There’s nothing better than a homegrown tomato or a ripe zucchini, ready to turn into zucchini bread. Often, these vegetables are thought of as so easy to grow that you’ll have baskets full of extra veggies you’ll pass off on neighbors and friends, simply because you have more than you could ever imagine consuming.

But those plentiful harvests are dependent on finding just the right spot for your vegetable garden. If you choose somewhere that’s too shady or too wet, then you’ll have trouble producing anything more than seedlings and leggy plants.

Want to make sure you’re giving your veggies the best chance to thrive? Here are the six locations you should avoid planting your vegetable garden.

Near Trees or Large Shrubs

Since vegetables prefer to grow in sunny spots, planting your garden next to a tree or a large shrub can prevent sunlight from reaching the plants while also taking nutrients that would otherwise reach the veggies.

Garden consultant Ashleigh Byrne explains, “Trees create shade, can take the nutrients from your plants, and you may end up with little baby trees in your garden.”

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Next to Your House

Byrne cautions against planting a vegetable garden right up against your house since your home will prevent the veggies from getting all the light they need.

“Just like trees, houses or other buildings can also create shade that will prevent your vegetable garden from thriving,” Byrne says. “At the same time, you might deal with runoff issues and water retention that could be caused by planting the garden directly next to a structure.

Lindsey Chastain, founder and CEO at The Waddle and Cluck, agrees.

“Planting vegetables next to your home can also limit room for the vegetables to grow,” she says. “Vegetables often like to spread out.”

Near a Flood Zone

While many vegetables need regular water to thrive, they don’t want to stay continuously wet. If you plant them in an area of your yard that regularly floods or puddles, you’re going to end up with less-than-vibrant vegetables.

“If your vegetables are consistently too wet, it can lead to root rot or fungus,” Chastain says.

Under a Black Walnut Tree

It makes sense that larger plants would draw nutrients from the soil that could otherwise help the veggies grow, but there’s one tree that will actually cause serious problems with your vegetables simply by existing nearby. Black walnut trees are disagreeable in the garden, so steer clear when plotting out your location.

“These trees release a chemical that is damaging to most vegetables,” Chastain explains.

Next to the Road or a Driveway

Do you want your eggplant with a side of exhaust? Probably not. And your veggies don’t want to grow surrounded by runoff from vehicles that could contain harmful chemicals, either from the automobile itself or the materials that are used on the roads, like salt during icy winter months.

“Not only are you asking for someone to squash your squash, the pollutants from cars or runoff can damage the nutrients in your soil or keep your plants choked with dirt and grime,” Chastain says.

In Contaminated Soil

Part of the beauty of raised beds is that you can completely control the soil and the environment, which is particularly important if the soil might be contaminated.

If there’s any risk of something in the soil that might stunt growth or damage the plants, it’s best not to plant directly in the ground. Or, at the very least, test the soil first.

“This might be where paint, oil, or something else toxic was dumped,” Chastain says. “If you have an old barn or outbuilding and want to plant near that area, test the soil or look for signs the area was used for toxic chemicals before planting.”

On Top of a Septic Tank

Rural areas often have septic tanks, and those can cause major issues for growing vegetables or any plants.

“If you aren’t sure where your septic tank is, look for a patch of land where grass just won’t grow, or call a specialist to locate it for you,” Chastain advises. “There is a reason grass won’t grow over a septic tank, at least not well.”

Plus, if the vegetables do manage to grow above the septic tank, their roots could end up causing expensive damage to the tank.