| | Plant | Number | Plants per Square Foot | Notes |
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Alyssum
| 12 | 9 | |
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Apple (Dwarf)
| 2 | 0 | Soil
Prepare a large hole by breaking up the soil and adding plenty of compost or other organic matter.
Position
Sun or partial shade.
Frost tolerant
Yes.
Feeding
Not required, unless closely spaced or just planted.
Companions
-
Spacing
Single Plants: 3' 3" (1.00m) each way (minimum)
Rows: 3' 3" (1.00m) with 3' 3" (1.00m) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Plant in mid-fall or early winter when it's not too cold for a little root growth to help them establish. Should be planted with at least one other apple tree which flowers at a similar time to aid pollination.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Prune towards the end of the season to remove any dead or overcrowded branches and to shape if required.
Harvesting
Harvest when apples are ripe.
Troubleshooting
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Apricot (Dwarf)
| 1 | 0 | Soil
Deep, moisture-retentive but well-drained, slightly alkaline soil.
Position
Best grown against a sheltered south-facing wall in cool climates. Elsewhere apricots need full sun to limit disease and produce high quality fruit.
Frost tolerant
Yes, but it is important to choose varieties known to grow well in your area to reduce risk of losing blooms to spring freezes. Cold damage to apricot blossoms is a major limiting factor in where they can be successfully grown.
Feeding
Feed with balanced organic fertilizer in early spring. Keep the area beneath apricots mulched with wood chips, straw, or another mulch that helps maintain soil moisture.
Companions
Corridors within the orchard that are planted with clovers and other legumes contribute to soil fertility and attract pollinators.
Spacing
Single Plants: 9' 10" (3.00m) each way (minimum)
Rows: 9' 10" (3.00m) with 9' 10" (3.00m) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Prepare a large hole by breaking up the soil and adding plenty of well-rotted organic matter. A wide hole is better than a very deep one. Mulch after planting, and encircle the trunk with a wire cage or protective pipe to protect the young tree from animal and insect pests. Young apricot trees are at high risk for damage from insects that bore into the main trunk.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Prune in spring or mid to late summer in the cool climates. Elsewhere prune apricots in late winter. Healthy apricot trees will bear for ten to fifteen years or more.
Harvesting
Harvest when the fruit is soft and can be pulled easily from the tree. Ripe apricots fall to the ground.
Troubleshooting
Dieback and oozing resin can often be remedied by improving growing conditions. Mulching, watering, feeding, weeding and hard pruning can all help. In humid climates, apricots often develop problems with fungal diseases such as brown rot. Preventive sprays with organic fungicides are |
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Bok Choy
Baby Choi Organic
| 22 | 4 | Soil
Any sunny site with good drainage.
Position
Full sun.
Frost tolerant
Bok choy can tolerate light frost, but exposure to cold temperatures in spring can trigger early bolting. In fall, exposure to light frost can improve bok choy's flavor.
Feeding
Mix a light application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior to planting.
Companions
Lettuce, mustard, kale, escarole, tatsoi, mizuna and other greens found in mesclun mixtures. Miniature varieties are available for square foot gardens and containers.
Spacing
Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 7" (20cm) with 9" (25cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Sow bok choy in spring and again in late summer for harvest in fall. Sow in double rows, with rows spaced 10 inches (25 cm) apart. Plant seeds 2 inches (5 cm) apart and barely cover them with soil. Gradually thin to 8 inches (20 cm) apart. Miniature varieties can be grown 3 inches (8 cm) apart.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Also spelled pac choi, this lovely little mustard cousin is fast and easy to grow.
Harvesting
Pull whole plants for use in the kitchen.
Troubleshooting
Flea beetles often chew small holes in bok choy leaves in spring, but are less of a problem in the fall. |
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Broccoli
Aspabroc Hybrid
| 10 | 1 | Soil
Rich, deep soil, firm with plenty of well rotted compost, composted manure, or balanced organic fertilizer dug in prior to planting.
Position
Full sun.
Frost tolerant
Yes.
Feeding
Mix composted manure or another high-nitrogen compost into the soil before planting. When heads begin to form, feed with a liquid plant food.
Companions
Alfalfa
Spacing
Single Plants: 1' 5" (45cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 1' 5" (45cm) with 1' 5" (45cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Sow indoors in early spring, and set out while the soil is still cool. Sow fall broccoli indoors in summer, and set out when the plants are 3 weeks old.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Broccoli that matures in cool fall weather has an especially tender texture with sweet flavor to match.
Harvesting
Use a sharp knife to harvest the primary head when the beads are plump and well-filled. Many varieties produce numerous smaller side shoots after the primary head is cut.
Troubleshooting
Cabbageworms are small green larvae of the cabbage white butterfly. You can use row covers to keep them from eating plants. |
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Cabbage (Fall)
Bacalan De Rennes
| 6 | 1 | Soil
Rich, deep soil, firm with plenty of well rotted compost dug in prior to planting.
Position
Full sun.
Frost tolerant
Yes. Tolerates moderate frost, but damaged by hard freezes.
Feeding
Drench every two weeks with an organic liquid fertilizer.
Companions
-
Spacing
Single Plants: 1' 7" (50cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 1' 5" (45cm) with 1' 9" (55cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Sow indoors in early spring, or set out purchased seedlings.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Try growing different varieties from seed to explore differences in leaf color (such as red cabbage) and type (smooth-leaf or savoy).
Harvesting
Cut heads when they reach the size you prefer.
Troubleshooting
Heavy summer rains following dry weather can cause heads to split. Watch for green imported cabbageworms, the larvae of the cabbage white butterfly. Exclude the adults with row covers. |
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Carrot
Atlas
| 52 | 16 | Soil
Well drained soil rich in organic matter, but with no manure added prior to planting. Use well aged compost or vermicompost to condition compacted soil.
Position
Sun or partial afternoon shade.
Frost tolerant
Tops tolerate light frost; roots survive hard freezes.
Feeding
Soil quality is more essential that supplemental feeding.
Companions
Leek, Onion, Tomato, Sage.
Spacing
Single Plants: 3" (10cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 3" (10cm) with 5" (15cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Sow direct into soil in spring. Make a second sowing for a fall crop in mid to late summer.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Keep plants well weeded to reduce competition for nutrients are water. Mulch over the tops of mature carrots to keep their shoulders from turning green.
Harvesting
Can be harvested over a long period, but the longer plants are left in the ground, the more likely they are to be injured by insects or animals.
Troubleshooting
Viruses, nematodes, and soil-borne diseases can cause roots to become gnarled or misshapen. Try fast-maturing varieties to sidestep these problems. |
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Catnip
| 5 | 1 | |
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Cauliflower
Colored Mix
| 10 | 1 | Soil
Rich, moist soil, firm with plenty of well rotted compost dug in.
Position
Full sun.
Frost tolerant
Yes.
Feeding
Mix composted manure or another high-nitrogen compost into the soil before planting. When heads begin to form, feed with a liquid plant food.
Companions
Alfalfa.
Spacing
Single Plants: 1' 7" (50cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 1' 5" (45cm) with 1' 11" (60cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Sow indoors in early spring, and set out while the soil is still cool.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Cabbageworms are small green larvae of the cabbage white butterfly. You can use row covers to keep them from eating plants. Bend over a few leaves if required so that the cauliflower head is kept shaded while it is forming.
Harvesting
Harvest when the head has fully developed, but before the curd becomes loose, with a "ricey" appearance.
Troubleshooting
When plants are stressed by cold or drought, they may refuse to make heads. |
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Celery
Calypso
| 36 | 4 | Soil
Rich, moisture-retentive soil with plenty of compost dug in before planting.
Position
Shade or partial afternoon shade.
Frost tolerant
Light frost only, damaged by hard freezes.
Feeding
Liquid feed every two weeks throughout the season.
Companions
-
Spacing
Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 5" (15cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Sow indoors in early spring, and set out transplants when they are big enough to handle.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Garden-grown celery is looser and darker green than the supermarket version, with much more intense flavor. Provide water as needed to the soil moist in dry weather.
Harvesting
Cut individual stalks as needed in the kitchen, or pull entire plants.
Troubleshooting
Resents hot, humid weather. |
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Cilantro
| 39 | 1 | Soil
Average, well drained soil amended with compost.
Position
Full sun to partial afternoon shade.
Frost tolerant
Seedlings tolerate light frost with protection. Established plants may survive winter in mild climates.
Feeding
Drench with a liquid organic fertilizer when plants are 4 inches tall.
Companions
-
Spacing
Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 5" (15cm) with 9" (25cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Start seeds indoors in individual containers, or sow seeds outdoors half an inch deep and 2 inches apart. Gradually thin seedlings to proper spacing, and eat your thinnings. Older seedlings are difficult to transplant successfully.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Cilantro seeds are the spice known as coriander.
Harvesting
As soon as plants are 6 inches tall, pick individual leaves as you need them in the kitchen.
Troubleshooting
Plants grown in spring often rush to produce flowers; fall-grown plants are often better producers. |
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Flower
| 18 | 4 | |
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Flower
| 22 | 4 | |
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Kale
| 12 | 1 | Soil
Fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of well rotted compost dug in.
Position
Full sun.
Frost tolerant
Yes.
Feeding
Not usually required, but may be needed if plants grow slowly even though the weather is comfortably warm.
Companions
-
Spacing
Single Plants: 1' 3" (40cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 1' 1" (35cm) with 1' 5" (45cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Sow indoors in spring and set out under cloches when plants have 5 leaves. Start another planting indoors in midsummer, and set out in early fall.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Kale tolerates moderate freezes, but is damaged by severe cold. Try different types, including curly varieties, many of which are blushed with red. Dinosaur or Tuscan kale has long, dark green puckered leaves.
Harvesting
Harvest leaves individually, when they are about the size of your hand.
Troubleshooting
In warm weather, cabbageworms may feed on leaves. Exclude them with floating row covers. In cool weather, watch for outbreaks of gray-green cabbage aphids in leaf crevices. Pick off and compost badly infested leaves. |
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Rosemary
| 12 | 1 | Soil
Any average, well drained soil enriched with compost.
Position
Sun or partial shade.
Frost tolerant
Hardy only to about 10 degrees F, though winter protection can help. Where winters are mild, rosemary can grow into huge, shrub-like plants. In cold winter areas, small plants can be potted up in fall and grown through winter indoors.
Feeding
Drench plants with a water soluble organic plant food one month after setting them out.
Companions
-
Spacing
Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 7" (20cm) with 7" (20cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Start with a purchased plant, keeping in mind that growth habit varies with variety. Trailing rosemary for walls, or dwarf varieties for containers, are propagated by rooting stem cuttings rather than from seeds. Wild Mediterranean rosemary can be grown from seeds or plants.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Frequent pinching back helps to keep plants bushy and full, and it delays flowering. Trailing rosemary is great cascading over a wall.
Harvesting
Gather sprigs as needed in the kitchen. Gather stems for drying from spring to late summer.
Troubleshooting
Plants are often short-lived, so root stem cuttings each spring to always have vigorous young plants. Treat small outbreaks of powdery mildew with a spray made from 2 Tablespoons milk in 1 cup water. |
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Spinach (New Zealand)
Tetragonia
| 10 | 0 | Soil
Well-drained, reasonably good soil, though will tolerate a variety of sites.
Position
Sun or partial shade.
Frost tolerant
No.
Feeding
Not required.
Companions
-
Spacing
Single Plants: 1' 7" (50cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 1' 5" (45cm) with 1' 11" (60cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Sow under cover in late spring, planting out when all risk of frost past or direct into the soil from then onwards.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Requires very little attention. Soak seeds in water overnight before planting to improve germination.
Harvesting
Pull a few leaves from the outside of the plant regularly from mid summer onwards to produce more growth.
Troubleshooting
- |
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