Getting Started
Who
Anyone with a sunny yard, deck or balcony, or even a window box! If you can grow a lawn, you can grow food.
What
There are plenty of easy-to-grow vegetables. See some recommendations from Master Gardeners below. Plant only what you like to eat. Be realistic. A 4'X4' garden bed could keep you in salad greens or squash all summer, but it is not enough room to grow corn or pumpkins.
Skagit County has a short growing season. Make sure to consider days to harvest/maturity (noted on the seed packet) when selecting what to plant. Also note the spacing recommended on the seed packet. If plants are too close together, they will steal nutrients from each other.
Where
Do you have a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun each day? Do you really need all that lawn? Consider converting part of your yard into a garden. Gardens and lawns require similar care. They both need good soil, sun and water. Vegetables just require a little more attention. Containers can make gardening very flexible. Also, plant some veggies in with your flowers.
When
In the Skagit Valley, May is magic. Depending on where you live, March gives us our last hard freeze and some vegetables can be planted/transplanted in March and April. However, frosts can be expected through early May. Most vegetables are sensitive to frost, so May is when you will really start gardening outside. Check out the Planting Guide extracted from the WSU Extension Bulletin on Home Vegetable Gardening in Washington, which is a great all-around veggie gardening guide.
Consider winter gardening too. There are a number of vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, leeks, broccoli and kale that are planted in mid-summer and can be harvested through winter. Don't forget to plant garlic in the fall. It is easy to grow and stores well.
Why
Supply your family with fresh, healthy vegetables throughout the season.
How
Start with a plan for your garden! Decide how much and what kind of space you will have. Do you want to plant directly into the ground, raised beds, or containers? Do you just want salad veggies in between flowers?
Do you know what type of soil is in your yard, and what soil deficiencies to expect? There are a number of firms that provide soil testing for a reasonable price. There are two locations in Washington. Simply Soil Testing in Burlington and SoilTest Farm Consultants in Moses Lake. The results will provide info on your specific soil nutrients, pH, etc.. The data will guide you in properly amending your soil. Another option - do your own soil test to determine the type of soil in your yard. Check out this video from WSU Soil Scientist, Dr. Craig Cogger on soil texture.
Keep your garden manageable. Raised beds can extend the season and protect from rabbits, snails, slugs. Use a cold frame, floating row covers, or tunnels to extend your growing season and protect from insects such as cabbage moths. The options are endless. If your space is small, consider vertical gardening for vining vegetables like cucumbers, pole beans, and some squashes.
In order to have salad greens all summer long, plant a few seeds every 2-3 weeks for an ongoing harvest. This is called succession planting.