The right spot and the right soil are the two basic requirements for successful vegetable gardening. In general, vegetables need a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day. They also like well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter.

The first requirement means you will need to find a place in your garden with enough sunlight throughout the growing season. The second requirement can be met with soil amendments or, if your soil is very difficult, by growing in raised beds. See the FREE HomeTips DIY article Build a Raised Garden Bed.

Start by breaking up the soil in the area where you want to plant. Even if your soil conditions are ideal, add a generous amount of compost (3 to 4 inches the first year; 1 to 2 inches the following years) to the soil along with a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium.

Aged dry poultry manure or steer manure are also good choices, but use them sparingly. They tend to be high in salts, so if you can work them into the soil about a month before you plan to plant, it will allow the excess salt some time to leach out of the planting area. For clay soils, wood products can help break up and lighten it. Check to see if nitrogen has been added to your product; if not, you'll need to add nitrogen to the soil as well.

Use a spading fork to work the amendments into the soil. Once you've added the amendments, level the bed and break up any clods. Water thoroughly and let the soil settle before you plant.