Hopefully you have already figured out what you are going to plant this year so that you can begin planning your garden. Deciding on what you are going to grow is the first step in planning your garden. The next steps are below:

Figure out the size of area you have to work with and what you are going to plant and see if you can make it fit. Every plant has certain spacing requirements, so make sure to take this into account.

You also want to consider watering requirements. Water loving plants such as lettuce, peas, onions, broccoli, carrots, chard, beets should be planted together. These usually get watered twice a week depending on your soil conditions and where you live.

Summer crops such as cucumbers, squash, peppers, corn, beans, etc. should be planted in separate rows from the water loving plants since they are only watered once a week depending on conditions. If you don’t separate them from the water loving plants then you are setting yourself up for failure.

Next thing to consider is sunlight. Most all vegetables want full sun or at least as much as they can get. Where I live a southern exposure is best. Therefore, place your garden where you give them the best chance for full sun. Also make sure to plant your rows so that tall plants like beans and corn don’t block the sun from your lettuce and beets.

The last thing to consider is where your fall crop will go. Most seasons will allow for both Spring and Fall crops for many vegetables that grow quickly and are hardy like lettuce, peas, carrots, chard, beets etc. You should be able to plant them in the Spring, harvest them and then turn right around and plant them again for Fall maturity. Make sure to plan accordingly so that you don’t have plants that aren’t double crops preventing your for Fall planting. For example, you may like to rototill before replanting in the Fall, however, if you put your onions right in the middle of your other rows that you harvested you may not get your tiller in there. Just something to consider.

A well planned garden sets you up for success and pleases the eye.

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