Successful gargening make it part of your food storage!

Remember to always have a plan for your garden.  I copied this map from Home Gardens To Go!  This is a great website.  It has "how to videos" and you can even order things from them.  I believe it's cheaper to make your own boxes and get your own soil and seeds.  But at least you can use this site to see how the pro's do it! 

If you check out their web site they are offering a FREE copy of the book The All NEW Square Foot Gardening with a garden package purchase-use the code “Q44I63MPGWH9Q” at check out. 

I am excited to have this on my blog for the next couple of weeks. This is something I am working on in my back yard.  I am so excited to see everything grow and then to be able to taste it!  Pretty Cool!

The Boxes!!
Instructions

Determine how big of a box you want to build. Rectangles are the easiest.
For example a single tomato plant needs about 4 square feet (2 feet x 2 feet). If you buy plants at a nursery they will be happy to tell you how much room you need to grow them.

Figure out how much lumber you need.
Just add up the perimeter of the box you need. If you are using 2x6's, double the length (you will want to make it two high). 2x12 works great. Also you will need 4 feet of board to make the corners stronger.

Buy the lumber (and nails, hammer, etc. if you don't already have them).
Redwood works best (it is getting pretty pricey these days, but will last.) Pressure treat will last, but is full of chemicals you don't want. Doug fir is nice, but will not hold up too many years.

Cut you lumber to the desired length and width.
Don't forget to add three inches to the width if you want you boxes to look pretty on the outside.

Cut four pieces of lumber to about 10 inches tall for the four corners.
If you have a table saw you can cut wider boards smaller, but it is not necessary.

Put it together.
Nail the length boards to corner boards making sure they are even at the ends. Then nail the width boards to the corners so they overlap the length boards and everything looks square and even.

Add dirt and then put you plants in.

I am using pots in my back yard, and hitting up some garage sales for different size pots and planters!  Anything to keep the costs down works for me! 

The Plan

First you want to draw out your vegetable beds, add plants and move them around to get the perfect layout. Either feet and inches or metric units are supported and any shape of garden can be created.

Mix And Match the different shapes of different plans and layouts. If you can't find a design to fit your exact front yard or backyard, find two or more that you can incorporate together to create an idea that will work. If you don't have any ideas on what you want to plant, put it out there on the web and you will come up with many ideas!

Don't get hung up on specific materials, hardscapes, and plant materials. Focus more on shape and functionality. The materials will be determined mostly by what is available in your area.

 I hope you enjoy this post!  I am so happy the weather is getting warmer I have my strawberry plants picked out!  Working on finding the perfect tomatoe seeds!  Have a fun week!