As the days get shorter and winter is just on the horizon, it is the perfect time to plan your next (or first ever) vegetable garden. If you are a first timer or a seasoned pro, it’s good practice to figure out what you want to grow and harvest in your backyard farm. With the right approach, you can produce so much food that you’ll feels like starting a CSA. The big questions are: when should you plant each crop, when should you harvest it and (in compacted places like raised beds) what grows best side-by-side?
The first two questions are the easiest to answer. I worked up the visual diagram above to show when to plant and harvest a bunch of veggies for a client in South Orange. It gives you the first blush of how to time seeding for maximum results.
The veggies I list are only the general common name for them. If you start right now, you can discover an entire world of heirloom options for just about every veggie you love from Mary Washington Asaparagus to Clemson Okra to Purple Sprouting Broccoli. Or you can explore from a vast array of heirloom tomatoes like Rainbow Blend, Cherokee Purple, Black Cherry, Red Zebra or Caspian Pink. Best thing about designing your garden right now is that there are mega-deals on seed because this is when most people aren’t taken advantage of the cold season. Most people start to think about growing stuff in their yards when it gets warm and that’s when you will likely pay the most for seed.
What this schedule doesn’t show is where to actually put your urban/suburban vegetable garden. Every site is different, so the right location can be decisive. Another important factor is planting the best edibles beside one anothers so they are complimentary and don't compete with to each other. This, along with the right amount of watering and soil, will give you hours of joy and satisfaction from your labors.
What this schedule doesn’t show is where to actually put your urban/suburban vegetable garden. Every site is different, so the right location can be decisive. Another important factor is planting the best edibles beside one anothers so they are complimentary and don't compete with to each other. This, along with the right amount of watering and soil, will give you hours of joy and satisfaction from your labors.
I love stylish raised beds for gardening. There’re so many super cool options for planting vegetables on your property. The bed above is one of my favorites made from Corten Steel. It’s big enough to do just about anything you want, yet small enough for any novice to enjoy the effort of bringing forth life from soil. If you want help with planning, installation and designing your vegetable garden, we would love to hear from you.
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