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stir_fryi

Help me plan my little vegetable garden

Our "24 in. x 48 in. x 32 in. - 9 in. D Rustic Elevated Garden Bed" has been purchased and will be assembled next weekend. I am in SE Michigan and would like advice on how and when to plant stuff.

I would like to grow lettuce (bibb or butter) and lots of green onions. Also, cilantro and basil, green beans and maybe jalapenos.

I would like to grow the lettuce and green onions from seed. When should I sow seeds? I was thinking early May? Can you only grow lettuce once (as in, cannot replant more from seeds after harvesting because it will be too hot out)??? If so, what could I put in after picking the lettuce?

How about green beans? Should those be grown from seeds and if so, when should they be put in?

The herbs, strawberries and jalapenos -- I will be small plants, so I think I can figure those out.

My last question is a suggestion for the type of soil to fill this bed with.

Any and all advise will be appreciated.

Comments (4)

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    IMO I think that's a lot of stuff for such a little planter. Did you buy more than one? I grow in containers as well but I use water troughs . Anyways , personally I try and keep fruiting veggies separate from leafy veggies because they have different fertilizing needs. Vegetables and herbs like the bib lettuce and basil for example you want more nitrogen where jalapenos, strawberries and even onions you want more phosphorus .

  • 9 years ago

    Most of these types of containers come with recommendations for filler but if yours didn't then the norm is any quality soil-less potting mix. There are many brands available but the key is no soil, no dirt. Most contain peat, vermiculite or perlite, some bark fines, some lime to balance the pH, and some mild form of fertilizer (either organic or slo-release synthetics). You'll find more info on fillers for containers over on the Container Gardening forum here.

    I agree with all Lisa said, especially that your list is a big one for such a small container unless you only want a few of each with limited production. I'd suggest you find other containers for your strawberries and herbs and save the space for the plants that require more room. Plus they have very different nutrient needs.

    If this Rustic Elevated Bed is what you are talking about then about all it is going to hold is about 4-5 bush bean plants, a short 2 foot row of green onions, a couple of heads of lettuce, 1 jalapeno pepper plant (they aren't small plants), and even that is going to be crowded.

    You can plant your lettuce and onions from seed if you wish and in your location should get at least 1 crop of lettuce (use leaf rather than head lettuce as it needs much less room) and some onions but they need to be planted ASAP. Better yet buy transplants for both.

    Good luck and enjoy your new project. Just don't try to over-crowd everything as you'll end up with little production. Sometimes planting less = getting more. :-)

    Dave

  • 9 years ago

    You have too many numbers in your raised bed, unless it is not a square or rectangular shape.

    Bean plants can be planted pretty easily from beans at the location where you want them to grow.


    If you like the green onion variety from the grocery store, I would buy some green onions from the grocery store and then not cut the white part up. Instead, cut off the green leaves and replant the white bulb. As it regrows, cut the leaves again, for a constantly regrowing leaves during your growing season.


    If you run out of space in your raised bed, know that some of your herbs and pepper plants can also grow fine in pots. Or if you didn't have enough pots, use the plastic bag that your soil came in. Make a few holes for drainage, put the transplant or seed directly into that bag..it has the same soil you were planning to use anyway! It should be good for at least one growing season.



  • 9 years ago

    In SE MI it may be too early for planting most veggies since you may have had the same freezing rain in the last few days that I saw in WI and NH. You can plant lettuce and onions in late March or early April, depending on the weather. You need to be pretty much past danger of snow accumulation, and we aren't there yet in central NH.

    Basil, green beans and peppers are all frost-tender and so can't be planted out until the danger of frost is past. Cilantro will need to be replanted all summer every couple of weeks as once it goes to seed, it's done.