Vegetable Garden Layout Plans

• Get the whole family involved in planning and tending a vegetable garden. Sonya Farrell/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  Planning a vegetable garden begins long before your spade breaks soil. Knowing what will be planted and where to plant it is integral to a successful garden season. Start by examining the space you have available for a garden, then determine what vegetables your family will use. Sketch a layout idea on graphing paper so you have a plan to follow when you head outdoors.

Flat Bed

• A flat bed garden is a traditional garden layout. The garden can be any size you require, but they are generally rectangular in shape to allow for straight, even-sized rows. Measure your garden dimensions and till directly in the ground to remove turf and overturn soil. Use common garden tools, such as stakes, twine, a hoe and a rake, to establish rows. Plan rows that run from north to south to allow even sun exposure throughout the garden. Group vegetables that are similar in size; for example, plant lettuce, spinach and carrots at the same end of the garden. Ensure that your rows are spaced appropriately for different vegetable spacing requirements, which can range from a few inches to several feet depending on vegetable size and variety.

Raised Bed

• A raised bed garden is a way for gardeners to overcome infertile native soil. These gardens are built above the ground and filled with a mixture of fertile garden soil, compost and peat. In general, keep raised bed gardens relatively small so they are easy to work in. A good size for a starter garden is 4 feet by 4 feet and 18 inches deep. Due to their size, raised bed vegetable gardens are conducive to the square foot gardening method, where each vegetable is grown in a 1-square-foot section. Unlike in a flat bed garden, one should not walk between the rows of a raised bed, so ensure that it is placed in a location that allows access from all sides. Multiple raised beds can create an attractive, uniform gardening environment if more space is required.

Container Gardens

• If space is at a premium, container gardening is another layout option. Nearly any vegetable that can grow in a traditional backyard garden can also grow in a container. Container gardens work well indoors or outdoors, and since each vegetable is in a container, this garden layout is also portable and easy to increase or decrease in size. Soil mixtures that are specifically designed for container gardening provide the best results. Choose containers that have drainage holes so the soil drains thoroughly. Planter pots of any size work well for vegetables, but unconventional containers, such as tires, buckets, baskets or wheelbarrows, can provide a healthy growing environment with visual appeal. Hanging containers are another way to add depth and maximize space. Small vegetables, including radishes, green onions and herbs, can grow in containers 6 to 10 inches deep. Use 5-gallon or larger containers for tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables with longer roots.