Growing from seed is the most elemental part of vegetable gardening, and I want to take a look at the overall process, hopefully giving new gardeners something to think about.
While quite a few vegetables are easier to grow from sets and cuttings, in most cases you will be growing from seeds.
The first thing to determine, if possible, is the most appropriate soil type for the vegetable you want to plant.
A quick check on Google or in any gardening book will soon provide the answer.
Once you have your soil, you'll want to prepare it, turning it over and removing any stones or rocks that might be present.
The gaps in soil that has been turned over make it easier for roots to grow, and for water to drain through, and removing the stones prevents the roots from being blocked as they spread.
Next, you'll make holes for the seeds.
Again, there's a huge variance between plants when it comes to how deep the hole needs to be - leek seeds for example require shallow holes a quarter of an inch deep, while radish seeds require deeper holes of up to 6 inches.
The distance you'll need to put between the holes largely depends on the size of the plant fully grown, as well as how much space the roots need to spread, and this is something you'll have to research before you begin.
Sometimes, it is beneficial to start growing the seeds in containers, and then plant them in the ground once they are established.
This makes it easier to water them, usually minimizes competition with weeds, and protects them from the weather when they're at their most vulnerable.
Once the seeds are planted, the growing phase begins.
Often, the only maintenance you'll have to perform is regular watering (plants obviously need water to grow!), and weeding - weeds absorb nutrients and water from the soil that would otherwise be used by your vegetables.
If you would like to read more about growing from seed, including tips on growing from carrot seeds, onion seeds, radish seeds and leek seeds, visit my website.