House Home And Garden

First, definitely go with some tomatoes. Then, I’d also grow a few varieties of lettuce if you like salad. Also, broccoli and snow peas are great for gardens that size. You do have to provide support for the peas though. Its really up to you, plant what you like to eat! Cucumber plants are awesome and can be very productive, but you have to trellis them as well.

you should try the square foot gardening technique

here are a few sites

a few pics

I assume that you are allowing the standard 3′ between rows. This distance between rows can change depending on what you grow and how you grow. Examples are: Peas can be planted 2′ apart in rows while zucchinis and squash need 4′ to 6′ between rows. Some, like certain types of cucumbers can be trellised to save space. Another method of saving space is to companion plant which means to plant two different vegetables in the same area that will compliment each other. I would recommend not to plant the same thing in the same spot for at least 3 years. This will help with disease and pest control. How much in the size of your garden, I don’t know.
First thing is to till or dig your garden to turn the soil over. This will need to be done at least two times or until the soil is workable. Next a soil test kit to determine the PH factor of the soil. It should be close to a 7. If not you will need to amend it to bring it up our down. Next step is to choose what and where you will plant, keeping in mind the area needed to grow what you choose. Follow the instructions on how to plant as far as distance between plants/seeds and rows and depth.
You will need to keep the garden weed free as much as possible. Weeds will compete with your veggies for sun and food. You can do this by weeding and or mulching. I have found that a stirrup hoe is the fastest way to weed. I also use straw once the plants are at least 8″ to 12″ high. This keeps the weeds from growing and retains moisture in the soil. Your garden will need at least an inch to an inch and a half a week in water. If it rains, less water. I would get a cheap rain gauge to keep track. You will also need to fertilize. An organic would be best so as not to burn your plants. You can do a yahoo search or a google search on any of the things that I have mentioned to learn more. The University of South Florida has a good web site for gardeners. You should also try the universities in CA. to see if they have info. Deciding what to plant can be a chore in it’s self. I have found that Gurneys Seed and Jungs are reliable to order from and have a wide selection. They too can be found on the net. Good luck.