Few things are more satisfying than sinking your teeth into a cherry tomato, snap pea, or crunchy carrot from your own garden. I can’t think of any better summer hobby than cultivating a veggie plot; few other investments yield dividends like they can.

If you’ve got a patch of land you want to sink your teeth into, keep these tips in mind. Many eager gardeners fall victim to common traps which, unfortunately, can lead them to abandon their efforts in frustration.

Be realistic

Before you tear up your entire back lawn, take a deep breath. It’s very, very easy to get caught up in the excitement of an edible garden and over-extend yourself. It is, after all, a palpably exciting prospect.

Be realistic with yourself about the time that you have to invest. Do you have a half hour a day, or can you only manage an hour on Saturdays? Determine the size of your plot by the time commitment you can give. If you trick yourself into thinking that you can add an hour to every day, your dreams of fresh tomatoes can turn into a weedy nightmare.

If you don’t have much time to spend, consider a 10 feet by 10 feet plot. This 100 square feet will give you space to grow the basics. If you have more time to spend, notch the size up accordingly, but be cautious; the goal is to finish the season invigorated and eager, not frustrated and tired.

Where is

your garden?

Edible plants typically require six hours of light a day, although there are exceptions on either side. Where you situate your plot will largely determine what varieties you can grow.

If you live on a mature lot with big trees on all sides, sunlight may be scarce. Consider planting tomatoes, peppers, and other heat-lovers in dark containers to keep their roots warm and to elevate them for more light. If they still don’t get six hours on a sunny day, consider growing them elsewhere.

Partially shaded gardens, especially those which receive morning light, are ideal for growing salad greens; like lettuce and spinach, root veggies like carrots and beets, and broccoli. If you like Eastern cuisine, your shady plot may be ideal for bok choi and snow peas.

With sun drenched yards, which are the norm with newer houses flanked by immature trees, your options open up considerably. You’ll be able to grow heat-loving plants in the ground, but will need to think about shading cool-weather crops.

If you love spinach, but are short on shade, get creative. Use plants on trellises, like cucumbers and vining tomatoes, strategically to shade the salad greens and root veggies in their northern shadow.

Lastly, make sure your location is close to a convenient water source and, if you or your neighbour have a persistent weed patch, opt for a spot as far from it as possible. You’ll spend most gardening hours watering or weeding; anything that cuts back on hauling hoses and tugging dandelions is a blessing.

Laying out your garden

Now that you’ve chosen your size and spot, it’s time to think about layout. There are several options, each with its own set of pros and cons.

If you choose to plant in traditional rows, I suggest laying a board down (two inch by eight inch or so) to walk on. This will not only keep the mud off your shoes, but it will reduce weeds and the soil underfoot won’t turn into concrete from constant walking.

Rows allow for excellent air circulation, but aren’t very space efficient. Planting several rows together will help, but make sure not to plant things so close that they inhibit each others’ growth.

Planting in tight squares is gaining in popularity because the crowded spaces help keep weeds down. On the con side, tightly planted formations inhibit air circulation, so I don’t recommend it for sheltered gardens.

Rob Sproule is the co-owner of Salisbury Greenhouse in Sherwood Park. He can be reached at rob@salisburygreenhouse.com.

Now that the worst of the cold weather (fingers crossed) is history, it’s time to turn your thoughts to everything outdoors, including the garden.

West Park Community Garden and Puritas Nursery are ready to help residents learn how to freshen up and personalize their landscape at a free seminar on landscaping beginning at 1:30 p.m. April 21 at Puritas Nursery, 19201 Puritas Ave., in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood.

Attendees should bring the following information: size of proposed garden (length, width), direction the area faces (north, south, east, west), light (sun, partial sun, shade), condition of the soil (clay, loamy), plant material on site and how much time you will have to devote to the space. Pictures of the proposed site are recommended and should display the relationship between the site and the house, windows, other landscaping, lawn, etc.

Barb O’Patry, an Ohio State University Master Gardener, will discuss a variety of topics on landscape design 1:30-2 p.m., then seminar participants can meet with an expert 2-3 p.m. to discuss their landscape projects and receive suggestions on enhancing their landscaping. Each participant will leave with a design for his or her landscape project and complimentary refreshments will be served.

Immediately after sessions with the expert, about 3 p.m., there will be a nursery tour with Dale Heyink, owner of Puritas Nursery, who will highlight which plants grow well in this area. He also will answer questions on plants and landscaping. Seminar participants will receive a 10 percent discount on all purchases made that day at the nursery.

ON STAGE — Mary Welch of St. Brendan Parish in North Olmsted sends word that the junior high drama department at St. Brendan School will present “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” at 7 p.m. April 19 and 20 at Fairview High School Auditorium, 4507 W. 213th St., Fairview Park.

John FitzGerald is the director and Kristen Mooney is faculty moderator. The cast includes 23 sixth- through eighth-graders and a chorus of fifth-graders (including my two nieces, Kathryn and Elizabeth Rajnicek). Tickets are available at the door for $5 (adults), $3 (students) and free for children 2 and younger. Family maximum is $20.

Break a leg, thespians!

AND THE WINNER IS — Congratulations to Helen Davis. Tom Davis, president of Fairview Park Community Council, tells me that Helen was selected as the 2013 Citizen of the Year by five of the most recent citizen of the year winners.

Helen will be honored at the annual banquet, which begins at 6:30 p.m. May 1 at Fairview Park Senior Center, 20769 Lorain Road (behind City Hall). Limited tickets are available at $25 each on a first-come, first-served basis, starting today at City Hall, the Senior Center or by calling Roberta Sunkle, 440-333-9339.

Individuals or businesses interested in donating raffle prizes for the dinner should call Judy Nicoloff, 440-331-0987, Sunkle, or Tom Davis, 440-333-8721, to arrange for donation pickups.

SPEAKING OF COTY — North Olmsted Community Council will have its Citizen of the Year banquet at 6:30 p.m. April 25 at North Olmsted Party Center, 29271 Lorain Road. This year’s winner will be announced that night.

Tom and Nadine Dubowski, who handle event publicity, said tickets, at $18, can be purchased by sending a request with your name, address and the number of tickets needed, along with a check payable to NOCC to P.O. Box 135, North Olmsted, OH 44070.

AT THE LIBRARY — The West Park Branch of Cleveland Public Library will host author Marty Gitlin at 2 p.m. April 20. Gitlin, a freelance author and sports writer from North Olmsted, will discuss his book, “The Great American Cereal Book.”

The book, which has gained international attention, includes every type of cereal ever produced — about 800 — from 1863 to modern times. Gitlin said this year is the 150th anniversary of breakfast cereals.

EARTH DAY — Celebrate Earth Day with a hike 3-4 p.m. April 22 in the Rocky River Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks.

Meet under the Brookpark Road Bridge off Valley Parkway, between Brookway Lane and Puritas Avenue. Call 440-734-6660 for information.

NIGHT AT THE RACES — St. Joseph Academy Athletic Boosters will have a night at the races 6 p.m. to midnight April 20 at the Academy Center, 3470 Rocky River Drive, West Park.

Cindy Burry says tickets are $20 per person and horses can be purchased for $20 each. To reserve tickets, call Patti, 216-548-4485, or send an email message to sja1890.org/boosters.

SUPPORT SANE — April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program at Fairview Hospital is seeking donations of new packages of underwear and socks for patients.

SANE programs care for hundreds of patients who arrive at the hospital because of sexual violence or violence at home. Clothing is taken as part of the evidence collection process and replacement clothing is provided free by SANE.

Undergarments can be dropped off at the hospital emergency department. For more information, call Fairview Hospital’s SANE program at 216-476-7278.

INFORMATION, PLEASE — A Place in the Sun includes news and information about people, places and things in Cleveland’s West Park area, Fairview Park and North Olmsted. Submit column items to ckovach@sunnews.com, fax them to (216) 986-2340, Attention: Carol Kovach, or mail them to me at 5510 Cloverleaf Parkway, Cleveland, OH 44125.