Hello good folks!

I am in zone 6a and just found out this last weekend that after more than THREE YEARS on a waitlist for a spot at a nearby community garden, my time has finally come. I have been skipping around ever since.

The plot I have been given is a raised bed (about 3 feet tall) and it is 4 feet by 8 feet. Itty bitty, but I am determined to make good use of the space.

My plan for the space is for 3 tomato plants (2 cherry, 1 larger heirloom variety), 1 poblano pepper, 1 jalapeño pepper, 3 genovese basil, 2 marigolds, 1 zucchini, 1 pickling cucumber, and as many radishes as I can cram in the middle. I'll transition to beets for the fall. I am thinking that the cucumber and zucchini can sprawl down the side of the raised bed. Who knows if that would actually work.

Across from my plot is a fence that, based on some snooping on Google street view from 2 summers ago, people have had success growing vining green beans on, so I am going to replicate that.

I've drawn up a mockup of a layout. I have grown all of these herbs and vegetables before when I lived in Ohio growing up, but just not so close together.

I fear that I am flying too close to the sun, and I need someone to talk some sense into me. Is this a realistic layout for such a small space?

Pic 1: the garden bed (this is two plots side by side, so I would have 1 half).

Pic 2: my proposed layout

by Bebe_Yaga_

1 Comment

  1. dirtyplants

    Looks good to me! Be sure to have a plan for supporting the tomatoes. Both cherries and most heirlooms need cages or trellises. Also, do you like radishes and beets? I feel like a lot of people (myself included) end up growing them just because they’re quick and easy but don’t actually enjoy eating them lol.

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