Growing a Vegetable Garden in North
Texas
Adam Kemp, Benjamin Wright, Stephanie Tamez, Dat Nguyen, Joseph James, Vraylantra Steptoe
Table of Contents
ii
Table of Contents
Contents
Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... ii
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. iii
Items Needed .......................................................................................................................................... iii
Selecting a Location for Your Vegetable Garden .......................................................................................... 2
Before selecting a location........................................................................................................................ 2
Building a Raised Garden Bed ....................................................................................................................... 5
Planting ....................................................................................................................................................... 12
Maintaining Your Garden............................................................................................................................ 14
Harvesting ................................................................................................................................................... 21
When to harvest ..................................................................................................................................... 21
How to harvest ........................................................................................................................................ 21
Warnings ................................................................................................................................................. 21
Storage .................................................................................................................................................... 22
Preparing Your Garden for Next Season ..................................................................................................... 25
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 29
Table of Contents
iii
Introduction
Growing a vegetable garden in North Texas is a very rewarding process! The wide
variety of weather and conditions makes it possible to plant many types of vegetables. In this
manual, you will learn how to select the best location for your garden, how to build a raised
garden bed to help you plant your crops, plant your vegetable garden before season, how to
maintain your vegetable garden while your crops are growing during season, how to harvest
your crops after season, and how to prepare your garden so you will be ready for next season.
Items Needed
Construction Materials Needed
Gardening Material
3-inch deck screws
4-foot level
Electric Drill
Framing Square
Garden soil
Jigsaw or Circular Saw
One 8-foot length of 2x10 cedar
Two 10-foot lengths of 2x4 cedar
Two 10-foot lengths of 2x10 cedar
Sledge Hammer
Compost
Gloves
Grass clippings for mulch
Rake
Small shovel
Vegetable fertilizer
Vegetable seeds or seedlings
Water Bucket
1
2
Selecting a Location for Your Vegetable Garden
Before you begin to grow your own vegetable garden it is extremely important to pick
the best location for your garden. Location is very important; you cannot be an efficient
gardener if the spot you choose does not help grow your garden.
Consider the following points when picking a location

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Sunlight-6 hours a day.
Soil Type-all natural soil.
Water- easy access water source.
Convenience-easy to get to.
Garden Size-how much you want to plant, try to keep each plant around 3 feet apart
from each other in the beginning.
Variety Selection-have multiple spots before deciding on where to plant your garden.
Before selecting a location

Observe certain spots that you want to plant to make sure the sun hits the spot at least
6 hours a day.

Make sure the soil is rich in all-natural and well drained area so your garden does not
get swampy.

Make sure it is near an accessible water source.

Pick a spot that is convenient for you.

Have a variety of spots when deciding where to plant. Pick the spot that best fits the
criteria above

Sketch what you want your garden to look like on a piece of paper so you can get a basic
understanding of how to prepare it.
Warnings

Do not place your location near competing trees and shrubs that require water because
they will absorb the water for your garden.

Keep your garden out of reach of animals and other humans. This will help protect your
garden.
3
Picking your location may seem like an unimportant step but it is actually one of the more
important steps. You cannot grow a garden if the location does not receive sunlight or
water. When deciding which spot to go with consider the following points to be able to have
the greatest result.
4
Building a Raised Garden Bed
Building a Raised Garden Bed
A raised garden bed will allow gardeners avoid many problems associated with poor
native soil. By building a raised garden bed, gardeners can actively select and control the
composition and ingredients of the soil used for planting. Garden beds warm more quickly in
the spring, allowing for plants to be planted earlier. The raised construction will reduce strain
on the body when working on the garden and will allow easier access to the plants without
stepping on the garden soil.
For convenience and time savings, premade raised beds can be bought at your local
gardening/ home improvement store.
If you decide to build your own this section will instruct you on how to build a raised
garden bed four feet wide and ten feet long. The construction of this project should be
accomplished in 1-2 hours, depending on the experience of the builder.
1. Cut the boards
Cut one 8 foot 2x10 in half with your circular saw or jigsaw. These two pieces will
become the two short sides of your raised bed.
Danger
 When operating power tools, always wear
goggles, gloves, and ear plugs.
 Be cautious of moving blade.
 Keep all cords free from cutting area.
5
Building a Raised Garden Bed
2. Assemble the Frame
Hold one of the 10-foot 2x10s on its edge, and butt the end of a 4-foot 2x10 up to it so
that the face of the longer board overlaps the end of the shorter board. Using the drill/driver,
sink three 3-inch screws through the face of the long side and into the end of the short side.
Attach the other sides together, using three 3-inch screws on each corner and
overlapping the long sides over the short sides.
6
Building a Raised Garden Bed
7
2. Square the Frame
With the four sides assembled, place a framing square in each corner, one at a time, and
adjust the frame until the corner lines up square. After aligning the entire frame, check all four
corners again with the framing square
Building a Raised Garden Bed
3. Brace the Corners
Leaving the corners perfectly square tack scrap lumber across each one with 3-inch
screws to hold it in position.
8
Building a Raised Garden Bed
4. Level the frame
Set the frame back in place over the tilled area. Using a 4-foot level, check the position
of the frame. Dig out the soil beneath the frame until it sits level on all sides.
9
Building a Raised Garden Bed
10
5. Stake the Frame
Cut ten 2-foot-long pieces of 2x4. Make two diagonal cuts on one end of each piece to
create a point. Using a sledgehammer, drive these stakes at least 18 inches into the ground
along the outside of the long sides of the frame at 2½-foot intervals. Using the drill/driver,
secure each stake to the frame with three 3-inch screws.
Remove the temporary corner braces. Drive a stake inside each corner. On one short
side of the bed, secure the stakes with screws driven through the frame on both sides of each
corner. On the other short side, leave the screws off.
The construction of the raised bed is now finished. The cedar boards will create a
natural aromatic scent that will fill that air as they age. Your new raised bed will last you 10-12
years before they need to be replace. Fill the raised bed with the soil of your choice and enjoy
the fresh vegetables your new garden will provide.
11
12
Planting
Planting vegetable seeds is very enjoyable; all you have to do is buy the seeds that you
desire. Wait until it’s the perfect time to plant and then tend to your plant till it is time to
harvest them. And it all starts with the seeds you plant.
1. Preparing

To start you must get the soil ready, soften it with water.
2. Planting

Dig holes to place seeds or seedlings. (Optional: you can place compost in the
hole before planning seed, if so, place about two inches of compost.)
o For Cucumbers: Dig 1 inch, (if using compost, 3 inches), and place each hole 5
to 10 inches apart.
o For Jalapenos: Dig 1 inch, (if using compost, 3 inches), and place 14 to 16
inches apart by hole, and 2 to 3 feet by row.
o For Tomatoes: Dig 1 inch, (if using compost, 3 inches), and place 5 to 10
inches apart.
3. Tending
Replace soil over seeds, or replace soil around seedlings, then water the soil and keep
tending to your plants.
Troubleshooting:

If it is too cold to plant, wait until the weather starts to heat up. Also make sure to check
when it’s the right time to plant the seeds.

If the ground it too hard to dig through sprinkle water on it, wait a minute to let the
water seep through the ground and then you can start digging. If the ground is still too
hard to dig for your liking repeat the process.
13
Maintaining Your Garden
You do not have to be an expert in gardening or have a background in it to decide that
you want to take care of a vegetable garden. All you need are a few gardening 101 tips to
jumpstart your knowledge. Once you understand the type of environment, amount of food,
amount of water and level of sustainability the plants need to produce tasty food you will be
good to go.
1. Choose locally adaptive varieties
Not all vegetable varieties grow well in all areas. Ask your local nursery which varieties
are best for where you live.
2. Choose a good location
One of the most important ingredients for a vegetable garden is sun. You need at least
6 hours of full-strength sun for most vegetable plants.
3. Plant at the right time of year
4. Start small
Try starting with one or two beds to begin with so you can build up your skill level and
knowledge base as you expand.
5. Create a raised bed
Most soils in the DFW area are hard to deal with. It is possible to amend the soil, but it
generally takes a good deal of time and effort (and maybe money) to do this. The quick and
easy solution is to do this.
6. Prepare the soil before planting
Work generous amounts of organic matter such as compost or composted manure into
the soil.
7. Water consistently
8. Fertilize regularly
Maintaining Your Garden
15
9. Mulch
Apply a 2 to 3 inch layer of organic matter applied over the roots of your vegetable
plants will cool the soil, reduce weeds, and help prevent soil moisture fluctuations that ruin
quality.
10. Eliminate weeds
Weeds compete with vegetables for water, nutrients and sunlight, thus reducing yields.
Pull weeds by hand and cultivate the soil frequently to keep them to a minimum.
11. Harvest often
Many vegetables, especially squash, peppers and cucumbers, will stop producing if not
harvested frequently. Pick them every few days and if you can’t eat everything that you gather,
share it with someone!
12. Control pests
Many insects like fresh vegetables as well so always keep an eye open for insect
damage, and protect your plants with a solution labeled for use on vegetables.
Remember to pay close attention to your garden daily and if you take responsibility of
your garden the results will be rewarding. There is no doubt about the fact that the food you
are growing in your backyard is way more nutritious and tasty than what you can buy in a store!
Maintaining Your Garden
16
TROUBLESHOOTING

Choosing locally adaptive varieties and planting at the right time of year: cool season
crops (months of September through May) asparagus, broccoli, swiss chard, cabbage,
carrots, leeks, peas, lettuce, collards, arugula, mustard greens. Warm season: beans,
cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, squash, tomatoes.

Choosing a good location: make sure you cut down any trees or plants that may get in
the way of the crops sunlight; also the vegetables need plenty of room to grow.
Maintaining Your Garden
17

for more help on building and installing a raised bed visit
http://northtexasvegetablegardeners.com/blog/2012/03/11/how-to-build-a-citizengardener-raised-bed/ and
http://northtexasvegetablegardeners.com/blog/2012/04/09/how-to-install-a-raisedbed/

To prepare the soil make sure you add about two inches of mulch on top to keep the soil
moist. Water until the soil is moist (not wet) at least six inches deep.
19
Harvesting
21
Harvesting
It is extremely important that when harvesting you are extremely delicate when picking
the vegetables. Also make sure when determining when to pick the vegetables that it is the
right time to do so. For simplicity this will use sweet corn as an example.
When to harvest
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Corn stem will be around 5-8 ft in height.
The corn will either be a milky yellow or a white.
Tassels begin to turn brown.
How to harvest
1. Before picking the corn pull back the covering over the corn to check for freshness and
for pest.
2. If it passes test take the corn in both hands
3. Then pull in a downwards motion with the corn in both hands till corn disconnects from
stem.
4. Repeat previous steps for rest of the stem.
5. After stem is empty stump out the stem and dispose of it.
Warnings

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When picking be careful not to bruise the plant by being too rough with the plant.
Do not accidently stump on the plant.
Be careful not to pull too hard on the corn.
Also make sure to stump out the stem only after all corn kernels are removed not doing
so will lead to maturity problems and dying soil.
Harvesting
Storage
Since the corn has been harvested, it is time to store the plant. When storing the corn,
freeze immediately or dry.
Dry Corn:
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Store in a dry area.
Use within 3-8 weeks.
Loses sweetness the longer it is in storage.
Frozen Corn:
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Keep in a cold, freezer-like area.
Keep in moist area.
Loses sweetness the longer it is in storage.
22
23
Preparing for Next Season
25
Preparing Your Garden for Next Season
At the end of the growing season, it is important that you prepare your garden for the
winter and the next growing season. Proper preparation of your garden will make the next
growing season less susceptible to plant disease and bug problems. For all of the vegetables
outlined in this guide, you will have to remove them for next growing season.
1. Clear out old plants.
Grasp the plant as close to the ground as possible and pull slowly and steadily. If
you accidentally break the stem, use a trowel to dig out the plant. Leaving the discarded
plants on the surface will allow them to decompose and make more efficient soil for the
next growing season!
2. Replace the soil.
After you have removed the vegetable plants, you should add new, nitrogeninfused soil to replenish the nourishment used by the last growing season. Add an even
layer with about a 1 inch depth over the entire garden.
3. Add mulch.
On top of the soil, you should next spread a layer of mulch. This will help the
garden to retain moisture and nutrition during the fall and winter.
Preparing for Next Season
Preparing your vegetable garden may seem like a tedious step, but you should not
overlook it. Proper preparation is imperative for a healthy garden next season. Also, take
advantage at the end of your growing season to reflect on what did and did not work. Were
your tomatoes overshadowing your cucumbers? Or did your garden not receive sufficient
sunlight? With each season, you will be able to improve and modify your garden to produce a
more bountiful harvest.
26
27
Conclusion
29
Conclusion
The gardening process is tedious but very rewarding. The steps outlined in this guide will
help you to have an enjoyable time growing vegetables. If your crop does not yield much
harvest the first year, do not give up! Every continuous year, your garden will yield more crops
and will taste even more delicious. Good luck and happy growing!
TROUBLESHOOTING






If it is too cold to plant, wait until the weather starts to heat up. Also make sure to check when
it’s the right time to plant the seeds.
If the ground it too hard to dig through sprinkle water on it, wait a minute to let the water seep
through the ground and then you can start digging. If the ground is still too hard to dig for your
liking repeat the process.
Choosing locally adaptive varieties and planting at the right time of year: cool season crops
(months of September through May) asparagus, broccoli, swiss chard, cabbage, carrots, leeks,
peas, lettuce, collards, arugula, mustard greens. Warm season: beans, cucumbers, eggplant,
okra, peppers, squash, tomatoes.
Choosing a good location: make sure you cut down any trees or plants that may get in the way
of the crops sunlight; also the vegetables need plenty of room to grow.
for more help on building and installing a raised bed visit
http://northtexasvegetablegardeners.com/blog/2012/03/11/how-to-build-a-citizen-gardenerraised-bed/ and http://northtexasvegetablegardeners.com/blog/2012/04/09/how-to-install-araised-bed/
To prepare the soil make sure you add about two inches of mulch on top to keep the soil moist.
Water until the soil is moist (not wet) at least six inches deep.
Index
30
Index
Dig, 9, 12
Dry Corn, 22
Frozen Corn, 22
harvest, ii, iii, 12, 21, 26, 29
level, iii, 9, 15
locally adaptive, 15
location, ii, iii, 2, 3, 15, 17, 29
Planting, ii, 12
seed, 12
seeds, iii, 12, 29
Size, 2
square, 7, 8
Storage, 22
tend, 12
water source, 2