Article by Dave Truman

Everyone knows there are many benefits from having your own garden. Feeling a sense of pride as you watch the fruits (or vegetables, as the case may be) of your labor begin to flourish is just one of them. And your garden doesn’t ever have to be boring or the same year after year. Discover five vegetable garden ideas that will give you something creative to try for your next planting.

Plant a pizza gardenVegetable gardening with a theme can be great fun for all ages. A theme garden is the perfect way to get the kids outside enjoying nature. Involving them will provide a sense of responsibility as well as accomplishment as harvest time draws near. Plus, it’s a great way to get them to eat more veggies! For a pizza garden, plant foods such as tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, onions and a host of herbs and seasonings like basil, oregano and thyme. Other theme ideas to try are stir-fry or salsa gardens.

Ornamental vegetable gardeningMany people use vibrant flowers and shrubs to brighten and beautify their outdoor spaces. By using vegetables for this same purpose, you’ll not only have the curb appeal, you’ll reap the rewards of having your own supply of produce! Using a variety of delicious veggies, you can achieve colorful patterns and designs, line walkways and driveways and plant them just as you would flowers.

Rainbow gardenVegetable gardening is also ideal for artistically expressing yourself in a unique way. If you have a favorite, signature color or perhaps even three or four, consider planting based on these colors. This is an easy way to try new things while creating an appealing garden retreat. Mix hues that you might never use when decorating indoors and experiment with an array of color combinations. Why grow ordinary green peppers when you can choose from crimsons, oranges, yellows or even violet? You may be surprised at the assortment of colors produced by some of the most common vegetables. Eggplant, tomatoes, beans, even beets all can be wonderful additions to your rainbow garden since they all can be grown in several shades and hues. Planting purple beans and white carrots surrounded by pink tomatoes create a lovely display that’s as pleasing to the eye as it is the palate.

Organic gardening can be healthier as well as cheaperAvoiding the use of chemicals and commercially produced fertilizers and pesticides are a way to achieve better tasting vegetables. Without these unsavory additions, you’ll notice the freshness and enjoy food the way nature intended. Organic gardening isn’t as difficult as some may think. In fact, it’s relatively simple to grow a healthy, bountiful crop. There are several reasonably priced products available today as well as a plethora of homemade concoctions to try without spending a fortune.

A garden of greenPerhaps colors and themes are of no interest to you, maybe it’s profiting from your garden that’s more important. In that case, decide on what would thrive best based on the amount of space, soil, lighting and drainage conditions of your garden. You could offer the usual fare of vegetables or you could specialize in certain types, ones that may be harder to find in the grocery stores.

The size or type of your crop doesn’t matter quite as much as the care and dedication it needs to make it plentiful. So, decide on a plan and use one of these ideas to liven up your outdoor space and make it truly your own.

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