How to Plan Your Edible Garden
Get organized before you plant to ensure that your fruits and vegetables have a chance to thrive
Rebecca Cuttler
19 February 2021
Houzz Contributor. Rebecca Cuttler's mission is to share her love of urban food gardening with the world. She is the author of http://abundantcity.net, a blog that shares simple and effective techniques for growing food on an urban home garden scale with informative videos, photos and articles. She grows a huge amount of vegetables on a small lot in Vancouver, B.C. She is an urban gardening teacher for Hollyhock, Canada’s lifelong learning centre, gardening writer for the Vancouver Observer, co-host of Fabulous Urban Gardens on Roundhouse Radio 98.3 and member of the Vancouver Food Policy Council.
Houzz Contributor. Rebecca Cuttler's mission is to share her love of urban food gardening... More
Whether you’re starting a new garden or returning to a well-established one, planning is essential for a successful and fun experience. To give your garden the best chance to thrive, take time to get organized at the beginning of your growing season.
Siting Your Garden
If you’re adding new raised beds or using planter boxes that can be moved, make sure that your vegetable garden is in the right place.
Pay attention to sunlight. What direction does your garden face? In the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing yards and balconies get the most light, while north-facing gardens will almost always be shaded by comparison. West-facing gardens will get intense afternoon light, which can in some cases be hard on tender greens like lettuce. Gardens with mostly eastern exposure will get soft morning light, which may not necessarily be bright enough to grow sun lovers like tomatoes. Take a look, too, for buildings, trees and other structures that could block light by creating shadows.
If you live in a sunny climate, getting enough light may not be a big deal. In fact, some afternoon shade can be a big advantage in places with hot summers. If you’re in a rainier environment, such as the Pacific Northwest, getting adequate light can be a challenge. You may want to locate your vegetable garden in the sunniest spot, even if that’s your front yard.
Choose the right crops for the right place. If you can’t move your garden, work with what you have and choose your crops accordingly. Most salad greens, like spinach and lettuce, will grow happily in partial shade but can really suffer under hot sun. Good soil can help compensate for a less than perfectly located garden.
Use slopes to your advantage. Slope can also affect how you site your garden. Is your space mostly flat or does it have a variety of heights? In dry climates, take advantage of slope by planting in a low-lying area, which can better retain water. In a wet or shaded environment, planting on a south-facing slope, or in a raised area, can help increase drainage and sun exposure. Keep in mind that raised beds should always be level.
Find a landscape designer on Houzz to help plan your edible garden
If you’re adding new raised beds or using planter boxes that can be moved, make sure that your vegetable garden is in the right place.
Pay attention to sunlight. What direction does your garden face? In the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing yards and balconies get the most light, while north-facing gardens will almost always be shaded by comparison. West-facing gardens will get intense afternoon light, which can in some cases be hard on tender greens like lettuce. Gardens with mostly eastern exposure will get soft morning light, which may not necessarily be bright enough to grow sun lovers like tomatoes. Take a look, too, for buildings, trees and other structures that could block light by creating shadows.
If you live in a sunny climate, getting enough light may not be a big deal. In fact, some afternoon shade can be a big advantage in places with hot summers. If you’re in a rainier environment, such as the Pacific Northwest, getting adequate light can be a challenge. You may want to locate your vegetable garden in the sunniest spot, even if that’s your front yard.
Choose the right crops for the right place. If you can’t move your garden, work with what you have and choose your crops accordingly. Most salad greens, like spinach and lettuce, will grow happily in partial shade but can really suffer under hot sun. Good soil can help compensate for a less than perfectly located garden.
Use slopes to your advantage. Slope can also affect how you site your garden. Is your space mostly flat or does it have a variety of heights? In dry climates, take advantage of slope by planting in a low-lying area, which can better retain water. In a wet or shaded environment, planting on a south-facing slope, or in a raised area, can help increase drainage and sun exposure. Keep in mind that raised beds should always be level.
Find a landscape designer on Houzz to help plan your edible garden
Determining Your Goals and Capacity
Just because you have an entire backyard at your disposal doesn’t mean you should plant your whole yard right away. Gardening can be a lot of work, and you don’t want to get discouraged and abandon the whole project. If you’re new to gardening, hold back and start small. If things go well, you can always expand next year.
Take your lifestyle into consideration. If you like to travel, have a busy schedule without much free time or are planning home renovations in the next year, consider adding a smaller, less permanent container garden. An irrigation system with timers is a worthwhile investment if you don’t think you’ll be able to water your garden regularly.
Determine a goal for your garden and use it as a guiding principle. Your goal may be to have lots of fresh herbs available right outside your kitchen window, to provide a full plate of produce for your family or to teach your children where food comes from. Each of these goals will result in a different garden plan.
Find outdoor pots and planters in the Houzz Shop
Just because you have an entire backyard at your disposal doesn’t mean you should plant your whole yard right away. Gardening can be a lot of work, and you don’t want to get discouraged and abandon the whole project. If you’re new to gardening, hold back and start small. If things go well, you can always expand next year.
Take your lifestyle into consideration. If you like to travel, have a busy schedule without much free time or are planning home renovations in the next year, consider adding a smaller, less permanent container garden. An irrigation system with timers is a worthwhile investment if you don’t think you’ll be able to water your garden regularly.
Determine a goal for your garden and use it as a guiding principle. Your goal may be to have lots of fresh herbs available right outside your kitchen window, to provide a full plate of produce for your family or to teach your children where food comes from. Each of these goals will result in a different garden plan.
Find outdoor pots and planters in the Houzz Shop
Getting Practical
Ask yourself what items need to be built, purchased or designed for your space and make the appropriate arrangements to get the work done.
If you’re starting a new garden or redesigning an existing one, your to-do list will likely involve adding raised beds or obtaining containers, testing your existing soil for contaminants such as heavy metals and ordering a delivery of high-quality topsoil or potting mix.
Even if you’ve been growing in the same space year after year, take a moment to determine what maintenance is needed at this time. There’s a good chance that you’ll need to add compost (either homemade or purchased from a reputable supplier) to refresh tired soil and repair damaged structures.
Ask yourself what you can add that will take your garden to the next level. Trellises, row covers, cold frames, greenhouses and irrigation systems can make a huge difference when it comes to how much food you can grow.
Ask yourself what items need to be built, purchased or designed for your space and make the appropriate arrangements to get the work done.
If you’re starting a new garden or redesigning an existing one, your to-do list will likely involve adding raised beds or obtaining containers, testing your existing soil for contaminants such as heavy metals and ordering a delivery of high-quality topsoil or potting mix.
Even if you’ve been growing in the same space year after year, take a moment to determine what maintenance is needed at this time. There’s a good chance that you’ll need to add compost (either homemade or purchased from a reputable supplier) to refresh tired soil and repair damaged structures.
Ask yourself what you can add that will take your garden to the next level. Trellises, row covers, cold frames, greenhouses and irrigation systems can make a huge difference when it comes to how much food you can grow.
Choosing What to Plant
Once you have a sense of your goals and capacity, it’s time to choose your plants. Need help deciding? Here are eight surefire vegetables and herbs that work well for nearly any garden, even if you’re a beginner. A landscape designer who specializes in edible gardens will also be able to help you choose your plants.
Deciding where your plants are going, and when they’ll be planted, is where the true artistry and challenge of gardening comes in. Keep your plan simple. Allocate a space for each of your crops, taking into consideration that some plants, like salad greens, need very little room, while others, like pumpkins, can get enormous. If you’re growing in raised beds, consider dividing each bed into tidy sections using string and nails, a method known as square-foot gardening. This technique is especially helpful with salad greens, which do best when planted in small amounts every week or two.
Keep in mind that it’s best to avoid planting the same crop (or a close relative) in the same place year after year. Rotating crops helps prevent soil-borne plant diseases and nutrient deficiencies.
It’s all too easy to get excited about a garden early in the year, only to abandon it weeks later when the work becomes overwhelming. By doing some advance planning, you’ll give your garden the best opportunity to thrive.
More on Houzz
6 Things to Know Before You Start Growing Your Own Food
Find a landscape designer to help with your outdoor project
Shop for gardening tools
Once you have a sense of your goals and capacity, it’s time to choose your plants. Need help deciding? Here are eight surefire vegetables and herbs that work well for nearly any garden, even if you’re a beginner. A landscape designer who specializes in edible gardens will also be able to help you choose your plants.
Deciding where your plants are going, and when they’ll be planted, is where the true artistry and challenge of gardening comes in. Keep your plan simple. Allocate a space for each of your crops, taking into consideration that some plants, like salad greens, need very little room, while others, like pumpkins, can get enormous. If you’re growing in raised beds, consider dividing each bed into tidy sections using string and nails, a method known as square-foot gardening. This technique is especially helpful with salad greens, which do best when planted in small amounts every week or two.
Keep in mind that it’s best to avoid planting the same crop (or a close relative) in the same place year after year. Rotating crops helps prevent soil-borne plant diseases and nutrient deficiencies.
It’s all too easy to get excited about a garden early in the year, only to abandon it weeks later when the work becomes overwhelming. By doing some advance planning, you’ll give your garden the best opportunity to thrive.
More on Houzz
6 Things to Know Before You Start Growing Your Own Food
Find a landscape designer to help with your outdoor project
Shop for gardening tools
What are you working on?
Related Stories
Kitchen Guides
10 Key Kitchen Dimensions You Need to Know
Here are key kitchen dimensions that will help you design like a pro
Full Story
More Room Guides
35 Serene Puja Room Designs
Take a leaf out of these elegantly designed, beautiful prayer rooms on Houzz
Full Story
Decorating Guides
What Are the Benefits of Hiring an Interior Designer?
From furnishing working drawings to beautifying the home, find out how an interior designer plays multifunctional roles
Full Story
More Room Guides
Turn One Room Into Two With These Genius Ideas
Carve out an extra room within your home with these fab room-splitting tips and tricks
Full Story
Bedroom Guides
What Are the Ideal Wardrobe Measurements?
Here are dimensions for different types of wardrobe designs that ensure maximum functionality and storage
Full Story
Architecture
These Indian Homes Know How To Combat Harsh Climate
See how these homes by SPASM, Kumar Moorthy & Associates and JPLUSDARCHITECTS mitigate the ramifications of harsh climate ahead of time
Full Story
Architecture
How to Find an Architect That's Right for You
Make the construction and renovation of your home a pleasant and memorable journey by selecting the right architect
Full Story
Bathroom Guides
Step-by-Step: A Guide to Renovating Your Bathroom
Planning to renovate your bathroom? Learn about the different stages involved in the remodelling process
Full Story
Living Rooms
30 Best Sofa Designs
This guide gives a rundown of sofa types that will leave you spoilt for choices
Full Story
Small Spaces
7 Stylish Ways to Dry Your Laundry In a Small Apartment
Has your drying rack become a perpetual eyesore in your home? These dapper laundry drying solutions have you covered
Full Story
I think the biggest mistakes are overestimating how much you can do in the garden and not having an irrigation system. You won't be able to hand water every day if you live in the desert and sometimes you might unexpectedly leave town for longer than your garden can handle being without water! An irrigation system can be as simple as a soaker hose on a timer. Have that set up before you plant. When you do plant, make sure you plant things you like to eat. Keep things simple, especially at first. Realize not everything is going to work out. I just moved to southern California and it's quite warm so I planted tomatoes and then we got a few nights of upper 20s/low 30s. I'll be replacing those tomato plants. Bummer, wasted money. But it is a lesson.
We recently downsized and our new home has a nice fenced yard with areas of sun and shade. We are looking forward to vegetable and flower gardening this year, but are taking the time to notice which areas get the most sun, the type of soil, etc. We are also going to be doing more container gardening so that we can move plants around based on the changing seasons. Gardening is always a learning experience, but the rewards are well worth the time and effort involved.
I have a huge garden. It is my pride and joy all summer, gardening, lawns, landscaping, flowers! It makes me so happy. I love my hundreds of birds and hundreds of bees. My go to for all things gardening is The Old Farmers Almanac!!!