This morning I sat down and drew a layout for every garden I maintain.  Then I came up with a shopping list .

I’m gonna try some new fun things this year!  I already got a bunch of fun tomato and pepper varieties from the Sunshine Community Garden Sale.

Before you start buying and planting your seeds and plants you really need to know what you have room for.

You can actually grow a lot in a 4’ x 8’ space.

I’ve gone ahead and prepare a simple layout.

You can pretty much lay out your garden however you like.  It can even be a fun activity.

1. Determine what vegetables you really love and will eat a lot of.  This is key because once they start producing you could be inundated with some vegetables.  A broccoli plant for example should be harvested every 2 to 3 days.
2. Find out how much space is recommended for each plant.  See below…
3. Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening by J. Howard Garrett & C. Malcolm Beck has plant spacing and seasonal timing information to help with your garden planning.  I highly recommend buying this book.  They sell it at The Natural Gardener too!
4. Cut out circles to scale and label them with the plant name.
5. Arrange your circles on graph paper.
6. Remember you will have to be able to reach every plant so make your bed 3 to 4 feet wide and whatever length you want.
7. Not everything can always be planted at the same time, or should be.  Use the TravisCountyplantingschedule to help you with seasonal planting.

Once you’ve decided on a layout go to the store to buy your plants and seeds!  That’s the most fun.  Bring your layout with you in case you want to make some changes.  Nothing is set in stone.  Even with the layout I usually come home with more than I have room for…  That’s when I have to decide to add another bed or plant in containers.

Spacing guide is in inches.

Asparagus  :::  12-18

Beans, green  :::  3-4

Beans, pole  :::  4-6

Beans, lima bush  :::  3-4

Beans, lima pole  :::  12-18

Beets  :::  2-4

Broccoli  :::  12-18

Brussels sprouts  :::  14-24

Cabbage  :::  14-24

Cabbage, Chinese  :::  10-24

Cantaloupe  :::  12-24, if trellised 4-6

Carrots  :::  1-3

Cauliflower  :::  12-18

Chard, Swiss  :::  6-12

Collard/kale  :::  6-12

Corn, sweet  :::  9-12

Cucumber  :::  8-12, if trellised 4-6

Eggplant  :::  18-24

Garlic  :::  2-4

Kohlrabi  :::  4-6

Lettuce  :::  2-3

Mustard  :::  6-12

Okra  :::  18-36

Onion  :::  2-4

Parsley  :::  4-10

Peas, Southern  :::  2-4

Pepper  :::  12-24

Potato, Irish  :::  9-12

Potato, sweet  :::  12-16

Beans, green  :::  3-4

Pumpkin  :::  36-48, if trellised 4-6

Radish  :::  2-6 depending on size

Spinach  :::  2-6

Squash, Summer  :::  18-36

Squash, Winter  :::  24-48, if trellised 6-12

Tomato  :::  24-48

Turnips  :::  2-6

Watermelon  :::  36-72, if trellised 6-12