Please comment on the plant layout for 2017

Hi everyone,

I am hoping that someone can comment on my plan for 2 by 6 garden box.  My first attempt last year was mixed because some of the plants got really big and shaded the slower growing vegetables.  According plantmap, my area is 8b.



Thanks!

  greenthumbtobe  
from Kelejan also of British Columbia.  

Whereabouts in BC do you live?  I am in the Southern Interior and we have had at least two  sunny days in the last month.

Although I am the host for Canada, I do not feel I can really comment on your layout of plants as I still consider that I have lots still to learn but I do know that there will some helpful comments on their way.

At least you have had a go last year and realise that some plants overpower others in the space they take up. 

Do you have the latest version of SFG book by Mel? Are you using what is know as Mel"s Mix, one part peat, one part Vermiculite and one part compost, the compost being the most important part? 

It is getting late for me here and I will be off to bed, but will give it some thought and get back to you tomorrow.  Hopefully others will jump in; we all try to help each other and some of us are mines of information. 

I suggest you keep this thread as your own, but come on over to the CANADIAN REGION and meet other Canadians.

Feel free to read and post in any other thread you like.  there is always something of interest.  Another great resource is the research box in the top left-hand corning of this page.

Thank you for the tips.  I am new to the forum and will definitely check out the Canadian region. I am in the lower mainland. The weather in the last few months had been quite crazy to say the least!  In terms of the soil mix, I read about Mel's last year but was having trouble finding it.  I asked a gardener friend and she told me that the mix is similar to potting soil.  I used that last year and added some compost to the box this year.

Greenthumbtobe,  Welcome to the Forum from California!  It looks like you have all the shorties on the south side so I think you are good to go.

PS for your shorter nickname, what about Tobe? Or GT?

Thanks! GT sounds good =) Do I need to worry about companion planting? Also, how important is crop rotation?

GT, I'm not into companion planting and I can't rotate my crops, so I'm no help here.

GT ... Your plan looks good to me.  Will you have a trellis on the North side for the peas, tomato, etc.?  There are plenty of companion planting charts online but for a small plot I don't think it matters all that much.  As for crop rotation, I'm not stuck on it. I've grown tomatoes in the same location for at least five years but I am thinking of moving them this year. Again, rotation is sometimes not easy to do in small growing areas like we have with just one or a few SFG boxes/beds.

And allow me to offer you a warm welcome to the forum from Ottawa, Ontario.

I don't remember anything that I've read about companion planting but for some reason I try to keep my kale and other leafy greens away from garlic and onions. If you want, research it and see if it means anything. If so, can you move the Amish lettuce in between the garlic and the kale?

CC

Thanks TrolleyDriver.  Yes, I will have trellis on the north side for peas.  Last year, I grew 2 rows of peas with the trellis in the middle but the ones on the north side  of the trellis did not do as well as the ones on the south side (the box is too close to the hedge).  For tomato, I will grow early girl variety with cage support again but will be more aggressive on pruning out suckers this year. Not exactly sure about broad beans. I tried to plant them end of Oct last year for the first time and the snow wiped them out! They got pretty tall  and were needing a lot of support before the snow.

CC and Sanderson, no worries -- I will research some more on the companion planting. I was worried about planting the broad bean and Gai Lan next to each other because gai lan is Chinese broccoli. Maybe I'd swap Gai Lan and Pac Choi.

GT

Hi Greenthumbtobe. Welcome from Atlanta, GA. Sorry I haven't chimed in before... We're glad you've joined us!

Looks like you're getting plenty of advice. I'm looking forward to seeing your garden!

The one companion that I know from first-hand experience that you should consider is sweet basil.  Basil and tomatoes work together like Martin and Lewis.

Great idea about basil. I love basil and I am also worried about the lateness for planting favs beans (Aphids?! ). Perhaps I could switch that square with basil and other herbs.

GT

Hi GT!

I found an interesting article about plant incompatibility here:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/incompatible-garden-plants.htm

Maybe it'll be helpful to you.

Thanks Jaffa55! I will have a read =)