The Small-Plot Backyard Garden

This year, partly due to the recession, we have seen an increase in vegetable gardens nationally, and certainly here, in Clinton County, with the growing Community Gardens initiative taking root. There's even a vegetable garden at the White House--the first of its kind since Eleanor Roosevelt's Victory Garden. 

For those that are of the 'Victory Garden' generation, having backyard or community plots is nothing out of the ordinary. For the generations since, however, it comes as a new concept, or a 'trend.' It is my belief, though, that this trend will lead to a more fundamental shift in our culture as more and more people witness the exponential value of growing produce. 

So as you begin to plant your seeds for 2009, or begin to lay out your plot, remember to enjoy the gardening experience--it is rewarding in so many ways.

Growing vegetables is something just about anyone can do. However, it does require proper care and planning as one quickly learns that a little preparation and planning can go a long way. So how can you plan your garden? Below I've listed a few key tasks that I think are useful to someone starting a backyard garden. 

1) Know your limits. Vegetable gardening is something that does not have to be a full-time job to be successful, but can quickly become so if it's beyond the capacity of the gardener. To ensure the success of your vegetable garden, start small or within your limits, document and evaluate how much commitment you're personally able to provide to the garden, so that each year you can optimize capacity. A nice 4'x4' square foot garden can yield a surprising amount of vegetables, and makes a good starter for the beginning gardener. 

2) Know your yard. Identify a good spot in your yard that will provide at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. Make sure the spot is clear of trees and is on a level piece of ground for drainage. If there are issues with ground and trees, consider a raised bed or container garden. 

3) Know your produce. Whether you are starting a small garden, or sowing large plots, the layout of your garden should depend on what you want to grow. Plants have different growing seasons, spacing requirements, some have issues with others, and some plants are helpful to others. Especially for organic growth, knowing your plants and their role in the ecosystem of the garden increases your success. So the more you know about the plants you grow, the better. 

The layout of the Home Spring Garden:

Some Pictures of the Home Garden (with square foot grids):

7'x4'

The streaks of light are from cassette-tape film that I webbed around the stakes to scare birds away.


To help, here are some resources that I find useful:

National Gardening Association- National non-profit with great resources for all gardeners.

Ohio State Extension Office -- Clinton County Extension Office 

Square Foot Gardening- Started by Mel Bartholomew and is growing popularity.  

Tim's Square Foot Garden- Blog by gardener Tim Beckman; well-documented and good resource.

Garden Web- Community of Gardeners