Garden Size

   Another thing to consider when choosing which vegetables to grow is the size of your garden. Some plants require a lot of space, so if your space is limited, you need to set some priorities. Cucumbers, squash, and melons will sprawl, taking up much space in the garden.  One solution is to utilize vertical space by training the vines in a cage on on a trellis.   I grow my cucumbers in a large tomato cage and always get a good crop.

    Another way to get more out of the garden space you have is to plant warm-season plants among your cool-season crops.  When your cool-season vegetables are finished, your warm-season ones will take over the space.

   Some crops aren't suited for smaller gardens. Sweet Corn takes up lots of space for the amount of cobs produced and will not pollinate well if grown in short, small rows, often yielding small, poorly filled cobs despite healthy looking plants. Peas, while they grow well in a small backyard garden, don't produce alot of pods for the amount of space taken.  Sprawling crops such as pumpkins and squash also need lots of room to grow and yield properly.

   Below is a planting guide that lists some common vegetables and their space requirements in the garden:

This well-designed book offers a series of detailed plans for a variety of kitchen garden types, including an "exuberant" potager, a salad and herb garden, a formal fruit garden, a vegetable patchwork, a cottage garden, and more. Alphabetically arranged sections on planting and cultivating a wide variety of vegetables and fruits are also included, along with chapters on propagation, crop rotation, and other practical topics. Color photographs and clear drawings appear throughout.

Heirloom Vegetable Gardening
A Master Gardener's Guide to Planting, Seed Saving, and Cultural History
by William Woys Weaver
Retail Price: $45.00
bn Price: $31.50
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