Q:When should I start planting my vegetable garden? I want to grow tomatoes, peppers and beans.

B.K.

Homestead

A: You can start planting in October. Remember to buy varieties that are disease and nematode resistant. When buying seedlings, make sure that they aren't too large. Older seedlings may be harder to transplant. Beans are easy to grow from seeds. You can save some money by buying dry beans from the grocery store.

In South Florida, it's easier to grow vegetables in a raised bed and it doesn't need to be a large garden. Your garden can be as small as four by four feet, which provides enough space to grow vegetables for one person.

Use compost, composted cow manure, potting soil or a mixture of compost and potting soil for your raised bed. Avoid using earth or topsoil. You can learn more about raised bed gardening online, in gardening books or contact your local University of Florida Extension office.

You can also learn more at http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/. Search under publications.

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