The Garden Layout

How you lay out the garden will depend on your space and the amount of room you have available, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

  • Tomatoes are best started from transplants. They will need more space per plant that the other crops, 24 inches between plants or 1 plant per 9 square feet. Tomatoes will also require staking or tomato cages.
  • Peppers are also best started from transplants. They should be spaced 14-18 inches apart, or 1 plant per square foot.
  • Onions require only 4 inches between them, or you can plant 16 per square foot.
  • Garlic should be planted 6 inches apart, about 4 plants per square foot.
  • The herbs should be planted about 12 inches apart or 1 plant per square foot.
  • These plants make good companions for each other. Basil enhances the growth of both tomatoes and peppers. Tomatoes grow well with onions and garlic, in fact, garlic planted between tomatoes will keep away red spider mites. Cilantro, also known as coriander deters spider mites and aphids and the shade of the tomatoes may keep it from bolting.
  • Planting flowers nearby can attract pollinators and improve your tomato and pepper harvest.

References

Bartholomew, M. 2005. All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space! Cool Springs Press. Brentwood, Tennessee.

Companion Planting. 1999. Cornell University Cooperative Extension.

Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky. ID-128. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service

Mason, S. 2016. Heat Up with a Salsa Garden. University of Illinois Extension. https://web.extension.illinois.edu/cfiv/homeowners/990102.html (accessed 18 June 2018).

Markham, D. 2014. How to Grow a Salsa Garden for Spicy Summer Snacking. https://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/how-grow-salsa-garden-spicy-summer-snacking.html (accessed 18 June, 2018).

Markham, B.L. 2014. The MiniFarming™ Bible: The Complete Guide to Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre. SkyHorse Publishing. New York, New York.

Raver, A. 2009. A Salsa Garden with Everything but Nachos. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/garden/28garden.html (accessed 18 June 2018).

Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers. ID-36. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

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