Gardening Basics: A Step-By-Step Guide From Seeds To Harvest

A step-by-step
guide from
seeds to harvest
Gardening
Basics
By Emily Peery
My goal in writing Gardening Basics is to help new gardeners have success with in their vegetable
gardens. I have created a step by step guide to walk you through the basics.
I have found that square foot gardening—using raised beds and a soil mix—makes gardening
easy! However, you can apply all of the information in this e-book to other methods as well.
The first section teaches you how to design, plan, build, and plant your garden. It includes step by
step instructions and checklists to make it easy.
In the appendix you will find a Plant Spacing chart, a Companion Planting chart, details about
watering methods, and a section with recipes.
This e-book is intended to be used along with my other e-books: Planting by Color and Vegetable
Reference Guide. Planting by Color gives you a week by week schedule of when to start seeds,
transplant, and plant seeds directly in the garden. The Vegetable Reference Guide provides details
about each vegetable, including when to plant, fertilize, and harvest.
All of this information is available on my website for free. Please respect my hard work by limiting
use of this e-book to one person. I’d ask that you refrain for copying, emailing, or distributing this
information without written consent.
Happy gardening!
Brought to you by http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net Please do not photocopy or redistribute.

Gardening Basics, second edition © Emily Peery 2013 page 1
The Gardening Method
There are many ways to garden, and all can be successful. Because this book is geared toward
beginners, I am recommending a gardening method that is going to be the least amount of work
and bring the most amount of success.
I use a modified version of the Square Foot Gardening method as developed by Mel Bartholemew
(All New Square Foot Gardening, first revised edition, (Franklin: Cool Springs Press, 2006)).
My strategy includes:
 Raised garden beds
o no wider than 2 feet from each edge or aisle, maximum 4’ wide
o at least 10-12” high
 Soil mix—a combination of peat moss, vermiculite, and compost
 Garden beds divided into 1 foot sections, planting one type of vegetable per square
Why not just garden in a patch of dirt in your yard? Of course you can, but here are the advantages
of using my method over traditional gardening:
 Soil—your success is hugely dependent on good soil. Depending on your location, it might
be rocky, sandy or clay and the pH might be wrong. By creating your own soil you avoid
having to test, amend, and adjust your soil.
 Labor—traditional gardening requires so much physical labor. This method avoids all
hoeing, trenching, hilling, and tilling.
 Weeds—let’s face it, the thing we all hate about gardening is weeds, and with traditional
gardening there’s no avoiding them. I can honestly say that I spend less than 1% of my time
in the garden weeding.
 Space—look at a traditional garden bed and notice how much space is taken up by rows.
Rows are necessary—you have to have a way to walk around and access your plants. Not
so with this method! By limiting the width of our garden beds, every plant is within an arm’s
reach. Eliminating the rows allows us to plant more vegetables in less space.
Design Your Garden Bed
Location
Walk around your house and look for places you might put your garden. Consider the following:
 Sunlight—most plants need 8-12 hours of direct sunlight every day.
 Water—plants need water, and you don’t want to cart it around your yard. Be sure your
garden will be reachable by hose, or near existing irrigation.
 Space—the garden will be no more than 4 feet deep, but can be as long as you choose.
 Proximity—put your garden beds somewhere you will walk by and see often.
Size
Bigger is not always better.
 For the first year I suggest you build and plant no more than 32 to 48 square feet.
Shape
The ideal is a long rectangle with three available sides.
 4x8 or 4x12 with only one short side against a fence.
If you have to build along a fence, choose one of these two
options:
 2x16 with one long side against the fence
 several 4x4 boxes along the fence with at least 3 feet between each box)

Draw the outline of your garden plan.
Indicate North, South, East and West.
Draw in any fences.
Print additional pages if necessary.

Choose What to Grow
Choose vegetables based on what your family will enjoy.
Easy to grow for first time gardeners!
Vegetables and Herbs

Artichokes* Cucumbers Peas
Asparagus* Dill Peppers
Basil Eggplant Potatoes
Beans, bush Green Onions Pumpkins
Beans, pole Kale Radishes
Beets Kohlrabi Rhubarb*
Broccoli Leeks Rosemary
Brussels Sprouts Lettuce, leaf Rutabagas
Cabbage Lettuce, head Spinach
Cantaloupe Melons Summer squash
Carrots Mustard Sweet Potatoes
Cauliflower** Okra Swiss chard
Celery** Onions, green Thyme
Chives Onions, storage Tomatoes
Cilantro Oregano Turnips
Collard greens Parsley Watermelon
Corn Parsnips Winter squash
* Not suitable for square foot gardens

** Particularly difficult to grow

Create Your Garden Layout
Now you need to add the vegetables to your garden plan. I suggest you start by planting one
square per vegetable. If you have room, plant two squares of a vegetable you enjoy.
Refer to the Plant Spacing chart (appendix A) to see how many plants will fit in each square.
Most vegetables will fit one or more per square. A few vegetables, like tomatoes and zucchini,
take several squares.
Refer to the Companion Planting chart (Appendix B). Some plants grow better next to others.
Look up your vegetable and make sure it’s “neighbors” are not listed in red in the column
beneath, which means it’s not a good companion.
Provide support: Some plants like peas, cucumbers, and vine tomatoes will need a trellis. It’s
best to put your trellis in a place where you can get to both sides of it, and where it won’t block
your access to other plants.
Consider size, sunlight, and accessibility. Plant taller vegetables to the North so they do not
shade the shorter plants. Plant vegetables that harvest only at the end of the season (like
onions) toward the back, and others that harvest all summer in front (ie: herbs, beans, lettuce).

Build Your Garden Beds
Purchase Beds
If you can afford to do so, I suggest you purchase your garden beds. This is the easiest and fastest
way to get your garden up and running.
 The Square Foot Gardening foundation sells wood (6”/15 cm tall)
 Home Gardens To Go sells vinyl garden beds (6”/15 cm or 12”/30 cm tall)
 Easy Garden Box is made of metal and vinyl (15”/38 cm tall)
 Watch for kits at Costco, Sam’s Club, Home Depot, and Lowes
Wherever you choose to purchase them, consider getting beds that are at least 12”/30 cm high.
The traditional Square Foot Garden method suggests only 6”/15 cm but I have not found that to be
enough, especially when planting root vegetables like potatoes.

Build Beds
If you or someone you love is handy, you can save a lot of money by building your garden boxes.
While it is possible to build your own vinyl garden beds, it is not an easy project, so I am only going
to include instructions for wood garden beds.
WHAT YOU NEED

 2x12 boards
o Determine how many and the lengths of the boards you need. They come in lengths
of 8’, 10’, 12”, and 16’.
o You want to be sure each board is not bent or warped. The shorter the board, the
easier to find a straight board.
o The store will usually cut the boards to the lengths you need, especially if it’s just a
few cuts.
o Most home improvement stores carry several types of wood. Choose one that fits
your budget, but avoid treated wood.
 12 decking screws per garden box—they should be at least 4-5” long
 Box of 1-2” decking screws
 Nylon string (kite string works well)
 Drill
 Weed mat—enough to cover the bottom of your box. This typically comes in 4” wide
rolls.
 A friend to help you put it together.
WHAT TO DO
 Prepare the site
o Remove any grass, shrubs, flowers, etc.
o Level the ground. It’s okay if the box slants downhill—just make sure there are no
bumps or rocks sticking up that will prevent it from lying flat.
 Build the box.
o Work on a flat, hard surface like a patio or driveway.
o Lay out your boards in the shape of your garden bed.
o Overlap the edges so that no board is on the outside on both ends.
o Drill 3 pilot holes in each board.
o Attach the boards together with screws.
 Put the box in place
o Lay down the box
o Put weed mat in the bottom—I like to use a little extra so it comes up the insides of
the box. It keeps the soil from spilling out of the bottom.
o Divide the box into square feet and screw the short decking screws in, leaving the
head 1/8” above the box (you will use this to tie string to).
o Start at one end, tie the nylon string to a screw, and weave it around the box until
the box is divided into 1 foot squares (see picture below).

Soil
The problem with dirt
The soil you find in your backyard may be wonderful. But it also might be too acidic/alkaline, sandy,
clay, rocky, etc. It is also sure to contain tons of weeds. Instead, make your own soil with three
ingredients: peat moss, vermiculite, and compost I like to use a ratio of 1:1:2.
The Ingredients
PEAT MOSS
Peat moss typically comes in large bales that are just shy of 4 cubic feet, but that will expand to at
least 6 cubic feet once opened. This can be purchased at most home and garden stores, nurseries,
or even the gardening section of the grocery store. You can also substitute coconut coir.
VERMICULITE
Vermiculite is made of rock, but it’s light and fluffy like popcorn. It’s “cousin” perlite is found in
potting soils (the white stuff). Vermiculite keeps your soil from getting bogged down, but unlike
perlite, vermiculite retains moisture. It can be difficult to find, but it’s great if you can hunt it down.
Call around to find out who carries it. I have found it at the local farming co-op store.
Don’t bother with small bags of vermiculite—you need 4 cubic foot bags only. If you can’t find it,
substitute with perlite or skip it altogether!
COMPOST
It’s important to purchase as many types of compost as you can. Avoid steer compost, since the
cattle are fed a lot of salt, and this is not good for your garden. These usually come in 1 cubic foot
bags.

Determine the quantity you need
If you built or purchased boxes that are 12” tall, this calculation is simple. You multiply the length x
width x depth of your garden, in feet. Then, divide by 4. Copy that number to all highlighted areas.
_______ length X _______ width X _______ depth = _______  4 = ______ cubic feet
Example: 8’ length x 4’ width x 1’ depth = 32 cubic feet  4 = 8 cubic feet
______ Peat moss 8 cu ft Peat moss
______ Vermiculite 8 cu ft Vermiculite
______ x 2 = _____ Compost 16 cu ft Compost
Putting it all together

You may want to use a dust mask when doing this step. The best way I’ve found of mixing soil is in
the box. Pour some compost in the box (maybe 2 bags) and then add some vermiculite. Use a
pitch fork or metal rake to mix it up. Now add half a bale of peat moss, and mix it up again. I always
start with a rake, but end up using my hands and arms, especially if the peat moss is clumpy.
Keep adding and mixing until you’ve used all your ingredients. If you have some extra, use your
hose to mist down the soil, let it settle a little, and then add the rest.
Other options
I’ve talked to several people who garden in pure compost, and report great success. The peat
moss and vermiculite are going to help retain water and provide good drainage. If you garden in
100% compost, be careful not to over-water.
You can purchase garden box grow mixes in my area—check your local nurseries.

Watering Your Garden
Choose a method to water your garden based on your situation and resources. For a detailed list of
pros and cons, see Appendix C.
Bucket Method
The most basic way to water your garden is with a 5 gallon bucket and a large plastic cup of water.
Put your bucket near the garden, fill it with a hose, and then pour a cup of water on each plant or
square. If the plant starts wilting, give it more water.
Hose Method
Another option is to water your garden with a hose.
Mooch the Sprinklers Method

If you have automatic irrigation for your lawn, you can just adjust the sprinkler heads to overshoot
and water your garden.
Soaker Hose
You can purchase a soaker hose, which just oozes out water slowly, and wind it around your
garden. You have to turn it off and on every day.
It is possible to add a timer to your soaker hose, and then make it automatic.

PVC and Sprinkler Heads with a Hose
If you lean toward handy, you can put together an above ground sprinkler system with PVC and
sprinkler heads that will attach to your hose. You might even be able to add a timer to automate it.
Add Sprinkler Head to Irrigation System

If you have an automatic irrigation system, you can add a few pop-up sprinkler heads right next to
or in your garden. You would do this if you don’t have a valve you can dedicate solely to the
garden.
Low Pressure Drip Irrigation System

If you have a valve to dedicate to watering just your garden, this is the most ideal solution. If you
have experience building or repairing irrigation systems, go for it! Otherwise, you can hire someone
to build and install this for you.

Planting Your Garden
With your garden built, your soil mixed, and your watering method planned, you are ready to plant!
When to Plant
Now you can go buy seeds and plants, and put it all in, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
Plants can be divided into several categories based on light requirements, sensitivity to frost, and
ideal temperature for growing. These factors determine the best time to plant.
HARDY
Hardy plants require less light (3-6 hours of direct sun), can tolerate hard frost, and grow best in
cool weather. Many will die, bolt, or go to seed when temperatures rise. These should be planted
early in the spring, as soon as the soil can be worked, or late in the summer to be harvested in the
fall. In areas with short periods of frost, hardy vegetables can be grown all winter.
SEMI-HARDY
Semi-hardy plants require more sun (6 hours), tolerate light frost, and grow best in cool weather.
These should be planted in the spring, about 3-5 weeks before the frost date. They can also be
planted late in the summer for a fall harvest, or during the winter in temperate regions without any
frost.
TENDER
Tender plants need more sun (8 hours), do not tolerate frost, and grow best in warm (not hot)
weather. Any frost will kill them, so they should be planted on or after the frost date.

VERY TENDER
Very tender vegetables require a lot of sunlight (8-12 hours), will be stunted by cold temperatures,
and grow best in very warm weather. They should be planted after all danger of frost has passed,
about 3 weeks after the frost date.
These vegetables have long growing seasons (they take a long time to go from seed to harvest), so
you want to wait until the weather is warm enough for them, but you can’t wait too long or you will
not have a chance to harvest before hot or cold temperatures set in. For this reason you should use
transplants, not seeds.
Here is a chart that lists many vegetables and their category.
Hardy Semi-Hardy Tender Very Tender

Asparagus Beets Celery Cantaloupe/Melons
Broccoli Carrots Cucumber Eggplant
Cabbage Cauliflower Dry Beans Lima Beans
Kale Endive Snap Beans Okra
Kohlrabi Lettuce Summer Squash Peppers
Leeks Mustard Sweet Corn Pumpkins
Onions Parsley Zucchini Tomatoes
Peas Parsnip Winter Squash
Radish Potatoes
Rhubarb Swiss Chard
Spinach Spinach
Turnip

Your Custom Schedule
Great news! I have developed an easy way to know exactly when to plant your garden.
 Refer to your Planting By Color e-book to see when you should plant the vegetables
you’ve chosen to grow.
 You can also sign up for weekly email reminders on my website:
http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/newsletter-signup
Plants vs. Seeds

It’s time to plant your garden—do you buy plants or packets of seeds? It depends! Some plants can
only be grown from seeds because they don’t transplant well—vegetables like carrots, potatoes,
corn, and beets.
Other plants, like tomatoes and peppers, have to be purchased as plants because the growing
season is too short to start them as seeds. More advanced gardeners can start their own seeds
indoors, but I don’t recommend it for beginners.
Finally, there are vegetables that can be grown from either plants or seeds. In this case, let your
budget decide! Seeds are usually cheaper, but plants may produce a harvest a little sooner.
You can find recommendations for each vegetable in the Vegetable Gardening Guide e-book or on
my website http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/vegetables.

Planting seeds
Planting in your garden is simple. You will need the following:
 Garden plan
 Seeds
 Pencil
 Snack or sandwich bags
Review your garden plan and locate the square that you will plant in. Look on the vegetable chart to
see how many plants fit in each square. If you are growing something not listed, follow these
guidelines for plant spacing found on the seed packet:
12” apart—1 per square
3” apart (or less)—16 per square
Poke holes about 1” deep with your pencil. Drop 2 or 3 seeds into each hole then smooth the soil
over. Gently water each square you just planted (be careful not to wash away the seeds!). Put the
rest of your seed packet into a small Ziploc bag and store in a cool, dry place. You may want to
make a note on your garden plan of the date you planted the seeds. If they have not germinated in
one to two weeks (check the back of the seed packet), replant that spot.

How to Transplant
Transplant means to plant a plant, usually one that you bought at the store.
BUYING PLANTS
You can purchase plants at many home and garden stores, a nursery, or even the garden section
of the grocery store. When buying plants look for short, stocky stems, no fruit or flowers, and healthy
looking leaves (no brown spots or wilting). If you can, buy plants that are disease resistant.
Read the labels to choose between varieties. Whatever you do, don’t forget to write down what you
planted. There’s nothing worse than having great success without any idea of how to repeat it next
year!
HARDENING OFF
Don’t just take your new little plants home and plop them in the garden. Most likely they’ve been
growing in a greenhouse or some other protected place. It’s important to get them used to the sun
and wind before leaving them outside day and night.
Start off by taking the plants outside and putting them in the shade for an hour or two. Each day for
about a week, increase the time, and the amount of direct sunlight. Now you’re ready to plant!
TRANSPLANTING
You will need the following:
 Garden plan
 Plants
 Trowel
 Scissors

If you can, transplant on a shady day. Take your plant to the garden and identify which square it will
go in. Dig out a hole slightly larger than the size of the pot.
Carefully remove the pot from the plant and examine the roots. If they are going around in circles or
you see a mass of white roots in the shape of the pot, they are “root bound” and need to be
trimmed. Take your scissors and cut off the bottom roots. This will actually improve the growth of the
plant.
Place the plant in the hole and fill any space with soil, and gently pat it down. Now water the plant
with one or two cups of water—this removes the air trapped in the soil which will kill the plant.
Caring For Your Garden

It’s best if you go visit your garden every day. At first it’s a little boring, but once those plants push
through the soil it’s amazing to watch them grow. It’s important to keep an eye on things so you
notice if something is diseased, dying, or infected with pests. If you catch it early enough, most
problems can be fixed.
This method of gardening is virtually weed-free, so you can spend your time admiring, harvesting,
and eating the fruits of your labors.
For intermediate and advanced gardening topics, like fertilizing, starting seeds indoors, building
irrigation, and more visit my website at http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net.
Happy gardening!

Appendix A Plant Spacing
Plant Spacing # Per Square Plant Spacing # Per Square
Basil 6” 15 cm 4 Mustard greens 3” 7.5cm 16
Beans, bush 4” 10 cm 9 Okra 12” 30 cm 1
Beans, pole 8 Onions, storage 4” 10 cm 9
Beets 4” 10 cm 9 Onions, green 3” 7.5cm 16
Carrots 3” 7.5cm 16 Oregano 12” 30 cm 1
Celery 12” 30 cm 1 Parsley 12” 30 cm 1
Chives 4” 10 cm 9 Parsnips 3” 7.5cm 16
Cilantro 4” 10 cm 9 Peas 8
Collard greens 12” 30 cm 1 Peppers 12” 30 cm 1
Corn 8” 20 cm 3 Potatoes 12” 30 cm 1
Cucumbers 2 Radishes 3” 7.5cm 16
Dill 12” 30 cm 1 Rosemary 12” 30 cm 1
Eggplant 12” 30 cm 1 Rutabagas 6” 15 cm 4
Kale 12” 30 cm 1 Spinach 4” 10 cm 9
Kohlrabi 6” 15 cm 4 Sweet potatoes 12” 30 cm 1
Leeks 4” 10 cm 9 Swiss Chard 6” 15 cm 4
Lettuce, leaf 6” 15 cm 4 Turnips 4” 10 cm 9
Lettuce, head 12” 30 cm 1
Plant Spacing # of Squares Plant Spacing # of Squares

Artichoke 48” 122 cm not suitable for SFG Pumpkins 24” 61cm 2 with trellis
Asparagus 12” 30 cm not suitable for SFG Rhubarb 36” 91cm not suitable for SFG
Broccoli 18” 46 cm 4 per 9 squares Summer squash 24” 61cm 4 with cage
Brussels sprouts 18” 46 cm 4 per 9 squares Tomatoes 12” 30 cm 1 with stakes
24” 61cm 4 with cage
36” 91cm 9 with no support
Cabbage 18” 46 cm 4 per 9 squares Watermelon 24” 61cm 2 with trellis
Cantaloupe 24” 61cm 2 with trellis Winter Squash 24” 61cm 2 with trellis
Cauliflower 18” 46 cm 4 per 9 squares Zucchini 24” 61cm 4 with cage

Appendix B Companion Planting
Companion planting is the practice of growing plants next to each other for mutual benefit.
This can happen because a companion attracts beneficial or repels harmful insects, or because the
natural chemicals found in or produced by a plant improve flavor or growth.
Green=best Yellow=good Red=bad
Asparagus Beet Beans, Bush Beans, Pole Cabbage family

Asparagus Asparagus Asparagus Asparagus Asparagus
Beet Beet Beet Beet Beet
Beans, Bush Beans, Bush Beans, Bush Beans, Bush Beans, Bush
Beans, Pole Beans, Pole Beans, Pole Beans, Pole Beans, Pole
Cabbage family Cabbage family Cabbage family Cabbage family Cabbage family
Carrots Carrots Carrots Carrots Carrots
Celery Celery Celery Celery Celery
Corn Corn Corn Corn Corn
Cucumber Cucumber Cucumber Cucumber Cucumber
Eggplant Eggplant Eggplant Eggplant Eggplant
Garlic Garlic Garlic Garlic Garlic
Lettuce Lettuce Lettuce Lettuce Lettuce
Onion Onion Onion Onion Onion
Parsley Parsley Parsley Parsley Parsley
Peas Peas Peas Peas Peas
Peppers Peppers Peppers Peppers Peppers
Potatoes Potatoes Potatoes Potatoes Potatoes
Radish Radish Radish Radish Radish
Spinach Spinach Spinach Spinach Spinach
Squash, Summer Squash, Summer Squash, Summer Squash, Summer Squash, Summer
Squash, Winter Squash, Winter Squash, Winter Squash, Winter Squash, Winter
Tomatoes Tomatoes Tomatoes Tomatoes Tomatoes
Carrots Celery Corn Cucumber Eggplant


Garlic Lettuce Onion Parsley Peas


Peppers Potatoes Radish Spinach Squash, Summer


Squash, Winter Tomatoes

Asparagus Asparagus
Beet Beet
Beans, Bush Beans, Bush
Beans, Pole Beans, Pole
Cabbage family Cabbage family
Carrots Carrots
Celery Celery
Corn Corn
Cucumber Cucumber
Eggplant Eggplant
Garlic Garlic
Lettuce Lettuce
Onion Onion
Parsley Parsley
Peas Peas
Peppers Peppers
Potatoes Potatoes
Radish Radish
Spinach Spinach
Squash, Summer Squash, Summer
Squash, Winter Squash, Winter
Tomatoes Tomatoes

Appendix C Watering Your Garden
Choose a method to water your garden based on your situation and resources.
Bucket Method
The most basic way to water your garden is with a 5 gallon bucket and a large plastic cup of water.
Put your bucket near the garden, fill it with a hose, and then pour a cup of water on each plant or
square. If the plant starts wilting, give it more water.
Pros Cons
 Minimal equipment needed  May have to water twice a day when it’s
 Anyone can do it really hot
 Have to have someone tend your garden
if you go on vacation
 Labor intensive
Hose Method
Another option is to water your garden with a hose.
Pros Cons
 Minimal equipment needed  Soil is so loose, the water tends to wash
 Anyone can do it it away or leave big pits
 Watering the leaves can promote
disease

Mooch the Sprinklers Method
If you have automatic irrigation for your lawn, you can just adjust the sprinkler heads to overshoot
and water your garden.
Pros Cons
 No extra equipment needed  May not give plants the right amount of
 Automated—no worries if you go on water
vacation  Watering the leaves can promote
disease
Soaker Hose
You can purchase a soaker hose, which just oozes out water slowly, and wind it around your
garden. You have to turn it off and on every day.
Pros Cons
 Minimal equipment needed  You have to remember to turn it on and
 Anyone can do it OFF!
 Soaker hoses don’t seem to water the
garden very evenly
 Not automated
It is possible to add a timer to your soaker hose, and then make it automatic.

PVC and Sprinkler Heads with a Hose
If you lean toward handy, you can put together an above ground sprinkler system with PVC and
sprinkler heads that will attach to your hose. You might even be able to add a timer to automate it.
Pros Cons
 Automatic—no worries if you go on  Need supplies and know-how to build
disease
 Sun and wind will wear down PVC and
timer; may need to replace parts
Add Sprinkler Head to Irrigation System

If you have an automatic irrigation system, you can add a few pop-up sprinkler heads right next to
or in your garden. You would do this if you don’t have a valve you can dedicate solely to the
garden.
Pros Cons
disease
 May not give plants the right amount of
water

Low Pressure Drip Irrigation System
If you have a valve to dedicate to watering just your garden, this is the most ideal solution. If you
have experience building or repairing irrigation systems, go for it! Otherwise, you can hire someone
to build and install this for you.
Pros Cons
vacation  Expensive to hire someone to build
 Uses less water
 Puts water at the roots
 Flexible—can give different “zones”
more or less water

Appendix D Recipes
Cabbage Rolls
Ingredients Instructions
1 head of cabbage  Boil whole cabbage for 5-10 minutes, cool
1 pound of ground beef  Combine meat, rice, egg, onion, carrot, salt, and pepper
½ cup rice, cooked  Combine vinegar, brown sugar, and tomato sauce
1 egg  Remove 12 large leaves, chop the rest and put in the bottom
1 onion, minced of a crock pot
1 carrot, minced  Put 2-4 tablespoons of meat mixture in the center of each leaf,
1 tsp salt roll like an envelope and secure with a toothpick, and put in
¼ C apple cider vinegar crock pot
½ C brown sugar  Pour sauce over the top, cover and cook 8-10 hours on low
8 ounces tomato sauce
Thai Green Curry

1 can coconut milk  Cook rice according to instructions
1-2 tsp green curry paste  Open can of coconut milk and skim off ¼ C cream
2 chicken breasts, chunked  In a heavy skillet, heat cream and curry paste until fragrant
2 C fresh veggies, thinly sliced  Add the rest of the coconut milk and chicken, cook 5 minutes
(carrots, celery, bell peppers,  Add veggies and cover. Simmer for 5 minutes, until veggies
broccoli, cauliflower, green are cooked by still firm
onions, onions)  Serve over rice
2 C rice

Appendix D Recipes
Veggie Lasagna
1 box lasagna noodles  Cook noodles according to instructions
2 T olive oil
½ C carrots, diced  Sauté carrots, celery, pepper, onion, and garlic in olive oil
½ C celery, diced until soft
½ C green pepper, diced  Chop and add tomatoes and spices, simmer 10-15 minutes
3 cloves garlic, minced  Add broccoli and cauliflower, cook 2-3 minutes
1 onion, diced
2 (15 oz) cans tomatoes  Combine ricotta cheese, egg, parsley, salt and pepper
parsley, oregano, basil
½ C broccoli, chopped  Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick cooking spray
½ C cauliflower, chopped  Layer noodles, veggie sauce, ricotta mix, and mozzarella
1 ½ C ricotta cheese  Repeat layers until noodles and sauces are gone
1 egg
2 Tbs fresh parsley  Cover and bake at 350 for 30 to 45 minutes.
1 tsp salt  Uncover for the last 5 minutes
¼ tsp pepper
1 pound shredded mozzarella

Appendix D Recipes
Butternut Squash Soup
2 pounds squash  Cut squash in half, clean out pulp, lay flesh down on cookie
2 T butter sheet. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes
1 onion, chopped  Chop onion and sauté in butter
2 cloves garlic  Add garlic, pepper, and broth
½ tsp pepper  Scoop squash into soup and blend in blender until smooth
1 can chicken broth  Return to pot, add half & half, heat through and serve
1 cup half & half
Cream of Zucchini Soup

2 pounds onions, chopped  Cook onion in butter until clear and soft, but not brown
2 Tbs butter  Combine onion, zucchini and broth in heavy sauce pan and
1 ½ pounds zucchini, sliced bring to boil. Simmer 15 minutes
3 C chicken broth  Add seasoning and puree in blender until smooth
½ C light cream  Add light cream (or half & half), adjust seasonings to taste
¼ tsp pepper  Heat through, but do not boil
1/8 tsp nutmeg  Garnish with grated cheddar cheese
1/8 tsp salt
cayenne pepper (pinch)

Appendix D Recipes
Veggie Pizza
2 cans crescent rolls  Spread crescent rolls on a cookie sheet, in one big layer
½ C mayonnaise  Bake according to instructions, and cool
8 oz cream cheese  Combine mayo, cream cheese, and ranch, spread on crust
½ packet ranch dressing mix  Top with veggies and cheese
Cherry tomatoes, halved
Broccoli, chopped
Green onions, chopped
Cauliflower, chopped
Bell peppers, chopped
Cheddar cheese, shredded
Veggies & Cornbread

1 pan cornbread, baked  Sauté onion and garlic in oil
2/3 C onions  Slice zucchini, add to onion
2 cloves garlic  Cook for 2 minutes
1 Tbs olive oil  Add the rest and heat through
1 zucchini or summer squash  Serve over warm cornbread, top with sour cream
2 C water
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (16 oz ) can black beans
½ tsp oregano
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
sour cream

Appendix D Recipes
Fresh Salsa
3 pounds (about 13) tomatoes  Remove seeds from jalapeno pepper, keeping seeds
2 bell peppers, chopped  Use a food processor or blender to chop jalapeno into
2 Anaheim or mild peppers, chopped tiny pieces—add a tomato to help
1 jalapeno pepper  Combine the rest and use food processor or blender
1 onion to chop to the desired consistency
1/3 C white vinegar  Add jalapeno seeds if it’s too mild
2 cloves garlic, minced  Add up to 2 Tbs more vinegar if its too bland
1 Tbs salt
2 tsp chili powder
2 Tbs cilantro, chopped
½ tsp oregano
Guacamole
3-4 ripe avocados  Cut the avocados in half, remove the pit and scoop
¼ to ½ an onion, finely chopped out the flesh, mash it with a fork or potato ricer
1-2 cloves garlic, minced  Add onions and garlic—more for more “bite”
Juice of ½ lemon  Add lemon juice
Sour cream  Add sour cream—I add equal to avocado mix
Salt to taste  Salt to taste
 Eat with tortilla chips and fresh salsa!!!

Appendix D Recipes
Ratatouille
2 cups eggplant, cubed and peeled  Heat oil, sauté eggplant, zucchini, and onions
1 zucchini, washed, halved, ¼” pieces  Add the rest, bring to a boil, cover, simmer 20 min
1 can tomatoes with juice  Uncover and cook 5-10 min
½ an onion, chopped  Serve over noodles with shredded cheese
2 TBS olive oil
½ tsp dry basil
1/8 tsp pepper
Zucchini Noodles
1 zucchini  Wash the zucchini, cut off the stem and the bottom
1 Julienne peeler  Put the zucchini on a cutting board and “peel” it with
1 TBS olive oil the Julienne peeler.
 Ideally, put in Tupperware in fridge for 1-2 days to
allow it to dry out a little.
 Sauté in olive oil for 5 minutes.
Chicken and Cauliflower Pesto

2-3 TBS oil  Cut the chicken in chunks and sauté in oil.
2 or 3 chicken breasts  Cut cauliflower into bite-size pieces.
½ head cauliflower  Steam cauliflower until tender.
1 ½ cups baby spinach  Combine chicken, cauliflower, spinach, and pesto
1 package pesto sauce until heated through.

Appendix D Recipes
Cauliflower Rice
2-3 TBS oil or butter  Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onion and
1 onion, chopped cook until it starts to brown.
½ head cauliflower  Take the cauliflower and cut into bite size chunks.
Salt (to taste) Process (on pulse) in food processor until the
Pepper (to taste consistency of rice.
 Put cauliflower in a microwave safe dish with a lid,
cook 5 minutes.
 Add cauliflower to onions, add salt and pepper, cook
until flavors are combined.
Cabbage Noodles
2-3 TBS oil or butter  Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onion and
1 onion, halved and sliced cook until it starts to brown.
1 small head cabbage  Cut cabbage into wedges and process in food
Kosher salt (to taste) processor with slicing blade.
 Add cabbage to the skillet, sprinkle with salt, and
cook until slightly browned.

Appendix D Recipes
Pineapple and Lime Green Smooth
1 cup fresh pineapple  Place everything in blender in order. If needed, add ¼
¼ lime, half peeled cup water to help it blend smoothly.
1 cup spinach  Blend until smooth.
1 leaf kale, stem removed
5-7 pieces of ice (optional)
2-3 drops liquid stevia

4x4 Salad Garden
First Planting
Plant spinach on the outside leaving room for
Peas Spinach Spinach Gr Onions
planting tomatoes later.
(8 seeds) (3 seeds) (3 seeds) (16 seeds)
Trellis
Harvest the two center rows of green onions first
to leave room for planting cucumbers later.
Lettuce Spinach Lettuce Lettuce
If your season stays cool long enough, try growing
Romaine or head lettuce. If you do, Plant bush beans,
leaf lettuce, or beets for the second planting.
Carrots Carrots Kale Swiss Chard Second Planting

(16 seeds) (16 seeds) (1 plant) (4 seeds)
Cherry Tomato Cucumber
Trellis (1 plant) (8 seeds)
Gr Onions Radishes Radishes Beets

Lettuce Lettuce Lettuce
(4 seeds) (4 seeds) (4 seeds)
Third Planting Carrots Carrots Bush Beans Swiss Chard

Peas
(8 seeds) Trellis
Gr Onions Pepper Pepper Gr Onions

(16 seeds) (1 plant) (1 plant) (16 seeds)
Lettuce Spinach Lettuce Spinach
If it is too hot for planting lettuce, substitute with

Kale bush beans, beets, or radishes.
(1 plant)
S
By having this garden face the south, the
tall vegetables on the trellis will provide
Gr Onions E W shade for the lettuce and spinach during
(16 seeds)
the hot summer months.
N
You can also replant with with hardy vegetables

such as broccoli, cabbage, turnips or rutabagas.
Harvest Times (approximate)
Weeks 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Radishes Bush Beans Beets Carrots Romaine

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Please do not photocopy or redistribute. Spinach Kale
Sample Garden Layouts © Emily Peery 2013
4x4 Salsa Garden
First Planting
N
By having this garden face north,
Spinach Leaf Lettuce W E the tomatoes will not shade the
(12 seeds) (12 seeds) shorter plants.
S
Plant spinach and lettuce on the outsides of

Yellow Red the squares where the tomatoes will grow.
Onions Onions
(9 sets) (9 sets) Cut, and come again--harvest the outside
leaves whileletting the plant continue to grow.
Harvesting spinach like this promotes vigorous
Cilantro Cilantro growth and avoids bolting.
(4 seeds) (4 seeds)
CIlantro grows best in cool temperatures.
Wash and freeze it for use later in the season.
Second Planting
The tomatoes will need support. The best is
a 5’ tomato cage.
Roma Tomato Better Boy Tomato
(1 plant) (1 plant) If the peppers are ready for harvest before
the tomatoes, wash, core, and freeze
them whole. The texture will be fine for
cooked salsa.
If desired, replant cilantro when the green

onions are harvested.
Anaheim Jalapeno Yellow Red
(1 plant) (1 plant) Onions Onions
(9 sets) (9 sets)
Big Bertha Big Bertha Gr Onions Gr Onions

(1 plant) (1 plant) (16 seeds) (16 seeds)
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Sample Garden Layouts © Emily Peery 2013

Gardening Basics: A Step-By-Step Guide From Seeds To Harvest

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A step-by-step

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Indicate North, South, East and West.

Draw in any fences.

Print additional pages if necessary.

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Vegetables and Herbs

* Not suitable for square foot gardens

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WHAT YOU NEED

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Putting it all together

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Mooch the Sprinklers Method

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Add Sprinkler Head to Irrigation System

Low Pressure Drip Irrigation System

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Here is a chart that lists many vegetables and their category.

Hardy Semi-Hardy Tender Very Tender

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Plants vs. Seeds

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Caring For Your Garden

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Plant Spacing # of Squares Plant Spacing # of Squares

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Green=best Yellow=good Red=bad

Asparagus Beet Beans, Bush Beans, Pole Cabbage family

Carrots Celery Corn Cucumber Eggplant

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Garlic Lettuce Onion Parsley Peas

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Peppers Potatoes Radish Spinach Squash, Summer

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Squash, Winter Tomatoes

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Add Sprinkler Head to Irrigation System

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Thai Green Curry

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Cream of Zucchini Soup

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Veggies & Cornbread

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Chicken and Cauliflower Pesto

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Carrots Carrots Kale Swiss Chard Second Planting

Gr Onions Radishes Radishes Beets