Explore Cornell - Home Gardening - Vegetable Growing Guides (2024)

FAQs

What is the best layout for a vegetable garden? ›

As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.

Gardening magazine's trial of the best soil mixture for raised beds found that a blend of 50% topsoil, 25% coarse sand and 25% compost was best.

Leaf lettuces and salad greens such as kale, chard, mustard, arugula, collards, and watercress are among the easiest of edibles – mainly because they start readily from seeds planted directly in the garden and are quick to mature (meaning less time for anything to go wrong.) Most greens are “cut-and-come-again,” too.

Brassicas: Brassicas such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are not good companion plants for peppers as they require similar nutrients from the soil, which can lead to competition and reduced yield. They also attract pests such as flea beetles and cabbage worms that can damage pepper plants.

Planting cucumbers and tomatoes right next to each other is often not recommended. These two plants often have similar requirements for nutrients, water and light, which can lead to competition. Both plants are heavy feeders and require a lot of nitrogen for healthy growth.

Additionally, arrange the plants in such a way that the tallest ones are at the north end of the row, followed by medium-height veggies, and finally, the shortest ones at the south end. This arrangement maximizes sunlight exposure for all the plants.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, beans, potatoes, corn, oats, fruits, flowers, and many others have all been grown without soil. However, the choice of the plant to be grown depends upon very careful analysis of market demands in relation to the cost of production and to the availability of labor and supervision needed.

What vegetables don't need a lot of room to grow? ›

Lettuce, spinach, turnips, and greens can all be grown in a shallow window box. Root vegetables like carrots, radishes, or beets will need to be grown in containers deep enough for the root to grow. Some carrots require deeper containers to allow the carrots to stretch out.

The traditional method of vegetable gardening is to plant in narrow rows, lining up single plants in long rows separated by 1 to 2 feet of bare soil to provide access for weeding and other maintenance tasks.

Beware that west facing gardens often get the brunt of intense afternoon sun which can be deadly for certain plants. North and East facing gardens, as well as gardens that have structures that inhibit direct sunlight, tend to be more shady.

Your garden layout should be planned based on factors including location, sun exposure, and the types of plants you'd like to grow. You'll plan the size and type of beds according to whether it's a vegetable garden, herb garden, flower garden, or a low maintenance spaced primarily designed as an outdoor living area.