Vegetable Garden Layouts

A sunny area on the south or west side of a house is the best choice. It needs to receive six to eight hours of sunlight a day, have good drainage, access to water and limited competition from large tree roots. Now you are ready to design your vegetable garden layout.

There are a few options for laying out your vegetable garden. Start with graph paper and a pencil and draw the area you have selected for the garden. Once you have an idea of how much space you have and what you are growing, decide on the layout of the plants.

Row Planting

For easy access at harvest, row planting is the best option. Parallel lines are easy to keep neat and organized, but they use more space for the number of plants than raised beds would.

For large quantities and quick planting, row planting is the most efficient layout. Add mulch to reduce weeding.

How you arrange the vegetables will depend on the direction the sun comes from. Tall plants should be place so as not to block the sun on shorter ones.

Rows should be spaced wide enough apart to be able to walk down easily. The width of a rake is a good guide, and makes weeding and cleanup easier.

Raised Beds

For highly productive, space efficient plantings, create raised beds. Referred to as intensive planting, they produce higher yields than row planting.

Because the soil is built up and enriched before planting, more plants can be planted in the same square footage. There is also less weeding and better moisture retention.

Raised beds take more time initially to prepare, but reduce maintenance time throughout the growing season.

Beds should be four feet wide for easy access to the center of the bed at harvest.

Spot Garden Beds

If you have limited space in a single area for planting all the vegetables you want, consider spot garden beds.

Group companion plants together in small areas that provide the right conditions. Place several spot garden beds in different areas of the landscape to take advantage of sunlight.

Other Considerations

Companion planting increases the success of vegetable gardening. There are two methods of accomplishing this. The first type of companion planting refers to plants that actually grow better together.

Onions and carrots, basil and tomatoes, radishes and cucumbers work well together. On the other hand, dill with carrots, and garlic fennel with beans are not good combinations.

The second refers to growing herbs that deter pests and diseases among other vegetable crops. Garlic wards off Japanese beetles, mint keeps the aphids away, and pot marigold keeps asparagus beetles at bay.

Succession planting is another way to make the best use of every inch of space in the garden. After harvesting early crops like peas or spinach, plant beans or squash for a late harvest in the same space.

Depending on the length of your growing season, you may get yet a third crop of spinach to harvest in fall. Another method is to plant the same planting at two-week intervals to prolong the harvest time.

Understanding the growth cycles and habits of the vegetables you want to plant, and carefully planning your vegetable garden layout will bring you a bountiful harvest of vegetables.

More Vegetable Garden Layouts