30 Beds (4'×8') • Zone 8a/8b • Growing Season: Apr 16-Oct 15 (150-180 days)
| Beds | Family | Crops | Planting Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | Apiaceae (was Allium) |
Carrots (Beds 1-3), Celery/Parsnips/Cilantro (Bed 4) | Succession carrots every 2wk Mar-Jul. Benefits from previous garlic residue! Interplant radishes. |
| 5-8 | Chenopodiaceae (was Apiaceae) |
Beets (Beds 5-6), Swiss Chard (Bed 7), Spinach (Bed 8) | Beets tops & roots. Chard overwinters. Spinach succession Mar-May & Aug-Oct. |
| 9-11 | Cucurbitaceae (was Chenopod) |
Cucumbers (Bed 9), Summer Squash (Bed 10), Winter Squash (Bed 11) | Trellis cucumbers. Use season extension. Winter squash vines can sprawl outside beds. |
| 12-14 | Fabaceae (was Cucurbit) |
Snap/Snow Peas (Bed 12), Bush Beans (Bed 13), Fava Beans (Bed 14) | Leave roots! Perfect after squash (nitrogen boost). Peas Mar & Aug, beans May-Jun succession. |
| 15-18 | Solanaceae (was Fabaceae) |
Tomatoes (Beds 15-17), Peppers/Eggplant (Bed 18) | Benefits from nitrogen-fixing legumes! Start indoors Feb-Mar. Wall O'Water late May transplant. |
| 19-22 | Asteraceae (was Solanaceae) |
Head Lettuce (Beds 19-20), Salad Mix (Beds 21-22) | Perfect rotation! Lettuce doesn't mind following tomatoes. Succession every 2wk Mar-Jun & Aug-Oct. |
| 23-25 | Brassicaceae (was Asteraceae) |
Kale (Bed 23), Broccoli (Bed 24), Cabbage/Cauliflower/Radishes (Bed 25) | Overwinter crops! Spring & fall broccoli/cabbage plantings. Radishes every 2wk. |
| 26-30 | Alliaceae (was Brassica) |
Garlic (Beds 26-28), Bulb Onions (Bed 29), Green Onions (Bed 30) | Plant garlic Oct. 5 beds this year for more storage! Succession green onions Mar-Aug. |
| Week | Direct Seed | Transplant/Start Indoors |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 1-15 | Peas (Bed 12), fava beans (Bed 14), spinach (Bed 8), arugula | Start: Tomatoes (Beds 15-17), celery, broccoli |
| Mar 16-31 | More spinach, radishes (Bed 25) | Transplant: Onion sets (Bed 29) |
| Apr 1-15 | Carrots (Beds 1-3, start succession), beets (Beds 5-6), chard (Bed 7), lettuce (Beds 19-20) | Transplant: Spring brassicas (Beds 24-25), lettuce |
| Apr 16-30 | More carrots (succession), Asian greens | Start: Peppers (Bed 18), cucumbers (Bed 9), squash (Beds 10-11) |
| May 1-15 | Carrots (succession), lettuce (succession), cilantro (Bed 4) | - |
| May 16-31 | Beans (Bed 13, mid-May!), more lettuce | Transplant: Tomatoes (late May), cucumbers, squash |
| Harvest: Radishes (25d), lettuce, peas (Jun), spinach, early greens | ||
| Week | Direct Seed | Transplant/Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 1-15 | More beans (succession), storage carrots (Beds 1-3, final!) | Transplant: Peppers (Bed 18), eggplant, celery (Bed 4) |
| Jun 16-30 | Final beans | Start: Fall brassicas, fall kale. Harvest: Garlic scapes (Beds 26-28) |
| Jul 1-15 | Fall carrots, lettuce, spinach, beets | Harvest GARLIC (Beds 26-28)! Replant w/fall greens ASAP |
| Jul 16-31 | More spinach, arugula | Transplant: Fall brassicas (Bed 23-25), leeks |
| Aug 1-15 | Spinach, arugula, Asian greens, radishes | Peak harvest: Tomatoes (Beds 15-17), cucumbers (Bed 9), beans (Bed 13) |
| Aug 16-31 | More radishes, final arugula | Transplant: Final fall lettuce (Beds 19-20) |
| Harvest: Peas (Bed 12), cucumbers, squash, beans, tomatoes, beets, carrots | ||
| Month | Tasks & Harvest |
|---|---|
| Sep | Harvest: Winter squash (Bed 11), late tomatoes (Beds 15-17), storage carrots (Beds 1-3), fall brassicas. Direct seed cover crops. |
| Oct | Plant garlic (Beds 26-28, Oct 15-30) for Year 3! Harvest parsnips (Bed 4, after frost), winter squash. Add row covers to kale (Bed 23), chard (Bed 7). |
| Nov-Feb | Harvest: Kale (Bed 23), chard (Bed 7), leeks, parsnips, winter lettuce (under covers). Review year, plan Year 3 rotation! |
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Rotation | Notice how nitrogen-fixing legumes (Beds 12-14) now prepare soil for tomatoes (Beds 15-18)! |
| 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. |
| Soil Building | After legumes (Year 1 Beds 15-18), soil is nitrogen-rich. Perfect for heavy feeders! |
| Compost | 2" spring (all beds), 1" mid-season replants, 2" fall. Chicken manure tea for heavy feeders. |
| Production Estimate - Year 2 (30 Beds, Established System) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Annual Yield | Category | Annual Yield | Category | Annual Yield | Category | Annual Yield |
| Fresh Greens | 200-300 lbs | Storage Crops | 150-200 lbs | Tomatoes/Peppers | 100-150 lbs | Beans/Peas | 60-100 lbs |
| Roots | 100-150 lbs | Alliums | 60-100 lbs | Squash/Cucumbers | 100-150 lbs | TOTAL | 770-1,250 lbs |
YEAR 3 PREVIEW: Beds 1-4 → Chenopodiaceae (beets/chard/spinach), Beds 5-8 → Cucurbitaceae, Beds 9-11 → Fabaceae, etc. Each year builds soil health & prevents disease!