Designing a vegetable or herb garden can be mouthwatering. Imagine the ability to walk out to your own garden and clip some fresh basil or hand pick a ripe tomato for your dinner. It is the most fresh and tastiest way to get your vegetables and herbs. You don't need to have a huge garden to grow a few vegetables and herbs. You can grow them in flowerpots and hang them from your windowsill or sit them on your front porch. If you want lots of vegetables you could transform your back yard into your own produce section. Growing fresh herbs are not only tasty but are very fragrant as well, pot some basil on your kitchen windowsill and enjoy the aroma.

As with any gardening or planting selections it is important to know the need of the plants. You must do proper research on the plants you have, a few factors that you must consider when making your selections are:

• Does the plant need a trellis for proper growth, such as peas and beans?
• Does your plant require direct or indirect sunlight?
• How often to water your plants?
• Which plants work best when growing beside one another?
• Which plants must you create mounds for proper growth, such as cucumbers, pumpkins, and melons?

Asking yourself these 5 questions will help you make the right decisions when choosing your herbs and vegetables. They also help you plan the layout of the placement of the planting as well.

Vegetable gardens - Some basic vegetables that grow beautifully in backyard gardens, growing time, and what time of year to plant:

• Tomatoes - May 5-7weeks
• Cantaloupe - May 3-4 weeks
• Beans - April 5-7 weeks
• Corn - April 3-4 weeks
• Asparagus - November to March 8-10 weeks
• Cabbage - August 5-7 weeks
• Potatoes - March 5-7 weeks
• Lettuce and Spinach - August 5-7 weeks
• Cucumber - May 3-4 weeks
• Broccoli - March 5-7 weeks

It is very important to water your vegetables properly and to pick them when they are ripe. Growing a vegetable garden can be fun and great for the whole family, but it will take time and energy. The stress release of planting and gardening and the delicious vegetables are worth the trouble.

Herb gardens - Herbs are more low maintenance to grow than vegetables. The herbs most commonly used in herb gardens are:

• Mint - Grows in 10 to 15 days and grows up to 2 ft tall and plant 12 inches apart.
• Sage - Grows in 14 days and grows 2 ft tall and should be placed 12 inches apart.
• Thyme - Grows in 21 to 30 days and grows to 12 inches and should be spaced 8 inches apart.
• Basil - Grows in 7 to 10 days and grows 18 inches tall and space 12 inches apart.
• Chives - Grows in 10 days and grows 12 inches tall and space 6 inches apart
• Dill - Grows in 7 to 10 days and grows 2.5 feet and space 4 inches apart.
• Marjoram - Grows in 7-10 days and grows 12 inches high and space 6 inches apart.

Growing your own vegetables and herbs is not only a wonderful way to save on your food bill every month, but also a wonderful way to relax and enjoy nature. Keep in mind these simple tips and ask your self the 6 main questions and they will help give you a green thumb.