Garden Space, LLC:
Aspiring Food Growers

Prepare soil for a garden by using a mixture of topsoil, compost, specialized plant soil amendments, and maybe some manure.

A general rule of thumb is 4–8 hours of direct sunlight is great for a healthy garden. Most leafy vegetables need the least amount of sunlight (about 4 hours), and your root vegetables, like carrots and beets, will need a good 6 hours. Your vines, melons, and fruit veggies, like tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers, will need the most sunlight.

Use a rake or hand fork or whatever tool you have to loosen the soil. Break apart large soil clumps and remove debris, such as rocks and roots. Add amendments to the soil, such as fertilizer and organic matter, to create the most ideal growing situation. Finish by creating a level surface.

The rule of thumb is to plant at a depth equal to three times the seed diameter. There are exceptions. Some seeds require light to germinate and should rest on top of the soil; press such seeds firmly against the soil to ensure moisture cradles the seed. Each type of seed has different methods of seeding.

There is a lot of time that goes into your garden. Typically, 20 mins a day is enough time to maintain your garden, about 1 min per sq. ft.