30 Beds (4'×8') • Zone 8a/8b • Growing Season: Apr 16-Oct 15 (150-180 days)
| Beds | Family | Crops | Planting Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | Alliaceae | Garlic (Beds 1-2), Bulb Onions (Bed 3), Green Onions (Bed 4) | Plant garlic Oct 15-30. Harvest July. Replant w/fall greens. Succession green onions every 3wk Mar-Aug. |
| 5-8 | Apiaceae | Carrots (Beds 5-7), Celery/Parsnips/Cilantro (Bed 8) | Succession carrots every 2wk Mar-Jul. Interplant radishes. Last planting Jul for storage. |
| 9-11 | Chenopodiaceae | Beets (Bed 9), Swiss Chard (Bed 10), Spinach (Bed 11) | Beets every 3wk. Chard overwinters! Spinach every 2wk Mar-May & Aug-Oct. |
| 12-14 | Cucurbitaceae | Cucumbers (Bed 12), Summer Squash (Bed 13), Winter Squash (Bed 14) | Use row covers in cool springs. Trellis cucumbers. Winter squash vines outside beds OK. |
| 15-18 | Fabaceae | Snap/Snow Peas (Beds 15-16), Bush Beans (Bed 17), Fava Beans (Bed 18) | CRITICAL: Leave roots in soil! Peas: Mar & Aug. Beans: succession mid-May to mid-Jun. |
| 19-22 | Solanaceae | Tomatoes (Beds 19-21), Peppers/Eggplant (Bed 22) | Start indoors Feb-Mar. Use Wall O'Water at transplant (late May). Black plastic mulch helps. |
| 23-25 | Asteraceae | Head Lettuce (Bed 23), Salad Mix (Beds 24-25) | Perfect for Orcas! Succession every 2wk Mar-Jun & Aug-Oct. Can grow year-round w/row covers. |
| 26-30 | Brassicaceae | Kale (Beds 26-27), Broccoli (Bed 28), Cabbage/Cauliflower (Bed 29), Radishes/Arugula (Bed 30) | Many overwinter! Kale sweetens w/frost. Spring & fall plantings for broccoli/cabbage. |
| Week | Direct Seed | Transplant/Start Indoors |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 1-15 | Peas, fava beans, spinach, arugula | Start: Tomatoes, celery, broccoli |
| Mar 16-31 | More spinach, radishes | Transplant: Onion sets |
| Apr 1-15 | Carrots (start succession), beets, chard, lettuce, radishes | Transplant: Spring brassicas, lettuce |
| Apr 16-30 | More carrots, Asian greens, arugula | Start: Peppers, cucumbers, squash |
| May 1-15 | Carrots (succession), lettuce, cilantro | - |
| May 16-31 | Beans (mid-May start!), more lettuce | Transplant: Tomatoes (late May), cucumbers, squash |
| Harvest: Radishes (25d), lettuce, peas (Jun), early spinach | ||
| Week | Direct Seed | Transplant/Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 1-15 | More beans, storage carrots (final!) | Transplant: Peppers, eggplant, celery |
| Jun 16-30 | Final beans | Start: Fall brassicas. Harvest: Garlic scapes |
| Jul 1-15 | Fall carrots, lettuce, spinach, beets | Harvest GARLIC! Replant w/fall greens immediately |
| Jul 16-31 | More spinach, arugula | Transplant: Fall brassicas, leeks |
| Aug 1-15 | Spinach, arugula, Asian greens, radishes | Harvest: Peak tomatoes, cucumbers, beans |
| Aug 16-31 | More radishes, final arugula | Transplant: Final fall lettuce |
| Harvest: Peas, cucumbers, squash, beans, tomatoes (Aug), early beets/carrots | ||
| Month | Tasks & Harvest |
|---|---|
| Sep | Harvest: Winter squash, late tomatoes, storage carrots, fall brassicas. Direct seed cover crops in empty beds. |
| Oct | Plant garlic (Oct 15-30) for next year! Harvest parsnips (after frost), winter squash. Add row covers to overwintering crops (kale, chard, leeks). |
| Nov-Feb | Harvest: Kale, chard, leeks, parsnips, winter lettuce (under row covers). Chickens clean beds. Plan next year! |
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Succession | Lettuce/radishes 2wk, carrots 2-3wk, beans 2wk (3-4 plantings), spinach 2wk |
| Season Ext. | Row covers for lettuce/spinach/kale Oct-Mar. Wall O'Water for tomatoes May. |
| Overwinter | Kale, chard, leeks, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, spinach, garlic (planted fall) |
| Compost | 2" on all beds before planting (spring), 1" mid-season replants, 2" fall after harvest |
| Pests | Slugs #1! Hand-pick, beer traps, iron phosphate. Row covers for carrot fly, cabbage moths. |
| Chickens | Allow in beds AFTER harvest for cleanup. Never near seeds or young plants. |
| Quick Reference: Expected Harvests & Storage | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crop | Harvest Time | Yield/Bed | Crop | Harvest Time | Yield/Bed |
| Garlic | July (240d) | 10-15 lbs (stores 6+ mo) | Tomatoes | Aug-Sep (75d) | 25-40 lbs (can/freeze) |
| Carrots | Continuous (60-80d) | 8-12 lbs (stores fall) | Lettuce | Continuous (50d) | 3-5 lbs/wk |
| Kale | Year-round! | 10-15 lbs | Beans | Jul-Sep (60d) | 5-8 lbs |
| Winter Squash | Sep-Oct (100d) | 15-25 lbs (stores 3-6 mo) | Chard | All season (60d) | 20-30 lbs |
ROTATION NEXT YEAR: Each bed group shifts to next family. Beds 1-4 → Apiaceae, Beds 5-8 → Chenopodiaceae, etc. Prevents disease, maintains soil health!