If you had a tiny spot, what would you plant?

[claddaghmom]

I'm going to have about a 6x10, maybe 8x12 spot for a raised bed. Direct sun in the afternoon.

What would you plant? I'm thinking yes to tomatoes, bell peppers and maybe some romaine lettuce.

[FarmerCathy]

Herbs, tomatoes, peppers and maybe 1 squash. You could put the lettuce in where you have bare space.

[TheGirls]

I would do some kind of heirloom tomato and some non-bell peppers - ie stuff you can't buy at the supermarket. There are some awesome non-bell sweet peppers that are great producers and very tasty. I'd do some leaf lettuce, since you can probably get a crop in before your tomatoes & peppers start taking up much space. Plus I'd do some scallions. So yummy and take up very little space.

[possum]

Along with the tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce, I'd do herbs which are very hearty. Many are perennials too.
If you like radishes, you can do those early and often. They mature in less than a month. If want to do cucumbers or pole beans, those can grow vertically - just place them so that they will not block the sun when they are mature.
Happy gardening!
Melinda

[MissMommyNiceNice]

I'd probably do tomatoes at one end (should be able to fit 3 in) and peppers on the other (maybe 4). Then I'd work inward - I'd put a zucchini & squash right in the middle. Beans & eggplant on one side, cukes & herbs on the other. None of these should fight each other. I'd do herbs in pots. It's cheap enough to buy new plants every year, and you can get get yields from pots. Some you could probably grow under the other plants - ie: cilantro & parsley under the peppers, basil under the tomatoes.

Good luck! There's a lot you can fit into such a little space, really.

[claddaghmom]

Oh! I forgot to say we are doing potted herbs around our patio and on the windowsill.

Do you think a squash is too big?


ah I'm so excited!!!! lol

Can you give more info on the nonbell peppers that produce well?

[Chamomile Girl]

Yeah, squash is too big...and I think that lettuce will not do well with afternoon sun. I'm in the same situation. Our space is more like 3X20.

We have chard and peas in there right now. I am starting seed for tomatoes, eggplant and peppers. I'll keep the chard, which is basically a perenial here. Hmmm... I would also put in some garlic and beans (I don't think I'll have space for beans sadly, but you should).

ETA: Anaheim peppers are awesome producers, and they have a more complex flavor than bells.

[MissMommyNiceNice]

I have 4 raised beds that size & have no problems putting 2 squash side by side in the middle of one bed w peppers on either side. just look for a smaller variety

[Shellie]

Have you looked into the Square Foot method? There's nothing you've mentioned too big...I did squash last year in a 2x8' bed and it was crowded but the issue was that I had neglected to thin!

[Chamomile Girl]

I'm guessing the type of squash and the region you live in both matter (I'm in Cali). We planted a yellow summer last year and the darn thing ended up being like 8feet by 5feet by the end of the season. We probably got 50+ squash off of that thing...and it all tasted like zucchini...yeech. Couldn't give it away. We planted late too, and had a cold summer.