Exciting times ahead — you are going to have a vegetable garden! The site of your vegetable garden is, perhaps, the most important decision you will make in home gardening.

Direct sun, soil quality, slope and/or drainage of the site, access to water and access to the garden site are all critical to the success of your vegetable garden. These are in order of “descending importance” but even the last one is an important consideration.

The majority of vegetable crops require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day, so locate your garden for maximum exposure to available sunlight. Remember that the angle of the sun’s path during the summer months is different than the angle in the winter months. Consider the proximity and future height of trees on your property and neighboring properties. Conifers grow rapidly in the Pacific Northwest and can dramatically impact the productivity of your vegetable garden.

Vegetables need fertile soil. You will want to do a soil test to determine soil fertility. The Clallam Conservation District performs soil tests for $20 for local residents. Fertilizers and other specific nutrients can be added to improve soil fertility. The soil test will indicate both what and how much of the various amendments are needed.

If you are in an area where soils may be contaminated with heavy metals from heavy industry or old orchard practices, consult with the WSU Extension office in Port Angeles, health department or Environmental Protection Agency about how to conduct a soil test.

In addition to fertile soil, vegetables require well-drained soil. If you live in an area that receives heavy rainfall and/or has underground springs, soil drainage is especially important. Select a location with enough slope for surface drainage and/or sufficient subsoil permeability to allow water to drain through. Adding organic matter (compost) can improve the permeability and structure of your soil.

Summer rainfall in the Northwest is minimal so you will need to water your vegetable garden. Locate your garden close to a water source.

Typically, a well-attended garden is a productive garden. Locate your garden where you will be able to tend and enjoy it. Placing the garden near the house will make it easier for most gardeners to get into the garden.

Establishing and tending a garden can be therapeutic and a time to enjoy being outdoors. By selecting the right site for your vegetable garden, your work will be easier and your garden more productive!

Interested in learning more about gardening in the Pacific Northwest? WSU Extension has a large number of publications on a variety of gardening topics. Many of the publications can be downloaded free of charge from https://pubs.wsu.edu/ListCategories.aspx?TopicID=6.

Pearl of wisdom

If you cannot find a planting site with all of the desirable characteristics, consider container gardening. Just about any vegetable can be grown in a pot, although some (such as tomatoes and vining crops) require large containers. You can fill containers with high quality soil and move them to take advantage of available sunlight.

Judy English is a WSU-certified Clallam County Master Gardener.