1. Planting and Designing a Garden

2. Step 1 Research the location of where you are planting Determine the amount of sunlight and shade Determine the amount of natural water the space receives Determine the air flow

3. Raised beds Typically made of wood and are at least 12” in height Convenient for watering and harvesting Gardener can create a good quality soil mix Allow for more crops in an area

4. Raised beds continued Less soil compaction than in flatbed plantings Can be set up on any surface such as concrete patios or wood decks Can be built to make it accessible to elderly and handicap

5. Flatbed Most traditional way to plant vegetables Planted in rows Usually a two foot gap is left between each row for easy watering and harvesting One disadvantage of flatbed planting is it consumes a lot of space

6. Container Easy to make, manage and add beauty to any area Must have holes for drainage Take up a small amount of space Examples a. Whiskey barrels b. Washtubs c. Plastic or clay pots d. Wooden crates e. Baskets

7. Roof top Make food use of wasted or unwanted space Expensive to establish Check with local ordinance for rules & regulations Enlist the assistance of an architect or landscape contractor Use as little weight as possible Incorporate wind breaks into the garden Consider ease of watering and harvesting from rooftop

9. Vertical garden Saves valuable garden space Have a tendency to cast shadow. Watch the sun for several days before planting Examples Trellis Arbors String poles Teepees cages

11. Soil Determined by what plants you select Soil type and needs Soil ammendments

12. Now to Plan Consider season of planting Some geographic locations aren’t good environments for planting in summer and winter. Consider types of plant you should use Size and growth habit Light availbilty Water access

13. Planting your garden Planting with seeds 1. Cool season crops – Seeds that should be planted in the Fall Examples are : lettuce, kale, mustard greens, broccoli, cabbage, collards, radishes and onions Seeds that should be planted in winter (February – March) Examples are : carrots,onions, peas, potatoes, turnip, lettuce and radish 2. Warm season crops – Seeds planted in the Spring. Examples are: beans, corn, pumpkin (harvest in the fall) and cucumber Seeds planted in the summer. Examples are: brussel sprouts, okra, beans, cucumbers, kale and radish

14. Planting with small plants Cool season crops – Fall vegetable plants such as broccoli, cabbage, lettuce and onions Winter vegetable plants such as lettuce and spinach Warm season crops – Spring vegetable plants such as tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers Summer vegetable plants such as okra, cauliflower, cucumbers and kale

15. Maintaining your garden Stake plants as needed in the garden. Control pests Keeping your garden clean of debris and dead plants. Check for pest problems and practice non chemical methods to control pests. Harvest plants as they mature. Do not let plants over ripen or decay on the plant as this will lead to pest issues.