During this time of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic stay-at-home and social distancing, now is the perfect year to start vegetable gardening.

Nothing’s better than eating a tomato or lettuce just picked from your own garden.

Plus, gardening is very therapeutic. Working outside in the fresh air, getting exercise, a good family activity, even being able to save money at the grocery store are all really great stress-relieving reasons to garden.

When planning your garden, it’s important to ask yourself a few basic questions:

- Who will be doing the work?

- Will the garden be a group project with family members who will work willingly through the season to a fall harvest or will you be handling the hoe yourself? Remember, a small, weed-free garden will produce more than a large weedy mess.

- What should you plant?

- What do you and your family like to eat?

Make a list of your family’s favorite vegetables, ranked in order of preference. This will make a useful guide in deciding how much to plant of each.

Successive plantings of certain crops, such as beans, will give a longer harvest period and increase your yield.

When you plan your garden plot, group the plants by length of growing period.

Plant spring crops together so that later crops can be planted in these areas when the early crops mature.

Consider the length of harvest as well as time to maturity. Place perennial crops to the side of the garden where they will not be disturbed by annual tillage.

How much space is available? That is, how much area can be converted into usable garden space, not simply how much empty ground is available.

Plan the garden on paper first. Draw a map showing arrangement and spacing of crops.

If you wish to keep the garden growing all season, you may need a spring, summer and fall garden plan. In your plan, place tall and trellised crops on the north side of the garden so they won’t shade the shorter vegetables.

Avoid placing the garden in low spots, at the base of a hill or at the foot of a slope bordered by a solid fence. Such areas are slow to warm up in the spring and frost settles in these places since cold air naturally drains into low areas.

Vegetables grow best in a level area with loose, well-drained soil and at least six hours of sun (eight to 10 hours is ideal).

Avoid windy locations. If you must plant in a windy spot, build or plant a windbreak.

Locate your garden near a good and easily accessible supply of water, if possible.

Avoid planting near trees and shrubs. They compete for nutrients and water and may cause excessive shade. Never plant your vegetable garden near a black walnut tree.

Try not to plant related vegetables in exactly the same location in the garden more often than once in three years. Rotation prevents the buildup of insects and disease. Use previous years’ plans as guides for rotating crops.

As a general rule, vegetable and flower seeds should be covered about four to five times their lateral diameter or width (not their length).

Soil temperature has an effect on the speed of germination. In the spring, soil is often cold and seeds of some plants will rot before they have a chance to sprout. Check seed packets for information on planting dates.

If this is your first time at gardening, herbs might be the way to go. Herbs are, in general, very easy to grow. They are quite free from damage by diseases and insects. A bountiful harvested can be secured with a minimum of care.

Spotted lanternfly: With the warm winter weather, when will the spotted lanternfly emerge from their egg masses? Go to:

https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly, or call 1-888-4BADFLY for up-to-date and comprehensive information on spotted lanternfly and management options.

“Growing Green” is contributed by Lehigh County Extension Office Staff and Master Gardeners. Information: Lehigh County Extension Office, 610-391-9840; Northampton County Extension Office, 610-813-6613.