How to Create a Year-Round Vegetable Garden (2024)

FAQs

How to Create a Year-Round Vegetable Garden? ›

Use row covers, low tunnels and cold frames to offer that all-important additional warmth and shelter. Summer salads and tender plants such as cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes will continue to ripen so long as they're protected from frost, enabling late starters to play catch up and yield a tasty harvest.

Use row covers, low tunnels and cold frames to offer that all-important additional warmth and shelter. Summer salads and tender plants such as cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes will continue to ripen so long as they're protected from frost, enabling late starters to play catch up and yield a tasty harvest.

The general rule of thumb when it comes to growing a garden is to have 100 square feet of gardening space (traditional row gardens) per person for fresh eating only. To preserve food and put it up for the non-growing season, you're looking at 200 square feet of gardening space per person.

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.

If you love homegrown vegetables and herbs, here's something you should know: You can grow them year-round inside.

Artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, endive, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, onion and garlic sets, radishes, parsnips, salsify, turnips, parsley, spinach, Swiss chard, rhubarb, horseradish.

How Many Cucumber Plants to Plant Per Person. As you're planning your garden, keep in mind that you'll need two or three cucumber plants per person if you'd like to eat fresh cucumbers straight from the garden or use them in salads or juicing recipes.

For a non-vegetarian individual, however, we'd estimate that you need about 200 square feet of garden space to allow for a harvest that feeds everyone year-round. So, for an average family of four, plan for an 800 square-foot garden—a plot that is 20 feet by 40 feet in size.

What vegetables should not be planted together? ›

Square foot gardening is an efficient and space-saving technique that involves dividing your garden into small, manageable squares. Each square is typically one foot by one foot and is planted with a specific number of plants depending on their size.

Gardening requires a lot of patience! Long-season vegetables include: asparagus, beans (dry), Brussels sprouts, celery, dill (seed), edamame, garlic, leeks, melons, onions, parsnips, peppers (hot), pumpkins, shallots, sweet potatoes, winter squash.

One option is to cover your vegetable garden in the winter with dead plant material, such as a thick layer of straw or leaves. This will protect the soil from the scouring effects of rainfall and prevent weed growth. An even better option is to plant winter cover crops.

Popular winter plants include leafy greens that can survive the harshest conditions—even snow, rain, and ice—or carrots, turnips, onions, and other stew-ready vegetables. If you want to give your winter vegetables some help through the coldest parts of the year, add a protective covering to your garden.