- Author: Betty Victor
Two fairly new gardeners, at least to vegetable gardening, decided they wanted a small vegetable garden. Even with a large yard, they decided to do “square foot” gardening in a raised bed
So redwood was purchased the raised bed with each square 12 X 12 with a total of 14 squares built which can be worked from a chair if needed. Soil and compost were added, it was ready to plant, but what plants to plant? Of course their favorites.
'Early Girl', 'Beefsteak', 'Black Krim' and 'San Marzano' tomatoes (which they hope to make sauce from and freeze) are growing in 4 of the squares. Two squares are filled with jalapeño, banana, sweet Italian chocolate, purple and California bell peppers. Pickling cucumbers which they plan on canning are growing up small tomato cages in two of the squares; the last two squares have bush beans.
All the plants in the beds are doing well: the tomatoes have fruit, the cucumbers and peppers have blossoms, and some of the bush beans have been picked.
The gardeners decided they needed to plant the tall raised beds that they had with herbs, several different basil, parsley, and thyme. The plants are growing-some picked and used.
So their first adventure into square foot gardens for this couple is turning out to be fruitful-literally.