Vegetable gardens in southern Mississippi have been a tradition for many generations. It used to be that most families in this area grew most of their own food when the region was much more rural than it is today. Recent years have seen family gardens cultivated more as a hobby than as a necessity, but there are still a number of vegetable gardens in south Mississippi that are large enough to feed a small army. Many of these gardeners continue with their craft in order to offer the excess to neighbors, friends and extended family. Gardening is also seen as a way of socializing, and most avid gardeners cannot talk enough about the fun and challenge of planting and harvesting.

The environment and conditions of this region lend themselves well to numerous crop choices. The first factor to consider when determining what to plant is the amount of sunlight that your garden bed will receive. Many crops require at least five hours of full sun each day to thrive. Other crops, like cabbage, lettuce, beets and turnips prefer full sun, but can do well in areas of partial shade also. Sometimes it is best to determine the location of your garden bed by the amount of sun that it will receive. Once you have created a bed for your vegetable garden in south Mississippi, it is a good idea to fence the area to keep out neighborhood children and dogs, as well as critters like raccoons and rabbits.

When you select the seeds that you want to plant in your garden, choose varieties that are recommended for growing in the Mississippi region. There are a number of garden pests that can attack your crops, and many will be unique to the area that you are planting in. Seeds are developed to be particularly resistant to certain types of pests. If you select seeds that have been developed for vegetable gardens in south Mississippi, you can rest assured that steps have been taken to make these plants as hardy as possible for this region.

The best source for information on planting a vegetable garden in south Mississippi is the local extension office http://msucares.com/lawn/garden/index.html. This group will be able to provide plenty of information on the types of crops to plant, how to best cultivate them, and when you should begin planting and harvesting. Vegetable gardens in south Mississippi have been a tradition for generations, and with a little research and planning you can become a part of this popular hobby.