Let's Talk Garden Layout!

[Cowgirl]

Fun topic! I've been reading a little about laying out the garden, and how you want to lay it out so the short sides (of a rectangle, for example) are north and south. But do the veggies run long ways or short ways?

I'm interested in laying my garden out better this year...actually planning where things go instead of just planting them in a random order. What have you done in the past that you like or dislike? Any tips or recommendations?

 

[rickl5296]

Fun topic! I've been reading a little about laying out the garden, and how you want to lay it out so the short sides (of a rectangle, for example) are north and south. But do the veggies run long ways or short ways?

I'm interested in laying my garden out better this year...actually planning where things go instead of just planting them in a random order. What have you done in the past that you like or dislike? Any tips or recommendations?

I am thinking about planting a survival garden on my farm in NC. Bought some seeds from a grower that are not sterile and will multiply for the next years crop. I can't remember the name of the seed grower. I got it from the Glenn Beck site. I will let you know later if you want. With all the crazy things going on, it's a good idea to be able to produce your own food if we have a shortage.

Also, I know you should rotate legumes because they fix nitrogen and enrich the soil.

 

[migtig]

Fun topic! I've been reading a little about laying out the garden, and how you want to lay it out so the short sides (of a rectangle, for example) are north and south. But do the veggies run long ways or short ways?

I'm interested in laying my garden out better this year...actually planning where things go instead of just planting them in a random order. What have you done in the past that you like or dislike? Any tips or recommendations?

Last year I did one elevated bed short way and the other long. I learned from it. This year, I'm going to stagger the crops via height that they reach and go longways in "batches". That way I can also string support easier on some of the vines and beans. I also overplanted last year, so I am going to cut back on how much I grow.

I am thinking about planting a survival garden on my farm in NC. Bought some seeds from a grower that are not sterile and will multiply for the next years crop. I can't remember the name of the seed grower. I got it from the Glenn Beck site. I will let you know later if you want. With all the crazy things going on, it's a good idea to be able to produce your own food if we have a shortage.

Also, I know you should rotate legumes because they fix nitrogen and enrich the soil.

As an FYI, almost any veggie that you grow has seeds inside that can be saved and used for next year's planting. Do you like tomatoes? Scoop out the seeds and save them. Do you like potatoes? Buy a bag at the grocery store that has eyes and throw them in the ground.

 

[ylexot]

I am thinking about planting a survival garden on my farm in NC. Bought some seeds from a grower that are not sterile and will multiply for the next years crop. I can't remember the name of the seed grower. I got it from the Glenn Beck site. I will let you know later if you want. With all the crazy things going on, it's a good idea to be able to produce your own food if we have a shortage.

Also, I know you should rotate legumes because they fix nitrogen and enrich the soil.

Yeah, I saw that add and then found others offering the same (or more) for less $$$.

 

[ylexot]

As an FYI, almost any veggie that you grow has seeds inside that can be saved and used for next year's planting. Do you like tomatoes? Scoop out the seeds and save them. Do you like potatoes? Buy a bag at the grocery store that has eyes and throw them in the ground.

Supposedly, you can't do that with hybrids.

 

[migtig]

Supposedly, you can't do that with hybrids.

Buy heirloom seeds the first time around and that won't be an issue. :shrug:

As an fyi to anybody interested, Burpee, Eden Brothers and many others sell non-hybrid and heirloom seed. You can get a complete heirloom vegetable garden "set" from Burpee for $24.95
Heirloom Vegetable Garden - Collections - Vegetables - Burpee

Also as an fyi, usually any self pollinating or cross pollinating veggie can have it's seed saved. Those are things like beans, peppers, and cucumbers.

 

[rickl5296]

Buy heirloom seeds the first time around and that won't be an issue. :shrug:

As an fyi to anybody interested, Burpee, Eden Brothers and many others sell non-hybrid and heirloom seed. You can get a complete heirloom vegetable garden "set" from Burpee for $24.95
Heirloom Vegetable Garden - Collections - Vegetables - Burpee

Also as an fyi, usually any self pollinating or cross pollinating veggie can have it's seed saved. Those are things like beans, peppers, and cucumbers.

I realize that they are selling with a scare tactic, but if you read the description carefully, it is alot of seed, and they package it to give it a really long shelf life. They say 20 years and longer if you freeze them. 22 diffrent varieties. All heirloom varieties. Hopefully it is a good value. I am not sure if I am going to plant this spring or not. I may just do some tests because I don't live down there. I will let you know how it goes.

 

[rickl5296]

I realize that they are selling with a scare tactic, but if you read the description carefully, it is alot of seed, and they package it to give it a really long shelf life. They say 20 years and longer if you freeze them. 22 diffrent varieties. All heirloom varieties. Hopefully it is a good value. I am not sure if I am going to plant this spring or not. I may just do some tests because I don't live down there. I will let you know how it goes.

The Burpee Garden is only 7 varieties.

 

[Magnum]

I just plowed my back yard before all the rain hit. My short sides are east to west due to the layout of the land.

 

[ylexot]

I realize that they are selling with a scare tactic, but if you read the description carefully, it is alot of seed, and they package it to give it a really long shelf life. They say 20 years and longer if you freeze them. 22 diffrent varieties. All heirloom varieties. Hopefully it is a good value. I am not sure if I am going to plant this spring or not. I may just do some tests because I don't live down there. I will let you know how it goes.

Here's the one that I found after a quick search:
Survival Seeds Vault $99 2 Acre+ 1.5LB+ Seeds Non-Hybrid/GMO

 

[toppick08]

Row lengths depend on what your planting, how much production you want, and how much help you got.......

 

[Sparx]

Remember that the modern varieties of fruits, vegtables and flowers have been bred over the years for a reason. They are much more resistant to disease, bugs, fungus,...etc. The heirlooms are old standards without these hybrid advantages. This makes gardening organicaly much more difficult than if you plant the modern or hybrid varieties.

 

[rickl5296]

Here's the one that I found after a quick search:
Survival Seeds Vault $99 2 Acre+ 1.5LB+ Seeds Non-Hybrid/GMO

So, what do you guys think? Are these people kooks, or is there some validity to the idea that we should start hording heirloom seeds?

 

[Cowgirl]

So, what do you guys think? Are these people kooks, or is there some validity to the idea that we should start hording heirloom seeds?

I think they're playing on the overreaction of customers. You can buy heirloom seeds much cheaper, and then save seeds and store them yourself. Besides, the germination rate decreases about 10% every year. It's better to keep seeds each year than rely on 10 year old seeds and hoping they germinate.

But that's just my opinion.

 

[ylexot]

I think they're playing on the overreaction of customers. You can buy heirloom seeds much cheaper, and then save seeds and store them yourself. Besides, the germination rate decreases about 10% every year. It's better to keep seeds each year than rely on 10 year old seeds and hoping they germinate.

But that's just my opinion.

I agree, but I do like to look at the sites to see which plants/varieties they choose. For example, the one that advertises on Glenn Beck does not include any grains! If you are concerned about survival, I would think that grains (wheat, barley, etc) would be a top priority. And if you want to enjoy your survival, add some hops rhizomes!

 

[rickl5296]

I agree, but I do like to look at the sites to see which plants/varieties they choose. For example, the one that advertises on Glenn Beck does not include any grains! If you are concerned about survival, I would think that grains (wheat, barley, etc) would be a top priority. And if you want to enjoy your survival, add some hops rhizomes!

Wouldn't you have to have alot more than a single acre to grow grains?

 

[ylexot]

Wouldn't you have to have alot more than a single acre to grow grains?

No.

 

[Cowgirl]

I found these tips at this site.

Beets of red should never bed with beans of green, nor mustard wed.


Onion, garlic, leeks and shallots.
Keep carrot flies away from carrots.
But these pungent bulbs, unseen
Disagree with neighbor bean.


Lettuce is easy to grow, on the average
Except when competing with sunflower or cabbage.


Many vegetables love the potato,
which shuns its own cousins, eggplant and tomato.

Or how about these little tips:

Where catnip attracts cats,
Flea beetles flee.


To plant your carrots, deeply till
But keep them far away from dill.

 

[GWguy]

Remember that the modern varieties of fruits, vegtables and flowers have been bred over the years for a reason. They are much more resistant to disease, bugs, fungus,...etc. The heirlooms are old standards without these hybrid advantages. This makes gardening organicaly much more difficult than if you plant the modern or hybrid varieties.

They also breed out the smell, the flavor, the texture........ the new varieties are bland next to plants you could raise 30 years ago. I'd rather have the old varieties.

So, what do you guys think? Are these people kooks, or is there some validity to the idea that we should start hording heirloom seeds?

As noted, hoarding will get you old, non-germinating seeds in just a few years. There are companies and individuals dedicated to propagating and providing heirlooms. Buy from them.

 

[Cowgirl]

They also breed out the smell, the flavor, the texture........ the new varieties are bland next to plants you could raise 30 years ago. I'd rather have the old varieties.

I disagree. Hybrid varieties now are bred for superior taste (like all the new sweet corn hybrids), production, disease resistance, etc. I'd rather plant hybrids. :shrug: