I did yet more gardening this weekend. Most of the colder weather crops are in. Here is a quick overview of the garden plan as it is taking shape. I still have a number of sections (each is 1 sq foot) that are bare, but these will be planted up as more crops come online.
This is the first planting there will be subsequent plantings as we move past the frost free date (May 15)
Box #1 (8′x2′x6″)
| Lavender (4) — moving later | Cosmos |
| Spinach(8) | |
| Spinach (8) | |
| Spinach (8) |
Box #2 (8′x2′x12″)
| Beet (4) | Carrot(16) |
| Carrot(16) | Beet(4) |
| Beet(4); | Carrot(16) |
| Baking Potato | Baking Potato |
| Baking Potato | Baking Potato |
| Baking Potato | Baking Potato |
| Red Potato | Red Potato |
| Red Potato | Red Potato |
I’m still tempted to build a potato bin and go for the maximum harvest this fall; but I’m holding back.
Box 3 (2′x8′x6″)
| peas(2) | peas(2) | peas(2) | |||||
As the summer heat moves on, I will be shifting to beans from peas in this box. I also have reserved the front row for some arugula and a squash, watermelon and pumpkin (each separated out to flow out into the wild part of the garden where I have broccoli going right now. I started the arugula indoors to get it going, but will transplant it outside this weekend.
My tomatoes are growing in doors at the moment and hopefully will be ready to go outside in late may. I’ve got an entire 4′x4′ plot set aside for them. I’m also planning to start some red and green bell peppers this week (inside). My plan is to add more carrots and spinach on two week intervals to ensure a continuous harvest as the summer moves along.
My goal this first year in the squarefoot garden is to see what I can successfully grow, harvest and store. As the year progresses I will be working to plan next years campaign based on knowledge gained this year. Over a 3-5 year timeframe I hope to optimize my garden to be providing maximum return for labor in terms of fresh vegetables consumed and food storage created vs. crops and planting schedule.