- 1). Prepare the soil in fall, well ahead of spring planting. Dig up and turn under old vegetation with a shovel to let it decompose over the winter, releasing nutrients. Add a 3-inch layer of organic compost or aged manure and turn that under, too. Amend clay soils with a 2-inch layer of peat to improve drainage. Till the entire planting area to a depth of at least 8 inches, then leave it for the winter.
- 2). Select seeds in late winter, planning your garden by reading seed packets for spacing requirements. Vegetables with plenty of space grow large, while overcrowded ones become spindly and small.
- 3). Water the garden thoroughly before planting in spring, after all threat of frost is past. Sow seeds, paying careful attention to their depth and spacing. Seeds will not germinate, much less grow, if planted too deep. Space rows of carrots, corn, peas, beans and tomatoes and hills of vining vegetables like cucumber, pumpkin and squash well apart to give them plenty of room.
- 4). Thin seedlings when they sprout. For instance, the seeds of radishes, carrots and lettuce are too small to plant individually, so they must be thinned to grow large, above ground or below. Thin out the weakest seedlings, leaving the healthiest to grow as large and succulent as they can.
- 5). Water vegetables whenever soil is dry to the depth of the second knuckle on your index finger. Watermelons, squash, cucumbers, eggplant and corn need large amounts of water to produce and ripen for harvest. Fertilize according to package instructions, but the University of Minnesota Extension recommends that you don't overdo it. Too much nitrogen can cause a burst of leaf growth, but stunt blossoms that produce the huge vegetables you're after.
- 6). Cultivate soil every two weeks, digging near the base of plants to keep soil aerated and roots growing freely. Compacted soil can cause water and fertilizer to run off instead of penetrating to roots. Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch around plants to suppress weeds, hold moisture and regulate soil temperature. Don't let it touch the root crowns of plants where it can cause rot.
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