The essential guide to buying seeds for your vegetable garden

Growing vegetables in your garden can be really rewarding, but the process can be a little intimidating when you're just starting out. A great garden requires the right vegetable seeds for success. Here's some tips on buying vegetable seeds to help you get started.

Here's a list of popular vegetable seeds. Keep in mind that your local climate will impact which different types of vegetables will grow best in your garden.

Carrot Seeds: This versatile root vegetable goes great in soups, salads, stews, stir-fries, and even juice and cake. Carrot seeds are typically planted three weeks before the last expected frost, and they take approximately 70 to 80 days to mature. Carrots grow best in well-drained, loose soil to prevent the roots from stunting.

Lettuce seeds: Homegrown lettuce is great, whether it's a classic component of your BLT sandwich or the star of your next salad. Lettuce seeds are generally planted around late spring or in the fall, as lettuce plants thrive in cooler weather. Plant lettuce seeds in loose, fertile soil.

Cucumber seeds: From the garden to your plate, cucumbers are a great addition to your salad or tasty as a snack on their own. Cucumber seeds are generally planted around two weeks after the last spring frost as they enjoy warm-season growth. Trestle the vines for a straight and symmetrical growth.

Pea seeds: Delicious and nutrient-rich, peas are a treat in salads, stir-fries or when eaten right of the vine. Pea seeds come in different varieties, such as snap peas, snow peas, sugar peas and garden peas. Plant pea seeds four to six weeks before the last spring frost. Peas sprout early, and they are harvested in late spring or early summer before it gets hot. Pea shoots and tendrils can tangle and may require support, depending on the type.

Spinach seeds: Full of vitamins and nutrients, home-grown spinach is great cooked in recipes or raw in salads. Spinach seeds are planted in early spring and fall. Spinach is a cool-weather plant that will bolt when the weather gets hot, rapidly changing from leaf-based to seed.

Bean seeds: Fresh, crisp beans are a delightful complement to meals, tasty in soups and stews or yummy as a raw snack. Plant bean seeds after the last spring frost. Pole beans will require the support of a trellis, while bush beans (green beans) don't require support.

• Place any leftover seeds in airtight containers and store in a cool, dark place
• Follow the sowing directions on the seed packet
• Weed regularly and add mulch to your garden to help retain moisture
• Gardening is hard work, so remember to wear sun protection and stay hydrated

Growing your own vegetables does take a bit of work, but it is well worth the investment when it comes time to enjoy the results.