• Location: Northern Louisiana
• Gardening Year: 2013
• Planting By Color group: Red, Navy

This is my first time trying out a raised garden! I need all the help in this layout that I can get…. I have grown traditional row gardens before, so I am questionable with my typical crops in the square foot garden.

For the research I have done throughout this site, and the growth charts for my state agricultural website, as well as tedious video searches on YouTube….I have decided on this:

I plan to trellis my tomatoes using the single stem method to add a little control to my vinage (indeterminate of course). I also plan to trellis the peas and squash….still undecided on the type of peas I want this year. Im thinking I may have too many cukes lined up on this garden plan, but as all sources suggest, the spacing is fine….need input though. Also, I do not plan to put down a weed mesh bc of the 8 inch depth of my cinder blocks. I plan to have a variety of peppers (jalapeno, bell, banana, and maybe chili)…wasn’t quite sure on the placements.

My biggest question is how well the herbs will grow in this Louisiana weather, as I have never tried herbs. I am planting mostly for salsa, marinade, and pickles…as that is what we love to consume in this family. My peas and squash crops will hopefully yield plentiful side dishes. I also plan for a nice lettuce, spinach, and chard (Hardiness Zone willing) crop in the Fall…but of course that is not reflected on this garden plan.

Anxious to hear comments and revision suggestions!!!

• Gardening Year: 2013
• Location: Lynchburg, VA
• Planting by Color: Orange
• USDA Zone: 7a

My name is Tony, Last year, 2012, was the first year my wife and I square foot gardened. We started building them during the season, and had moderate success for getting a late start. The reason we started SFG at all is because the 8″ x 20″ row garden in the back yard would frequently be neglected for a week or two at a time and crops that needed extra loving would get lost to the hot Virginia summer sun.

Facing North

The SFG lots are in the front yard, which has high foot traffic, so we will have ample opportunity to pick a couple weeds and dump a container of water as we walk past them every day.

Facing South

Front Yard Plan(Google Spreadsheet)

Planting Schedule(Google Calendar)

Each lot has at least 2 feet of grass on each side for easy access.

In these images, North is to the right on right-handed displays: N–>

NE Lot

The mustard in this lot is from last year, but may not survive the rest of the winter. It is already very wilty. If it does not survive, I will replace it with pepper and tomato plants. This is a raised bet, with ~10 inches of Mel’s Mix. The rose plant was a present my wife got from a friend last year. I think its a dwarf, so I suspect it will get shaded out.

C Lot

N Lot

These two lots, along with the NE lot, are pepper/tomato focused, with some Marigolds thrown in for some more color and companion planting. The North Lot is a raised bed with ~10 inches of Mel’s Mix. The Center Lot is ground level topsoil. Almost everyone tells me it is not worth the effort to start peppers and tomatoes indoor from seed, but I had good success last year(high germination and transplant survival). I plan to start planting both from seed indoors February 15th, and start transplanting the peppers on March 30th(2 weeks later) and the tomatoes on April  outside on April 6th(3 weeks later).  Is my timing right?

E Lot

SSW Lot

SSSW Lot

These 3 lots have peas, with sunflowers for support, and are ground level top soil.  If I plant the peas when I am planning, March 2nd, will the sunflowers that are planted on March 30th be able to grow through them fast enough to provide support, or even at all? I would prefer to not have to stake the sunflowers, but am not sure what size/kind is big/fast enough but not too big. The garlic and marigolds should help with rodents and pests. The East Lot is a raised bed, but no Mel’s Mix. I plan on planting garlic cloves outside February 9th, and the cucumbers on April 20th.

NW Lot

This lot is experimenting with the 3 sisters technique. It is ground level topsoil. How many corn stalks per quadrant should I shoot for? How many bean plants? I am thinking 4 zucchini plants, one in the NE corner of each quadrant, will provide more then enough ground foliage to choke out everything else, maybe even the corn and beans. The plan is to plant the beans on April 13th, the corn on April 20th, and the Zucchini on May 4th.

W Lot

SW Lot

SSE Lot

Salad lots. Ground level topsoil. Onions should help deter rodents. I am probably going to replace at least some of the carrots with more lettuce. I am planning on planting the the carrots on March 9th, the onions from seed I harvested last year on March 16th,  and the lettuce on April 6th.

SSSE Lot

Melons! Ground level topsoil. I do not plan on providing anything for them to climb on, so they will almost definitely spread into the surrounding yard, which is not a big issue. I plan on planting both the cantaloupe and watermelons on April 27th.

S Lot

Random stuff, but there was an attempt to pair companion plants. Ground level topsoil. The marigolds are going in on March 30th, and the garlic on February 9th. I am going to try starting eggplant indoors on March 2nd, and transplant on April 6th. I don’t have a plan for the peanuts, asparagus, or mustard yet.

I do not plan on investing more in peat moss or vermiculite. Should I redistribute the Mel’s Mix I do have in the N and NE lots to some of the other lots? I do plan on investing in more manure for all the lots. I usually get 40lb bags for $2.25 each from Lowes. Is this a good deal, or do I need to find another source?

• Gardening Year: 2013
• Location: Plainfield, IL
• Planting By Color: Green

Hello all.  Last year, even though I got off to a very late start it was my first attempt at SFG.  This year I plan to do things better and get started with a good plan first.  My family is in the SW burbs of Chicago in Plainfield, IL and we have decided to get more involved with gardening.

Last year we started off with 2 3 x 6 boxes.  With the late start and us learning, we did a lot of trial and error not to mention we pick a very hot and dry summer to start.  We did end up with some nice lettuce, greens (mustard and turnip) along with banana peppers (favorite when pickled).  The other peppers were just so so and the same goes for the corn.  As for the tomatoes, we gave each (Big Beef and Roma) 4 squares, but should have probably gave them each 9 as they were huge.  We did get lots of great fruit from each, but placement has to be better this year.

Here’s a review of the garden in pictures:

This year, we are adding 2 4 x 8 boxes each with a trellis as described by Mel.  Currently I am thinking of alternating squares on the trellis, but I’m having second thoughts and thinking of grouping what I have on the trellis, but keeping the cucumbers in separate boxes and pruning the Big Beef tomatoes.

I tried to color code my plan as well with Blue/Greenish for cool weather and Orange for summer crops.  The light vs dark shade is so that I plant similar crops 1 – 2 weeks apart.

Any feedback and/or suggestions would be great.

Thanks,
Ed