are better for sauces and some are better for slicing and snacking. Setting garden goals can help you narrow down your options.

You should also make sure to pick plants that do well in Iowa's climate. That shouldn't be an issue if buying seeds at a local garden center, but catalogs and the Internet might tempt you to order exotic varieties that won't thrive here.

Look for plants that need less than 90 days to reach maturity, unless starting seeds indoors or transplanting seedlings, Shull recommends.

Spacing

Once you know what you're planting, you'll know how much room you need. Small seedlings can be deceiving. Consider how big the mature plant will be so you don't overcrowd your garden.

You also don't want to plant a tomato that will reach 5 feet right next to a sun-loving pepper. Put taller plants on the garden's north side or any place they won't block the sun from reaching shorter plants.

If you're short on space, consider vertical gardening. Grow cucumbers or squash on a trellis or fence to save room. Shade loving plants like lettuce and spinach can go under the trellis to optimize space even more.

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Sponsored by Culver's Garden Center and Greenhouse

Culver's Garden Center and Greenhouse makes outdoor living dreams come to life. Stroll through the gardens, nursery, greenhouse and gift shop for inspiration and see why Culver's grown plants are 'Bigger Blooming and Better Performing!'

1682 Dubuque Rd., Marion; (319) 377-4195; Culverslandscape.com