My raised beds are about 18" from the fence, but I wish they were a bit further out so I could harvest from behind the trellis a bit easier. Are you doing SFG? I'd really get the book, the library should have it.

Are you growing pole beans, or bush beans? With pole beans, you'll definitely want a trellis or some other system, so make sure that you can easily get behind it. Bush beans don't need a trellis, but you'll want to make sure that you can get in there to pick.

As far as spacing, you'll have to plan it all out. Google SFG spacing, or check the SFG board here, they probably have a list. With a 4x6 box, you'll have 24 squares. I think that everything that you listed will be pushing it, really. I'd think about putting the tomatoes in containers.

Tomatoes - what kind are they? That matters, space-wise.

Beans - Pole or bush? Bush go 9/sq, pole go 4/sq (or 8, on either side of a trellis).

Squash - what kind? Tons of variables here.

Cucumber - bush or vining? You could trellis them next to the beans if they're vining.

Melons - you can trellis these too, or let them vine outside of the box.

Hope that helps!

Here is a link that might be useful: SFG spacing

I would also suggest at least 2' away from the fence and 3' would be better. And keep in mind that the fence may shade the garden in the afternoon depending on its orientation to the summer sun's location. I'd also agree that with a bed that small you'll really want to explore Sq. Foot Gardening for the most production. Check out their forum here for more details.

"4 tomato plants, 2 green bean plants, some okra, squash.." is a lot for that size bed. Even bush variety squash get 3-4' in diameter. Pole beans will give you more than bush beans and in less space. Perhaps the pole beans and the tomato plants might fit and the squash could be done in a really big container? Or if you move a couple of the tomato plants to containers then you could fit a few okra plants in their space.

Good luck with your first garden.

Dave

Hi,
I am also doing a 6 by 4 bed and this is my first time gardening.dont few tomatoes and peppers in containers last few yrs.

I have been reading the all new square foot gardening book like a bible for the past few days. as per the book Mel says we can plant 8 pole beans in 1 sqft and 2 cucumbers per sqft.
but melons, tomatoes,only 1 per sqft.

So I think you can fit them in.maybe for tomatoes u can try the vine which will produce for a longer time rather than the bush types. thats what i heard, so this year i am trying the vine tomatoes for the first time.

I am filling the soil in my first bed and planning to do one more 6 by 4. why aren't u planning to do more bed but do containers?
Good luck!

Thanks for all the input and advice! My husband and I looked up square foot gardening last night and seems that would be our best bet to get what we're after. We are planning on pole beans (not sure what kind though) and we have three Cherokee Purple Tomato plants and one Bradley. I have never grown Cherokee Purple so I don't know how high and wide they will grow. We defintly want okra but cucumbers and squash is optional. We had just hoped to have a little more "produce".

Nilaa, we may just do another bed. Our backyard is pretty small though, and we have a 4 year old who needs all the room he can get. HA! We have a nice patio so I had planned on doing some pepper containers anyway.

nilla, if you can find an old copy of SFG (not the new one) it has a lot of extra information that the new version doesn't have. I have both, and though there is of course redundancy between the two, I use both of them.

Ed

meadowdreamer, I have never mounded my cucumbers & I planted 160 seeds one year.
I cage my tomatoes & plant 3 cucumber seeds around the outside of the tomato cage, let the vines grow up the side of the cage, This does not harm the tomatoes & the cucumbers hang in plain sight, with no sand on them.
My beds are from 2-6 years old & have about 10% Organic Matter, so my cukes grow to 4 & 5 feet on good years.
I till in compost in the fall & mulch with it in the Spring.
I have SFG also, you may want to go down to your extension office to get the "Home Vegetable Gardening book".
They will say to use compost & synthetic fertilizers, but you can use what you need & leave what you do not agree with. This book is for your planting zone & has good plant & pest information in it.

g'day elicia,

it should be far enough from the fence so you can walk down that side without walking on the bed so generally 1/2 a meter. check our presentations for other ideas.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: lens straw bale garden