Hey everyone! I've been hard at work planting my veggies and I'm almost done, but I'm a bit worried I might be going overboard. Here's what I've got planned:
In Bed 1, I'm cramming in as many tomatoes as possible, with onions around the edges and basil in between. I'm hoping some chamomile will pop up too.
Bed 2 has one side taken over by raspberries which I'm leaving alone, and the other half is filled with broccolini, broccoli, spinach, and maybe some more chamomile.
For Bed 3, I've got four cauliflower plants and a zucchini running down the middle, plus some bonus beet and carrot seeds (just extras). Onions will surround the edges, but I'm still deciding where to fit in some bell peppers.
In Bed 4, I've got two rows of okra, with plans for beans and winter squash, as well as some stray beets.
I'm also using pots for carrots, beets, and a big pot for potatoes, along with several smaller ones.
So, am I cramming too much into my beds? What else could I plant to maximize my harvest?
4 Answers
Just be careful with how many tomatoes you crowd in there—too many can get tricky to manage and are prone to blight. If you're starting them from seeds, make sure you don’t keep more than you can handle. Maybe think about sharing any extras you have with friends or family for some chili peppers in return!
It's hard to say without photos, but spacing is really key! Just be mindful not to plant onions with peas or beans. You could also consider adding some basil and marigolds with your tomatoes since they're great companion plants. If you can keep up with maintenance, remember that more can be better! ?
Thanks for the tips! I think I’m not putting the onions in with the okra and beans? I might have misspoke there. I'm planning to have basil with my tomatoes at least; I’m starting seeds for all of them so they have a bit more time to grow.
Depending on your bed size, you might want to look into the square foot gardening method. As long as you can take care of everything (watering, pest control, etc.), you should be alright!
Got it! But what exactly is the square foot gardening method?
What size are your beds? That'll help figure out if you're packing too much in there.
They're just standard sizes, like 3-4 feet by 5-6—definitely not great at estimating!
I plan to seed start about nine of two tomato varieties. If I end up with more, I’ll definitely share or trade with friends!