What did you do in the garden today?

[BReeder!]

Is this also the layout for the square foot garden?

No... I will post that for you in a few minutes when back at my computer (on the phone app right now). I just finished it. It's actually in the same excel doc, but I only grabbed the plant list from it for that last post.

 

[Farmdog267]

That is a nice list of plant! I wish I was growing or starting half that many plants! Who do you normally source your seeds from?

 

[BReeder!]

That is a nice list of plant! I wish I was growing or starting half that many plants! Who do you normally source your seeds from?

I'm not a seed yuppy. I typically buy them at a big box store. I don't like paying $5 for a small envelope of seeds. This year I sourced most of the seeds from littleshopofseeds.com for $.55 a pack. They came in handpacked small clear bags. I'm happy with what I received so far, although I haven't planted a seed just yet so I cannot speak to fertility.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I'm not a seed yuppy. I typically buy them at a big box store. I don't like paying $5 for a small envelope of seeds. This year I sourced most of the seeds from littleshopofseeds.com for $.55 a pack. They came in handpacked small clear bags. I'm happy with what I received so far, although I haven't planted a seed just yet so I cannot speak to fertility.

I try to find deals on seeds as well. Years ago I spent nearly $10 on a packet of beet seeds directly from Burpees, they never germinated. Other seeds I purchased directly from them were disappointing. I’m trying to stay away from hybrids so I can start saving them myself. I’ve had pretty good luck with discounted seeds.

 

[BReeder!]

Is this also the layout for the square foot garden?

Alright, I'm back at the computer now. Here's the updated (now complete to the best of my knowledge except for two berry bushes I've yet to determine on the far left that are just marked as white squares for now) garden layout. The raised beds are outlined in gray. They will be planted with the square foot method. I decided to extend the square foot plotting into our rows in the ground as well as it simplifies the diagram and planning. You may have to expand the image or zoom in to read the text.

The only plants I'm worried about using this method are the cabbage and cauliflower. When researching square foot gardening I seen a lot of people plant 1 cabbage or cauliflower per square foot. That seems a bit close to me. I was thinking 18-24 inch apart. Worst case is I pull half the cabbage and/or cauliflower plants early to make room for the remaining plants to fully develop. Another note, the potatoes and sweet potatoes rows are 2 foot wide, but 1 seed potato or slip per foot down the length of the row. The 2 foot width is to allow for hilling for potatoes and growing room for sweet potato vines and tubers.

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Edit: Splitting the image into sections may allow you to see better:
From left to right:
Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Alright, I'm back at the computer now. Here's the updated (now complete to the best of my knowledge except for two berry bushes I've yet to determine on the far left that are just marked as white squares for now) garden layout. The raised beds are outlined in gray. They will be planted with the square foot method. I decided to extend the square foot plotting into our rows in the ground as well as it simplifies the diagram and planning. You may have to expand the image or zoom in to read the text.

The only plants I'm worried about using this method are the cabbage and cauliflower. When researching square foot gardening I seen a lot of people plant 1 cabbage or cauliflower per square foot. That seems a bit close to me. I was thinking 18-24 inch apart. Worst case is I pull half the cabbage and/or cauliflower plants early to make room for the remaining plants to fully develop. Another note, the potatoes and sweet potatoes rows are 2 foot wide, but 1 seed potato or slip per foot down the length of the row. The 2 foot width is to allow for hilling for potatoes and growing room for sweet potato vines and tubers.

View attachment 2024887

Did you check what plants like/ dislikes to grow next to each other? This has always been challenging for me.

 

[BReeder!]

Did you check what plants like/ dislikes to grow next to each other? This has always been challenging for me.

Kinda sorta...
I've had success growing hot and sweet peppers next to each other so I'm keeping the trend.

I researched eggplant pairings, and it really likes other plants form the family (potatoes, tomatoes, etc.), but it should not mind the leeks and they shouldn't mind it.

Lettuce and radishes grew well last year. Both grow rapidly and will be reseeded throughout the season, so it helps to have them in the same bed also. I've had zero luck with carrots, so I'm just throwing them in that bed and going to see what happens.

I refuse to plant herbs all over the place in varying soil types, so they are going together in 1 bed just so I can manage them. We'll see how it goes and I may decide to change it up next year.

On the in-ground side, I only worry about the yellow squash growing next to cucumbers. The cucumbers may decide to not stick to the trellis and spread right over the yellow squash. I will move the yellow squash up by the zucchini rows if there's room. I don't have a 50ft tape measure, so I've eyeballed the length of the garden. I think it's actually 55ft, which would add 5' to the in- ground side making plenty of room for a 1ft wide row of yellow squash. It may mean an extra row of sweet potatoes and potatoes too! I love potatoes!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Kinda sorta...
I've had success growing hot and sweet peppers next to each other so I'm keeping the trend.

I researched eggplant pairings, and it really likes other plants form the family (potatoes, tomatoes, etc.), but it should not mind the leeks and they shouldn't mind it.

Lettuce and radishes grew well last year. Both grow rapidly and will be reseeded throughout the season, so it helps to have them in the same bed also. I've had zero luck with carrots, so I'm just throwing them in that bed and going to see what happens.

I refuse to plant herbs all over the place in varying soil types, so they are going together in 1 bed just so I can manage them. We'll see how it goes and I may decide to change it up next year.

On the in-ground side, I only worry about the yellow squash growing next to cucumbers. The cucumbers may decide to not stick to the trellis and spread right over the yellow squash. I will move the yellow squash up by the zucchini rows if there's room. I don't have a 50ft tape measure, so I've eyeballed the length of the garden. I think it's actually 55ft, which would add 5' to the in- ground side making plenty of room for a 1ft wide row of yellow squash. It may mean an extra row of sweet potatoes and potatoes too! I love potatoes!

I’ve never had good luck with carrots until last year when I planted them with the leeks. Zucchini and yellow squash are fine together but keep butternut squash away from them. The only herb I grow with the vegetables is basil. I put that in with tomatoes, peppers and squash.

 

[cavemanrich]

I’m trying to stay away from hybrids so I can start saving them myself.

My mom used to save most seeds from her plants. Some seeds like radishes, and lettuce, she purchased, because it was easier, than letting plant go to seed.
She also acquired a few varieties of tomato seeds from tomatoes she purchased from grocery store. It tomato looked good , and tasted delicious,,,,,,,,,,,,, she kept seeds from it for planting.
On her tomato plants, after a few season cycles, the tomato genetics changed, most likely due to bees cross pollinating with other tomato varieties, she did same thing over.
I'm not a BOTANIST, and do not play one on TV, , but I think the seed producers keep their different varieties separated, to prevent cross pollination.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

My mom used to save most seeds from her plants. Some seeds like radishes, and lettuce, she purchased, because it was easier, than letting plant go to seed.
She also acquired a few varieties of tomato seeds from tomatoes she purchased from grocery store. It tomato looked good , and tasted delicious,,,,,,,,,,,,, she kept seeds from it for planting.
On her tomato plants, after a few season cycles, the tomato genetics changed, most likely due to bees cross pollinating with other tomato varieties, she did same thing over.
I'm not a BOTANIST, and do not play one on TV, , but I think the seed producers keep their different varieties separated, to prevent cross pollination.

Sounds great. I'm not a Botanist either, but I did take a Botany class in college in the early 70's. Most of what I remember is transplanting trees. But I know I picked up some other useful information. It was the 70's after all.