Garden Plan

I completely forgot to mention what I'm growing this year:
(Note: McKenzie owns McFayden, Pike, Gusto Italia, Martha Stewart Living, and probably more.)

Vegetables

• Broccoli
• Carrots: Nutri Red, Scarlet Nantes and Sweetness (all from McFayden)
• Leeks: Malabar from Mr. Fothergill's
• Lettuces: "Misticanza" from Gusto Italia, and "Mesclun - Spicy Mix" from McKenzie
• Onion: bunching from Mr. Fothergill's and red onions from McKenzie's sets
• Peas: sugar snap and snow peas (we have several old "leftover" packages of snow peas, I may grow these in pots)
• Pumpkin: small sugar from McFayden
• Radish: Cherry Belle (free sample from McKenzie; I may or may not actually plant these)
• Spinaches: Correnta and Bloomsdale Savoy from Pike
• Butternut Squash from McFayden
• Tomatoes: Stupice from McFayden
• Cherry Tomatoes: Sun sugar from McFayden and Sweet Cherry Hybrid (free sample from McFayden)
• Zucchini: Sungreen from McFayden

Herbs

• Basil: Genovese by Gusto Italia and Purple from McFayden
• Chamomile: Roman
• Dill
• Oregano
• Parsley: Single Hardy Italian (flat leaf)
• Sage
• Spearmint
• Tarragon

Other
These are grown mostly to attract pollinators; some are for companion planting as indicated

• Aster: Starlight Pink
• Bachelor's Button: Double
• Bee Balm: Panorama Mix
• Black Eyed Susan, a native plant (perennial)
• Calendula: for medicinal and cosmetic use
• Cosmos: Early Sensation Mix and Candy Stripe
• Daisy: shasta, a perennial
• Flax: blue, as a companion for carrots
• Gaillardia: Grandiflora, a free sample from McKenzie
• Marigold: French Mixed by Pike, as a companion, especially to tomatoes, squash and broccoli; an insect repellent; a pesticide (roots produce chemical); a possible rabbit deterrent (I've heard mixed results: some say rabbits don't like the smell; others notice no change)
• Nasturtium: Jewel Mixed by Garden Corner, as a companion; for consumption
• Poppy: white cloud
• Purple Coneflower: a type of Echinacea native to North America; for attracting pollinators; for medicinal (preventative) use
• Wildflowers - All Purpose Mix by Garden Corner

Garden Bed

I will be using raised beds this year: a 3x16 foot and a 3x6 foot bed (may be expanded to 3x9).

Why three feet wide? With raised beds, it is best to have a width such that everything is within arms' reach. This usually means a width of 4' for an average armspan of 2'. However, my beds will be placed against the neighbour's fence and against the garage (best places for sunlight), so I'll only be able to reach from one side. I figured 2' was too narrow, so decided on 3'.

The 3x16 will be somewhat divided into two general areas: squash and tomatoes. On the left 7' will be: two Zucchini, one Butternut and one Pumpkin. I understand this is not a lot of room for the pumpkin, but I don't require truckloads of pumpkin and butternut, so this should be enough.

Behind them, against the fence, I will have a trellis that runs the entire 16'. Behind the squashes, the trellis will support peas.

Peas and squash grow well together, because squash are heavy nitrogen-eaters, and peas have a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. In fact, the trio of corn, peas and squash have been planted together by some Native tribes who called it the "three sisters".

I will plant a border of dill on the left; and nasturtium and marigold along the bottom, and right. Between the squashes, I will plant oregano; and perhaps spinaches. Spinach will mature before the squash plants get too big, so this is a good use of space.

On the right, cherry tomatoes and regular tomatoes will climb the trellis. Separating cherry tomatoes from regular tomatoes will be a short row of bunching onions. In front of the tomatoes will be a mixed row of parsley, basil and tarragon. And in front of that, my red onions. Border will be comprised of chamomile in the front, nasturtium and marigold to the right and chamomile intercropped with the tomatoes at the rear.

The 3x6 bed will be against the garage.

From the rear forward: broccoli; a row of mixed dill, lettuce and bunching onions; a row of mixed lettuces and spinahces; a row of mixed tarragon, blue flax and chamomile; a row of carrots.

However, because broccoli, carrot, onion and lettuces like cooler temperatures, I'm not sure this is the best place for them. The garage receives a lot of sunlight and the wall is white, so the bed will heat up. I may have to rethink my placement; or perhaps grow a vining plant behind the broccoli... However, during cool spring and fall, this should not pose a problem. I may choose to grow other heat-loving crops in the summer; then switch back to broccoli and carrots in the fall.


In addition to these two raised beds, I will be planting a few containers on the backyard deck; and occasionally moving them onto the lawn for better light.

I intend to have separate pots for: salad greens (mixed lettuces and spinaches); herbs (spearmint must be by itself); butterfly-attracting flowers.

I considered growing a butterfly container that included host plants for butterflies to lay eggs; but that seemed too much hassel for my first year. Next year, perhaps!


Compost
I'm also creating a compost bin! It'll be a very simple 3-sided box with chicken wire walls; just somewhere to pile my yard and kitchen scraps and occasionally rake out to mix.

You can find some basic instructions for a variety of compost bin systems here.

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