What's for dinner? How about...

...A colorful salad brimming with just-picked tomatoes. Or maybe pasta with a sauce made rich in taste by home-grown herbs. Or a side dish of straight-from-your-garden squash. Veggies from your garden simply taste better. They're crisper, sweeter, and always have that just-picked freshness.

If you haven't started your vegetable garden yet, it's not too late... but you'll want to get it in now. We're heading into a prime growing season, so go ahead and get all those warm-weather vegetables in the ground. About this time of year, you should consider choosing vegetable starts over seeds.

Vegetables are easy to grow and fit into any size garden, even if you only have a little space. Till a spare plot of soil or mix them in with your landscape shrubs or flowers. Most also grow well in planters set out on a sunny deck. Just make sure these planters get at least 6 hours of sun daily.

Tomatoes are an easy bet. They bloom quickly and abundantly. And summer salads just wouldn't be the same without them. Other good-to-grow vegetables include squash (including Halloween pumpkins ), beans , corn , cucumbers , eggplant and peppers.

Here's a fun family idea… Give each family member a garden space or planter to create their own mini garden. Kids are a lot more willing to eat vegetables they planted and grew themselves!

Soil preparation and planting tips…

• Dig or till the soil to a depth of 10-12".
• Add compost or other humus, digging it in to lighten and nourish the soil.
• For each start, dig a hole about 6" deep, double the diameter of the root ball.
• Put a 2" layer of compost in the bottom of the hole, with 1 tablespoon of fertilizer mixed in.
• Fill the hole with water and let it sink into the soil.
• Remove the veggie start from its plastic pot, being careful not to damage the roots.
• Plant in the hole, gently firming soil around the root ball.
• Water thoroughly.

Stop by your garden center today for summer vegetable starts, plus all the tools, soil amendments and fertilizer you need to get them growing strong...

While much of the information in these tips is applicable in several gardening zones/climates, some of the plants and timing suggested are best suited to the Northwest, generally in the mild/wet growing regions found along the I-5 corridor. You should make appropriate adjustments or consult local gardening experts in regions whose climates differ from this area of the Northwest.