Sharla’s Garden – Planting your Veggies!

Your square foot garden is built and now all there is left to do is plant your fruits and vegetables. Depending on the mature size of the plant, you’ll want to grow either 1, 4, 9 or 16 plants per square foot. For example, if the seed packet recommends that the plants be spaced 12 inches apart, you’ll plant 1 per grid box. If it recommends 6 inch spacing between plants, you can plant 4, if it asks for 4 inch spacing between plants, you can plant 9, and if it recommends 3 inch spacing, you can plant 16 per square foot grid.

If you are planting seeds (vs. seedlings), since the space is so small, you’ll want to use your fingers to make a shallow hold in the soil and place one or two seeds in each spot. You should then cover the seed, but be sure not to pack the soil so that air and water can penetrate.

Once planted, you’ll need to water the plants regularly. Since the garden is so small, its best to water by hand and to use water that is room temperature or slightly warmer – the warmer water helps warm the soil and promote growth especially in the early stages of the plants development.

Once the plants have matured, you can harvest continually. Once the crop has been removed, dig out any roots or debris, add new compost, and plant a new seed (or seeds) in that square.

What is Sharla growing in her garden?

• Romaine Lettuce

• Kale

• Spinach

• Lettuce Mesculin

• Tomatoes

• Bush green beans

• Snap peas

• Radishes

• Onions

• Green peppers

• Squash, and

• Cucumbers

Eat fresh! Eat at Sharla’s house!