please critique my layout!

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thank you all,
mariah

Welcome to the forum. Lots of help to be found here.

Where's your layout?

trying to get it on here. sorry

Are the numbers next to the veggies how many you are planting per square? If so leaf lettuce is 4 per square, head lettuce is 1 per square and marigolds are 4 per square.

thanks so much. I'm glad i didn't make that mistake. i got the wrong info from a different site. i should probably get the book. i would not have happy lettuce if i made that mistake.

thanks so much,
mariah

I love the book, I'm sure you would too! I might also warn about all the dill, most people say to keep it out of your SFG because it's a spreader. Lots of herbs are notorious for that!

i will definitely take the dill into consideration. is there anything that you suggest putting in its place?

,mariah

You could do some radishes or bush beans! Also, I just found out that you are supposed to start garlic in the fall, even though some say it can be started in the spring, so I only did one square of "experimental spring planted garlic" It is actually growing good on top but I have been warned it might bulb up and multiply. So maybe think about trying some different aliums in some of your garlic squares instead of doing them all garlic just incase it doesn't work. I don't know a lot about garlic maybe you have some tips for spring planted garlic I would still try a square of it at least if I were you, I jus have to see for myself sometimes!

Your tomatoes aren't going to be happy being that close to one another. Mine always ramble into adjacent squares, so I always plant them in empty spots between cool weather crops(which are getting ready to be taken out). While they might not take up 6 squares entirely, I like to keep 4 squares open per tomato plant(in a T shape, with the tomato planted at the intersection). You're also going to want to put them all on the north sides, so they don't shade out other plants. Although marigolds and basil might not have a problem being in the adjacent squares to tomatoes, and only having 2 of each might leave enough space for good air circulation. Of course, you could always just prune the tomato plants to behave in a single square.

I'd mention something about the broccoli and lettuce probably not co-habitating with the peppers and tomatoes, but that might just be in my area(my broccoli and lettuce are bolting by the time the tomatoes are ready to transplant). Learning to garden in the 5th dimension(time) is normally something you pick up after a few years, and is very dependent on location and what you plant.

I think if you're growing indeterminate (vining) tomatoes, giving them one square would be fine. Just make sure you give them a trellis to grow up, and as Unmutual said, put them in the north side of your garden so they don't shade out your other plants. Now if they're determinate (bush type) tomatoes, giving them multiple squares is the best idea.

As for what to grow in place of the garlic or dill, what do you like to eat? That will tell you what you'll enjoy growing! Carrots and radishes are very easy, as are bush beans and strawberries.

Good luck with your garden, and welcome to the forum! If you need advice, this is the place to ask!