It causes plants to shrivel as I walk through the nursery section at Wal-Mart. It brought about the untimely end of two deserving, low-maintenance houseplants. It is my black thumb of death, and it is a big part of why I haven’t joined first lady Michelle Obama and a host of others by planting a vegetable garden this year.

Thankfully, Denton County Master Gardener Al Kirchhoff has two very green thumbs and was willing to offer me some tips about starting a successful vegetable garden.