Vegetable Garden Layout for 1999
(For scale: the tomato symbols above are approximately 15 inches in diameter.)
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This is what REALLY happened. No zuchini, I figured someone is going to give me some anyway. Only one hill of cucumbers and they are surrounded by horseradish run amuck (it's a weed!). My marigolds still haven't bloomed so were no help against the potato beetle larvae. Only rotenone solved that problem but not before the plants were severely damaged. My snowpeas were a bust; too hot too soon. My tomato plants are so huge they are tipping over their cages so the cages are now staked! My first pumpkins are 4 inches across. The basil flowered early and were bug attacked. My beans are actually providing 2 meals so far, not bad for the 5 plants the bunnies left. The parsley and oregano went to seed as did the dill. I did make a marvelous strawberry- rhubarb pie though! And I planted the rosemary next to the south side of the house where it may survive the winter. (as of 7-7-99) |
My vegetable garden is the same size as it was last year but if you look at my layout, it seems quite full. It's hard for me to believe that in 1998 I had twice as many tomato and pepper plants for a total of 20 in the same bed. It was VERY overcrowded and consequently impossible to weed and nearly impossible not step on produce. If I hadn't covered the ground around these plants with black plastic weeds would have strangled the the tomatoes. Growing fewer plants will allow 1-2 feet of walking space between the tomatoes depending on how bushy each plant gets. The pumpkins may or may not go here, they can get rather rangy.
Except for the rhubarb and horseradish which are perennials, everything has been rotated to new areas of the bed. The herbs are in the same spot but they will be rotated within their section (which is approximately 6 ft x 4 ft). The marigolds among the potatoes are the type that are supposed to deter potato beetles.
I have not yet selected the varieties to be planted. However the rhubarb is Valentine.
The tomato varieties I planted are Celebrity, Roma, Brandywine, Early Girl, Better Bush, Better Boy in the garden and Yellow Pear and Sweet Millions in pots on the deck. I have one sweet pickle pepper and one pepper of unknown variety from a multipack.
I planted Quest bush beans and they are very tasty! I generally HATE green beans. These by the way were planted north/south to the left of the onions.
LESSONS LEARNED THUS FAR THIS YEAR
The heat and drought (especially the drought) have again been the biggest problem. But other than using the soaker hoses and plastic mulch there isn't much I can do about it!
Plant only one hill of pumpkins. Rip out all the horseradish it is too much of a pain! Stake the tomato cages from the beginning because no amount of sucker removal seems to keep them from becoming top heavy. Plant the marigolds indoors even earlier. Use rotenone not sevin on the potatoes.
Get floating row covers for the beans.
The black plastic is working very well, BUY MORE.
One third of my Gurney's potatoes did not sprout. Next year I am going to buy seed potatoes at the local co-op.
Graphics created by Buzzsolo
Last revised: January 30, 2001.