Pick a good site. Try to choose a site near the house that receives full sun all or most of the day, has good air circulation, is sheltered from strong winds, is close to a water source, and contains no large rocks, perennial weeds or grasses.

2) Start with good soil and keep improving it. Vegetables do best in deep, loose, well-drained topsoil, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Increase organic matter with compost, cover crops and organic mulches. Have soil tested every three years, and follow the recommendations that come with your test results.

3) Plan carefully. Don't plant crops from the same plant family in the same spot more than once every three yes. Consider the path of the sun, so tall crops don't shade shorter ones. Space plants so outer leaves on mature plants will just touch those of their neighbors. To increase yields, use intensive gardening techniques.

4) Start small. Vegetable gardening involves a wide variety of skills and knowledge. Experience success with a small garden, then gradually increase its size.

5) Grow only what you like to eat. You'll take better care of what you look forward to eating.

6) Select crop varieties with care. Read variety descriptions carefully. Look for crops described as doing well in short seasons with cold, wet springs, and extremes of temperature and moisture. Also consider disease resistance, tolerance of adverse conditions, the variety's growth habit (space requirements) and time to maturity. Ask veteran gardeners for recommendations about best varieties.

7) Water only when necessary, then water deeply and early in the day. Vegetables need about an inch of water a week. Conserve water by building soil organic matter and mulching crops to reduce soil moisture evaporation. When soil around plants is dry a couple of inches below the surface, soak the soil deeply, preferably with a drip or soaker hose. Water as early in the day as possible; wet foliage after dark promotes fungal diseases.

8) Visit your garden every day. Check for early signs of pests and diseases so you can take care of problems before they get out of hand. Buy a hand-held magnifying glass for close-up examination of plants, insect pests and evidence of plant disease. Of course, visit also for the sheer joy of it.

9) Make sure you've correctly identified the cause of a problem before applying a "treatment." Inappropriate use of pesticides and fertilizers wastes money, can threaten the health of humans, pets and the environment, and may itself cause more damage than it remedies. If you have a problem you can't identify, call the UNH Cooperative Extension Info Line at 877-398-4769, weekdays between 9: a.m.and 2 p.m.

10) Practice good garden sanitation. Remove diseased leaves, fruits and vines, control weeds, and rotate crops.