Any successful garden begins with a plan that ensures the plants get everything they need to survive and creates a compatible environment for different species of plants to thrive in harmony. However, many new gardeners are intimidated by the idea of an organic vegetable garden plan, because they are unsure of where to begin. Creating a plan for your crops can be as simple as complex as you like; from a sketch on a piece of scratch paper to a complete computer program that offers graphics and precise measurements to complete your process. The most important component of an organic vegetable garden plan is the selection of plants that will thrive in your environment and work well with one another.

Finding Compatibility

It isn't hard to incorporate native plants into your organic vegetable garden plan. A simple trip to your local nursery or extension office should provide a list of plants that do well in your particular environment and those that do not. In fact, local nurseries will most likely carry species that are more likely to do well in your area. It is when you begin shopping through mail order companies that you will need to be familiar with the plants that are better suited to your climate.

It is also important to choose plants that work well together when designing your organic vegetable garden plan. For example, corn can provide sturdy stalks for bean vines to wind around, and the beans will release nitrogen that the corn needs to thrive. Some plants are early bloomers, and can be placed in the same area as the later species, since there won't be a risk of one plant taking all the water, nutrients and space from the other. Crop rotation is another component of an organic vegetable garden plan that will ensure the soil has the nutrients each plant needs without having to add much fertilizer during the growing season.

Considering Needs

As you are drawing up your organic vegetable garden plan, it is also a good idea to take the needs of the plants into consideration. For example, if you are planting a lot of sun-loving crops, you want to make sure that your garden area is not in full shade most of the hours of the day. You can begin preparing your organic vegetable garden soil with the addition of a compost heap that will be ready by spring. If wildlife or pets are a concern, consider fencing around your beds to keep critters out. It is also important to make sure your organic vegetable garden plan has a method for irrigation nearby or installed directly into the beds.

An organic vegetable garden plan is essential in ensuring the success of your garden. So when the wind is blowing and the snow is falling, bring a little spring into your home by creating an organic vegetable garden plan. Growing season will be here before you know it.