The potager, kitchen garden, or even the veggie patch is finally ready to receive some of the first set of vegetables that were started at various times in the greenhouse, since February.
Preparing the beds
In my previous videos Step 1 and Step 2, I detail how I prepare the patch from last year and ready for the new growing season.
Square Foot Gardening
I am a big fan of square foot gardening. I have a kitchen garden that is 6ft x 4ft (approx 1.80cm x 120cm) and I divide the bed into square foot divisions with simple twine. This enables me to grow a variety of food in a small space. The basic principle is down to the size of the crop. This year, I have worked thus:
*1 plant per square foot for large crops -eg. corn, head of broccoli, aubergine, pepper, tomatoes etc
*Up to 4 plants for medium crops -eg. kale, marigolds, snack cucumbers, etc
*Up to 9 smaller, compact plants such as green beans, peas, perpetual spinach, beetroots etc
*Up to 16 small crops such as carrots and leeks.
Illustration of 6X4 Square Foot Vegetable Patch
As I type, during in the latter portion of March, the broccoli was planted last summer, overwintered and will be ready to harvest imminently.
I have direct sown in my leafy veg, beets and flowers.
I started the legumes, garlic, corn and leeks in the greenhouse and they have already been transplanted.
I will soon plant out my gourd and cabbage. The cucumber will
The number accompanying the name of each crop corresponds to how many plants there is/will be.
My potager is at the front of the house, which is SW facing so gets a lot of light for most of the day, but is shady in the morning on the left side, by the fence.
I detailed here how I paid little attention to the placement of plants. This year, I arranged it so that the taller veg are arranged down that shady left side with the smaller, leafy veg arranged at the front of the bed.
All Homesteading 
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