6.5' x 20': Getting Started

The plan is to have 130 square feet of vegetable garden goodness and we are well under way. We've got 49 square feet of soil turned and roots removed. All I used to turn the soil was a spade and pitchfork. Since all that grass was removed the remaining soil has been cut with compost and I also added Canadian Sphagnum peat moss. The old grass and roots will be composted for next season. I met many fat worms plus I destroyed a thriving ant community while turning over the first row and these are the thoughts I had while the little ants started attacking me: you have to destroy life to sustain life even when you go vegetarian – it's a bummer yet that's just the way it is being mammal - plants are pretty special in that all they need is the sun and some nutrients in the earth to sustain and make new living cells.

Here is the place I read about 'turning soil' and 'adding humus':

Soil Preparation

Another of the key factors in successfully growing vegetables is proper soil preparation. To your existing soil add generous amounts of organic humus. Compost, peat moss, well rotted manure or processed manure (the bagged stuff) are all good forms of organic humus. I would suggest avoiding the use of fresh manure, unless it is applied in the fall, as some tend to burn and the gases of a few can actually stunt crops. Mix the organic humus thoroughly with your existing soil. Then you are almost ready to begin planting. By the way, if you bring in topsoil to enrich or add to the existing soil, be certain to add organic humus to it too.

Now that we have a small patch to plant, the next big question is what to put into our new rich mix of soil. Here is a starter I've been thinking about to match plants with good companions:

VEGETABLE GARDENING in June - with companions

It’s said that vegetables are like people, they thrive on companionship. It is believed that vegetables will yield up to twice as much when they are surrounded with companion plants. So in this article we will discuss…vegetables and their best friends (see link above to read all 12, below are the 6 that we have talked about).

Corn – Pumpkins, peas, beans, cucumbers and potatoes are nice companion plants, Keep the tomatoes away.
Beans – they like celery and cucumbers but dislike onions and fennel.
Peppers – (I haven't seen who they like or dislike yet)
Tomatoes – Carrots, onions and parsley are good companion plants. Keep the cabbage and cauliflower away from them.
Squash – Icicle radishes, cucumbers and corn are among their friends.
Pumpkins – (still need to find out about who these guys like too)

Sometimes plant friendships are one-sided. Carrots are said to help beans, but beans don’t reciprocate. Though beans will help nearby cucumbers.

Other plants have bad companions and you’ll be doing them a favor to keep them apart. Beans and onions are natural enemies so keep them at opposite sides of the garden.

If you have a patio you might try mint to repel ants, and basil to keep the flies and mosquitoes away. Both herbs have pretty flowers and are fragrant too. Besides, they’re nice to harvest and use in the kitchen. In her book, “Carrots Love Tomatoes” Louise Riotte, says getting to know good and bad companions can double the bounty of your garden. The only required work is to plan your garden planting properly.

And here is another item to consider while designing a layout:

Organic Gardening - natural insecticides

Learn about and encourage healthy bugs like ladybugs, lacewings, and other predatory insects to come into your garden and feed on your pests. You can do this by planting fennel (great for ladybugs), dill, allyssum, ammi majus, and cumin.