This video will give advice and principals for sizing a vegetable garden, and provide key points to layout a vegetable garden. Make sure you keep tall plants to the North of shorter plants to allow for Photosynthesis. And ensure you keep plants properly spaced as well as accounting for walkways.
Key Links
Engineering Graph Paper – really useful for any layout work from gardening to woodworking (affiliate link).
https://amzn.to/3scC3rM
My DIY Tomato Cages – low cost, strong, sturdy, and they store better than conventional cages
Vegetable Height and Spacing Guide
Cliff Notes on planning/layout of a vegetable garden
Vegetable to Canning Guide
Vegetable Plants Required per Person, or Square Foot Area Guide:
From Rutgers University
https://sustainable-farming.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/urbanfringe-v07n01.pdf
From Michigan State
https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/files/Table%204.pdf
Again, I would suggest that you use those Plants per person/square foot guides with caution if you are new. They are based on farm yields over time, and are averages. So, your garden will never produce exactly like these guide, but they do provide a decent estimate.
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27 Comments
A lot of great information. Thank you for this video
This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you
Planning is the key to a successful garden. I have a 14×21 garden, and I opted for the intensive gardening method to increase my yield. For example, if a seed is to be planted 2 inches apart in rows 6 inches apart, I plant 3 to 4 rows 2 or so inches apart in those 6 inches. I also use plots instead of individual rows. I have 3 main plots 4 feet wide and 11 feet long. A path that goes around 3 sides of the inside perimeter of the garden and 2 paths between the plots. One thing to remember is, don't be afraid to change your design from year to year. Think of a plan that works for you and what you are growing.
I plan on incorporating more vegetables into my flower gardens this year. I love how well flowers and vegetables grow together and complement each other in my small yard. I've already started planning where my raised beds are going and where the walkways will be. I hope that 2021 is a better year for all of us. Stay safe and healthy.
Pretty much one of the top four best gardening channels on the tube
Love the videos thank you so much for making it simple
Thank you.
Your links don't work and your volume is too low. Other than that, great info!
Really appreciate the straight-forward, actionable advice! Keep up the great videos. As a recent home buyer this is really helpful to pre-plan what to do with our empty yard for next season.
How do I determine what is north or south side?
I just made a 20×20 garden so glad I found this video
We had cows for 3 years and just got rid of them. The last of the cows were on a back lot of about 4 acres. Our front lot is about 1/3 acre and our property is where the water runs off and through from the road and everyone uphill from us. The cows have been off this spot for about 9 months to 1 year. We have to manage the water directions but, we plowed and are planting in the high spot. How safe is that?? I would sort of considered it aged manure. The heavy manure areas are away from the garden area (also 'older' manure, but deep) We are in the process of removing the excess manure and removing it to a back area. I told my husband I don't want to eat the vegs!! I am putting up old 3×5 galvanized troughs/~30 inches high and 1/4 inch thick for me, since I am almost 68. Had to have a welder remove most of the bottoms so they could drain good. I'll put old wood, trigs, leaves, etc in the bottom part of my troughs and fill with good soil. The other 4-5 acres I am putting in native plants/trees, etc. That will take me awhile! Should I plow big 'drifts' in fall and seed? I've been putting trees in everywhere possible! I want to live to see some of the fruit of my labor! I thank God for every tree and plant that survives and takes off! Our veg lot is direct sun.
Very helpful! I am known to get garden fever and then poop out because of the sheer work. This winter I will plan BETTER with your suggestions. Thank you!
Don't really understand those two thumbs down. The video/content is great!
Go big or go home
I love the look of your garden. Mine is spread out all over the place, a few plants here, there, and yonder. It works for me, with very little labor to keep it going. I'm in the south so many of my veggies are planted in guilds under trees to shade them during the heat of the day, otherwise they would burn up mid-summer.
Thank you so much for this video. Because I tend to over plant, I was hoping to try out selling at the local farmers market this year. The links you provided are going to be very helpful.
Thank you.
Hi. Could you suggest some veggies a novice grower like myself could get their feet wet (so to speak) using a 2' x 4' elevated garden bed? Thanks.
Trying to decide between 8×12 vs 8×16… Probably shouldn't take on too much as this is our first year of real gardening. We had tomatoes in pots last year that didn't do very well, but no prior experience. One row of tomatoes, one row of potatoes and a row of beans. Should the tomatoes be planted on the north side? I heard they can get pretty tall.
So helpful! I am planning my own garden this year. Great details and hints that will help tremendously to someone new at this.
Good tips ! Question, When you advise perpendicular to the slope (I apologize, new to gardening and a little unsure ) do you mean if you have a north to south slope your vegetable row should be laid out east to west? My understanding that right?
Very helpful. This is my first year doing an actual in ground garden. Have done a couple raised beds the past few years.
I’m a beginner gardener my name is John and your information has been some of the best I’ve seen and heard on YouTube I really appreciate the work and the effort that you put into your videos thank you very much I have six raised birdie garden beds that I’m starting this year wish me luck! Michigan
Hey!! I love love love your composting video thank you!
Is there anything you can spray for weeds on a garden?
I have 20×24 space!