Planning a vegetable garden is not like building a house, or even a garage where you can buy a set of blueprints to follow. However, common sense in the type of plants you want to grow, and what their needs are, can help devise vegetable garden plans that help insure success. All plants need plenty of sunshine along with the right food and water and one of the main focuses of your vegetable garden plans should be in which direction the garden grows to allow it to make full use of the sun.

In the northern hemisphere, most of the sunlight is directed from the south and when considering vegetable garden plans the rows should run from north to south to take advantage of this knowledge. Plants that will be taller at maturity such as corn or even beans and peas that will be vined onto a fence should be located on the north end of the garden. Taller plants can shade smaller plants, which should be on the south end of the garden, with the rows running north to south.

Soil that is hard will make it difficult for the plants' root systems to become established and can stint their growth, much the same as having them grow in a small pot. Soil that is worked properly should be part of the preliminary vegetable garden plans, being a major part of the success of the yield.

Know The Needs Of Individual Plants

All plants will require food and water, just like you and knowing when to use the different types of food as well as how much water, can make your vegetable garden plans complete, allowing for a bumper crop. Some of the process is simple common sense such as melons and other juicy type of vegetables will require more water than some of the others, such as potatoes and onions, growing under ground.

Devising a watering system or at least an appropriate schedule will insure the plants receive the correct amount of water for healthy growth. If you plan to use raised beds as part of your vegetable garden plans, you will need to make sure you allow for proper drainage, in the event Mother Nature decides to help with your watering plans. You will also want your vegetable garden plans to include protection against soil erosion to keep your garden from washing out or even flooding in the event of heavy storms.