[...]... possibilities for using vegetables as houseplants are discussed in the description of individual vegetables in Part 2 Gardening in a greenhouse: A refuge for plants and gardener With a greenhouse you can garden all year around and experiment with ail kinds of plants that you have little chance of growing out in the open garden A greenhouse is also a nice, cozy, private place for the gardener whose gardening time... But basically, any plant that will grow in your garden will also grow on your balcony or patio Extending your garden indoors If you don't have a garden or even a balcony, you can still have a container vegetable garden Don't underestimate the number of vegetables that can be grown successfully indoors Near a bright window that is not too warm, leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, parsley, and chives,... have a small garden to begin with or if you're gardening on a patio or balcony The larger your garden, the more time and work it's going to need, so unless you're already hooked on gardening, it's probably better to start small and let your garden size increase as your interest in gardening and confidence in your ability develops Before you decide the exact dimensions, look at the list of the vegetables... gardening It's the age of technology, and you can have your entire garden planned by a computer The computer uses some basic information that you supply about your garden and develops a complete, easy-to-use plan that includes all the information the novice gardener needs to grow a vegetable garden The only problem involved in having your garden planned by a computer is finding out who offers the service... that does You may also find such services advertised in gardening magazines CONTAINER GARDENING In areas where there is little or no space, a wellorganized container garden can produce substantial vegetables A point to remember about container gardening: The small volume of soil in a raised bed will warm up faster in spring than the soil in your open garden This gives you a longer growing season, because... GETTING YOUR GARDEN ON PAPER By this time you've put a lot of thought into your garden plan, and you've got some vital information and dates on paper — the names of the varieties you're going to plant and your planting and harvest dates Now comes the real paperwork The size of your garden depends on your interest in gardening and how much time you're going to be able to give to the garden Some gardeners... garden plan doesn't have to be a work of art — just a working document Drawing to scale, however, is helpful A commonly used scale is one inch on paper to eight feet of garden space — adapt the scale to whatever is easiest for you Draw up a simple plot plan giving your garden' s measurements in all directions Remember there's no law that says a garden has to be square or rectangular Your vegetable garden. .. areas, get down to detail Use the accompanying illustrations as a guide, and divide the plot among the vegetables you want to grow The individual descriptions of vegetables in Part 2 give detailed information on the amount of space each vegetable needs for growth For a quick check on spacing refer to the chart at the end of "Planting Your Garden. " Don't try to economize on space — better a smaller number... plants than a lot of starved ones Using your space efficiently Take care in placing the vegetables Place the taller plants on the north or northeast side of the garden so that as they grow they won't shade the rest of the garden In a large garden where you've got plenty of space, the most convenient way to lay out the vegetables is in rows and hills Straight rows and hills are easier to water, weed, cultivate,... show the garden at planting time in the spring; the second will show the garden in the summer; and the third will show the garden in the fall These plans will reflect the changes that take place in your garden when you harvest early crops and replace them with new plantings Make two copies of plans; keep one set inside where the plans will stay dry, clean/and legible Use the other set in the garden — . your garden and develops a complete, easy-to-use plan that includes all the information the novice gardener needs to grow a vegetable garden. The only problem involved in having your garden. in your garden will also grow on your balcony or patio. Extending your garden indoors If you don't have a garden or even a balcony, you can still have a container vegetable garden. Don't. using vegetables as houseplants are discussed in the description of individual vegetables in Part 2. Gardening in a greenhouse: A refuge for plants and gardener With a greenhouse you can garden