The 7 best vegetables to grow, and how

They say variety is the spice of life. Grow these vegetables to keep your table well-stocked with all kinds of delicious tastes.

• For healthy sweet corn, the soil must be rich and well-drained with some lime added prior to planting.
• As a summer crop, corn should be sown in spring when all danger of frost has passed. In warmer regions, successive sowings can produce crops into autumn.
• Keep soil weed-free, and mulch to help retain moisture.
• Pumpkins can be grown at the base of corn as a companion plant.

• Sweet potatoes are very high in nutritional value and an excellent crop for a larger garden.
• Plant tubers in spring, when the danger of heavy frost has passed. The soil should be well-prepared.
• Allow a distance of 30 centimetres (12 inches) between plants.
• Prevent virus diseases by using only certified seed.

• Tomatoes need careful maintenance to produce a good crop.
• Warm growing conditions are essential. If the climate is cold, conditions must be counteracted.
• One solution is to create a microclimate, such as planting against a sheltered wall that receives full sun. This allows tomatoes to ripen within the growing season.
• In cool climates, it's possible to create a shelter with bales of hay to absorb and distribute heat. The hay can later be mulched when the crop has been harvested.

• Turnips need to be grown rapidly. Choose a deep, rich and well-drained soil with a pH level between 6.5 and 6.8.
• Harvest when roots have developed to larger than golf ball size. Pull plants from the ground as needed.
• Don't let plants remain underground for too long. Otherwise, they'll become tough and woody.

• Zucchinis are small squashes that grow readily in a wide range of soils and climates.
• Grow from either seed or seedlings, and mulch to prevent weed growth.
• Water well during hot weather. Don't over-water at other times. This can lead fungal diseases and rotting.
• Weekly applications of liquid fertilizer will keep plants growing quickly.

• Jerusalem artichokes are tuberous-rooted plants, like a potato. About five should be sufficient for the average family.
• They like a moderately rich, well-drained soil and a sunny position, and will grow in virtually all climates and conditions.
• Artichokes are vigorous, fast growing plants with few pest and disease problems.
• After five months, the tubers are ready for harvesting. Or they can be left in the ground into the winter and dug up when needed.

• Asparagus prefers a cool to cold climate and rich, well-drained soil that's built up with plenty of organic matter.
• Male plants are the most productive. Generally, one-year-old plants are used because they take less time to grow.
• In autumn, the fern stalks will turn yellow. They should be cut back to ground level.
• Once the stalks turn yellow, give the plants a dressing of general fertilizer. Mound up the soil around them and mulch with well-rotted manure.
• Artichokes aren't usually susceptible to pests and diseases. Slugs and snails can be a problem, though, and some protection should be provided.
• A well-grown plant will produce for 10 years.

The perfect garden should have vegetables that you can use in all sorts of dishes. By planting a variety, you can get different tastes and harvest different things throughout the growing season. That way, you can use fresh, garden-grown produce more often.