The best vegetable gardens are not necessarily the biggest; they are the ones planned around how you actually live, cook and garden.
Most vegetables need at least six hours of direct sun; fruiting crops such as tomatoes and peppers want eight or more.
Rows of identical 4-by-8-foot raised beds with 18- to 24-inch paths between them are easy to plan, easy to reach and easy to rotate.
Bend a sturdy livestock panel into an arch between two raised beds.
Themed beds make planning fun and help you grow exactly what you cook.
Sow small batches of fast crops such as lettuce, radishes, beans and cilantro every two to three weeks, rather than all at once.
Drip lines deliver water straight to the roots, keep leaves dry and cut watering time to almost nothing once installed.
Step-by-step advice, charts and free garden calculators at Garden Voila.