It seems everywhere I look, people are starting their first vegetable gardens. Whether you attribute this to a poor economy, a desire for truly organic produce, or just a movement toward getting back to basics, the fact is many Americans have never grown their own food before. This can lead to some frustration when their gardens don't turn out exactly as planned. If you're one of those people thinking about starting a garden next year, or if you were disappointed with your garden this year, NOW is the time to do something about it. Waiting until spring is a mistake that will cost you.  

Make Great Soil  

Begin by sitting down for a five or ten minutes to read my post on garden soil types and working with poor quality garden soil. Then go outside and test your soil. If the soil needs amending (i.e. needs feeding with organic material that will enrich it), fall is the ideal time to do it. If you wait until spring, the soil won't absorb all those nutrients you are putting into it in time to benefit your spring garden. If you have chickens, this is also a great time to let them roam freely in the garden area. Add organic soil amendments (like non-chemically treated grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, and shredded leaves) and let the hens have at it. They will "till" the soil for you and leave behind a light fertilizer.  

Make Compost 

This is a simple, fool-proof way to not only provide nutrients for your garden, but to reduce household waste. Not sure how to begin? Read this post. (As an aside, the composter pictured here, the Lifetime 80 Gallon Compost Tumbler, is my current favorite; I bought it at Costco for $95 and I've never seen any composter turn garbage into finished compost so quickly.)  

Remove Weeds & Grass 

Getting rid of weeds in the fall will make weeding much easier in the spring. For a roundup of ways to get rid of weeds, check out this post. If you plan to start a new garden where grass currently lies, now's also the time to dig it up. Turn the chunks of grass sod side up and leave them in the new garden area. The grass will rot and feed the soil.  

Take Advantage of Fall Leaves 

Don't use your town's leaf pickup service, and don't throw away or burn your leaves. Instead, use autumn leaves to feed the soil in your garden. Run a mulching lawn mower over the leaves and add them (dry) to compost. Or let them simply sit in the garden area. Learn more about leaf compost and mulch here.  

Read Up 

Whether you're new to gardening or an old pro, you're sure to learn something new if you pick up a few great gardening books. I recommend reading every regional book you can get your hands on, since general gardening books can offer inappropriate information for your region. While you're at it, read through the Gardening 101 posts here, starting with "The Total Beginner's Guide to Growing Vegetables."  

Remember You Can Start Seeds in December 

That's right. You can start most veggies from seed toward the end of December. The resulting plants will be stronger than your average seedlings - and the process gives a jump start on the spring season. Learn how to do "winter sow" seeds here.

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