Home grown vegetables are superior to grocery store produce by anyone's standard, both in freshness and flavor. You can head out to the garden and pick your vegetables just before you are ready to eat, at the peak of ripeness. You'll save money and your family (and lucky neighbors) will love the results. Here's a quick primer on the basics of planning a vegetable garden. If you've not grown your own vegetables, give it a try!

Start out small. It's easy to let your enthusiasm run wild, wanting to plant all of your favorites. The problem comes when you find yourself overwhelmed by the time required to maintain a huge garden. Find one growing season of experience to get an idea of the tasks involved and the time you need to take care of your garden. A good size for the first-timer is about 4' x 8'. A small patio garden is easy to manage, even when filled to capacity.

When planning a vegetable garden, your first decisions are growing location, layout and kind of bed. Most vegetables require a southern exposure with at least eight hours of sun, plan accordingly. Raised beds are easy to work and drain well. Lining the bottom of the frame with wire mesh provides protection from annoying pests.

You have a little more setup expense in building the frame and filling the bed, but in the long run, you'll have less work and better results. If you choose to dig the ground directly, digging to a depth of 24 inches is recommended for the most friable soil and best drainage. If you're growing in pots, use oak half-barrels or similar sized containers. Consult your nursery owner for veggie varieties that grow well in your area.

Prepare your soil thoroughly. You should be able to gently squeeze a big handful and have it just barely hold its form, then easily crumble as you sift it through your hands. Get a soil test kit and make any adjustments to correct for too acid or alkaline soil.

Planning a vegetable garden for maximum yield includes considering interplanting, a technique that allows you to grow two crops in sequence in the same space. For example, carrots and radishes may be planted with a row of lettuce. The carrots and radishes will be ready by the time the lettuce fills out the garden.

Knowledge of companion planting is also useful when planning a vegetable garden. Some vegetables grow more vigorously when planted with another particular plant. For instance, tomatoes and basil are good companions, producing better tomatoes, tastier basil and provide natural protection from pests. You also want to know what not to plant in proximity. Gladiolas shouldn't be planted anywhere near tomatoes! Your tomatoes will not thrive!

Planning a vegetable garden is almost as much fun as growing and harvesting the delectable fruits. Start small, do your research, apply TLC generously and watch your garden grow!