The Plot Newsletter

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Hello Reader,

One of the most common issues in starting a food garden is learning how to space plants correctly to avoid overcrowding. Many of us underestimate the true voracity of a sprawling squash plant, and once joyful garden visits become scary when you need the machete to get to your Sungold cherry tomatoes. 10 minutes of planning can keep your garden manageable and inviting throughout the year. The best way I’ve found for beginners to cut through the noise of nebulous garden advice is to apply a simple planting method, which will make sense by the end of this newsletter.

This idea came out of a conversation with a friend about her community garden plot, which became overrun by plants by the end of the season, so I am going to use similar dimensions to her allotment with an 11’ x 22’ plot as an example for this vegetable garden layout. This friend is also a reader of the newsletter, so I’ll also add that she is gorgeous with a magnetic personality. This 11’ x 22’ plot is a good size to replicate for a new garden. You can start this garden from seed, or buy the plants if you don’t mind spending a bit more. We’re using classic vegetables and herbs here, but you should substitute based on what you like to eat.

Select your site:

1. Call Diggers Hotline to mark any underground lines to avoid. (Free)

2. Pick a spot with ample sun (6+ hours). Consider a community garden if your yard is covered in shade.

3. Site the garden near a spigot for watering and the house for harvesting.

4. Test your soil for contaminants by sending a sample into a university or state extension (optional).

Preparing the ground:

Even if you don’t have the best soil, you can improve this over time by adding organic matter such as compost. You’ll also likely have to remove the turf from your yard to plant, which can be done a number of ways. You can smother it, manually remove it with a shovel or rent a tiller or sod remover. A compost pile will help you improve the soil over time, and you can use my plans here to build one. (It’s super easy.)

Choosing your plants:

Plant what you love to eat. That is the secret to a successful food garden. For me, it means I need a large section for Beets and Squash, since I can’t get enough of their flavor. Really, I’m drooling just thinking of some delectable squash I had last fall. This will ensure that you really use the food from your garden, and don’t let produce go to waste.

Designing the garden:

Dimensions: 11’ x 22’

Breakdown: 3 long rows at 32” and two paths at 18”.

This allows you to section based on different crops, but you will plant your plants in rows running lengthwise. See the seed packets for the required distance between the plants. It’s really that easy. Just draw out your rows and then write in where you want sections for certain crops. Keep the rows all running the same direction for easy harvesting. (Left to right in this case.)

Here the taller plants are put on the north side of a garden so they won’t cast as much shadow on the other plants. You can put them up a trellis to maximize growing space.

Planting and maintenance:

Read the seed packet when you plant each crop. Some plants like carrots will need to be thinned so they can grow to their full potential, while others will prefer a trellis to grow tall and avoid flopping on other plants. In reality, the best maintenance plan is to be observant and spend a lot of time in your garden. You’ll notice any struggling plants and then you can look up or write in with any questions that arise.

This is a garden size that helps you grow more food for yourself, but you could also experiment with a small raised bed if this looks overwhelming. I wanted to provide some useful relaxed designs, since so much advice online is centered around square foot gardens, which shine in smaller spaces like a raised bed. This garden design is a good starting point for any beginners looking for a garden big enough to make a difference in their everyday diet.

Field Notes:

1. I’m excited to start a new garden this year with a similar plan to this. The planting will be a bit delayed with a trip, but it will be great to grow a garden at the new house. Here’s to digging up 242 sq feet of lawn for a kitchen garden!

2. If you missed last weeks newsletter on St. Patty’s Day, it contained a recipe for my families Irish soda bread. You can eat this year round like we do, fresh from the oven.

Plotter’s Commons:

Have you started seeds yet for the year? I just started some for my garden, with plentiful extras to give away to friends.

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Bulletin Board

A book recommendation for today is A Life in The Garden. I just ordered it, so we can enjoy this one together. (It was on our end of year book list, and I’m looking forward to the read.)

Written for 539 hungry garden designers. 💌
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Until next Thursday,
Ken Welch

About the Author

Ken Welch is a garden writer with a very serious degree in Horticulture. When his city lacked a community garden, he helped build one. He teaches new gardeners how to grow their own food.

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Cibus Est Imperium | Food is Power