Hey everyone! I just got two raised garden beds (4.56 ft x 3.24 ft and 7.8 inches tall) and I'm located in North Florida (USDA Zone 9a). I'm excited to start gardening and would love some advice on what vegetables I can plant together in these beds. I'm particularly interested in growing squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and bell peppers, along with some herbs. Any suggestions? Thanks!
3 Answers
Each of your veggies needs a decent amount of space—around 18"-2' apart ideally. You can plant herbs in the gaps, though! If you want to grow shimmery squash, consider letting it spill over the edge, and tie the zucchini to a post to go up instead of out. Just make sure you give each plant enough room to breathe, or you'll be dealing with crowded plants all season long!
You're on the right track! Squash, zucchini, and tomatoes take up quite a bit of space, so it's good to plan accordingly. You can definitely plant peppers and herbs closer together, especially if you treat herbs as short-term crops. For instance, I like to place one dwarf tomato at one end, followed by a squash halfway down the bed, and then fill in the sides with herbs and flowers. Just keep an eye on watering and pests, and don’t forget to add compost!
Wow, your beds are beautiful! Thank you for the advice!!
A simple rule: 1 tomato plant per bed unless it's a small variety. For zucchini, aim for 2 per bed, and for peppers, you can fit about 4. If you opt for a vining zucchini, trellising helps maximize space! Also, don’t hesitate to trim your tomatoes to fit more in. Check out this video on how to manage them: [How to trim tomatoes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N586k4Jv1Xg)
Thank you! I’d want to do crookneck squash.
Thank you!