Garden Plans > 2017: Our Backyard Garden

About this Garden Plan

Full backyard used for growing fruits and vegetables. North side if home gets too much shade, so only flowers there. All flowers attract hummingbirds and bees.

Plan Type, Soil and Location

Garden Location: Sunnyvale
Garden Size: 73' 11" x 72' 11"
Garden Type: Backyard / back garden
Garden Layout: Raised Beds
Sun or Shade: Sunny
Garden Soil Type: Good soil

Plan Notes

Buy early Cabbage and late Cabbage.

Garden Plan

Plant List

 PlantNumberSpacingSpacing in RowsNotes
Agastache 1511"11" x 11" 
Allium (Ornamental) 411"11" x 11" 
Amaranth (Ornamental) 11' 5"1' 5" x 1' 11" 
Anemone 25"5" x 5" 
Apple (Espalier) 111' 5"11' 5" x 11' 5" 
Apricot (Dwarf) 19' 10"9' 10" x 9' 10" 
Basil 27"5" x 9" 
Beans (Pole)
 Blue Lake Fm1
109"5" x 1' 1" 
Beans (Pole) 219"5" x 1' 1" 
Beet
 Detroit Dark Red
165"3" x 7"Succession planting
Blueberry 32' 11"2' 11" x 2' 11" 
Borage 41' 1"11" x 1' 11"Buy
Broccoli 61' 5"1' 5" x 1' 5" 
Brussels Sprouts 21' 11"1' 11" x 1' 11"Use a sharp knife or small pair of shears to cut the sprout from the stem. Once mature sprouts are picked, the plant continues to produce. After the first harvest, you can expect to harvest more sprouts every week to two weeks, during warm weather. Like tomatoes, not all sprouts ripen at the same time.
Cabbage (Spring) 32' 5"1' 11" x 2' 11" 
Cabbage (Summer) 31' 7"1' 5" x 1' 9"Buy - Early varieties 70 days to harvest Buy - Late varieties 120 days to harvest
Cantaloupe 22' 11"2' 11" x 2' 11" 
Carrot
 Rainbow (F1)
603"3" x 5"Succession planting
Carrot
 Nantes Scarlet
963"3" x 5"Succession planting
Celery 127"5" x 11"Buy - 85-120 days to harvest. It requires 16 weeks of cool weather to come to harvest. Start celery seed indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost in spring. Set transplants in the garden 2 to 3 weeks before the average last frost date when seedlings have 5 to 6 leaves. In warm spring and summer regions, plant celery in late summer for harvest in late autumn or early winter.
Celosia 187"7" x 11" 
Cherry (Dwarf) 19' 10"9' 10" x 9' 10" 
Chili Pepper
 Cayenne Long Red Slim
11' 1"11" x 1' 3" 
Chili Pepper
 Jalapeno
11' 1"11" x 1' 3" 
Chives 147"5" x 9" 
Cilantro 47"5" x 9" 
Corn
 Obsession
401' 1"11" x 1' 5" 
Cover Crop 7545"3" x 7" 
Cucumber 11' 11"1' 11" x 1' 11" 
Dahlia 121' 11"1' 7" x 1' 11" 
Echinacea 121' 1"11" x 1' 3" 
Edamame 79"7" x 1' 3" 
Eggplant
 Long Purple Organic
41' 3"1' 1" x 1' 5" 
Fig (Container Grown) 31' 11"1' 11" x 1' 11" 
Flower 217"5" x 7" 
Flower 77"5" x 7" 
Flower 47"5" x 7" 
Flower 97"5" x 7" 
Fruit (Trellised) 42' 11"2' 11" x 2' 11" 
Garlic 45"3" x 9"A few weeks before harvesting stop watering the garlic. Different growers have different rules of thumb regarding the best time to harvest. The dying back of the leaves is only an approximate indicator. To determine whether the garlic is ready to harvest inspect a few bulbs in the ground by carefully scraping away the dirt. You can feel the bumps of the cloves through the wrappers of a mature bulb.
Gladiolus 811"7" x 9" 
Gourd
 Bitter Gourd
12' 10"2' 10" x 2' 10" 
Heliotrope 57"7" x 7" 
Kale 51' 3"1' 1" x 1' 5" 
Kiwi 19' 10"9' 10" x 9' 10" 
Larkspur 3011"11" x 11" 
Lavender 11' 3"1' 1" x 1' 7" 
Lemon 116' 4"16' 4" x 16' 4" 
Lettuce (Leaf) 123"3" x 5" 
Lily 211"7" x 1' 1" 
Marigold 37"7" x 7" 
Mint 17"5" x 9" 
Monarda
 Panorama Mix
211"11" x 1' 7"AKA: Bee Balm
Nasturtium 211"11" x 11"Buy
Okra 41' 7"1' 5" x 1' 11" 
Onion (Red) 445"3" x 7"If you see flower stalks emerging from your onions, harvest them immediately. Otherwise as soon as they fall over, harvest. Here are the basics of curing: Sun dry for just a short time. Cure just the onions you'll store; separate the soft, young and thick-necked bulbs and use them first. Cure thoroughly in a warm, well-ventilated area away from direct sun. Don't crowd onions during curing; give them room to breathe. Onions are ready to store when the skins rattle and the roots are dry and wiry.
Onions (Green) 263"3" x 3" 
Orange 116' 4"16' 4" x 16' 4" 
Other (Perennial) 21' 7"1' 7" x 1' 7" 
Parsley 45"3" x 9" 
Peach (Dwarf) 113' 1"13' 1" x 13' 1" 
Pear (Dwarf) 28' 2"8' 2" x 8' 2" 
Pear (Espalier) 111' 5"11' 5" x 11' 5" 
Peas
 Sugar Snap
603"3" x 7" 
Pepper
 Sweet Mix
21' 1"11" x 1' 3" 
Plum (Dwarf) 211' 5"11' 5" x 11' 5" 
Potatoes (Early) 41' 3"1' 1" x 1' 7"50-60 days for harvesting early potatoes. When the potato plants stand up to 18 inches, tall there should be a hill of soil around the base that measures approximately 5 inches. Potatoes can be successfully harvested when the plant flowers. Once the flowers appear, the plant's foliage will begin to yellow. Once the entire top of the plant is cut off or dead, the rest of the tuber should stay in place for two weeks in the ground before harvesting.
Potatoes (Maincrop) 61' 5"1' 1" x 2' 5"100-110 days for harvesting red potatoes. When the potato plants stand up to 18 inches, tall there should be a hill of soil around the base that measures approximately 5 inches. Potatoes can be successfully harvested when the plant flowers. Once the flowers appear, the plant's foliage will begin to yellow. Once the entire top of the plant is cut off or dead, the rest of the tuber should stay in place for two weeks in the ground before harvesting.
Radish
 Sparkler
163"3" x 7" 
Raspberry 32' 3"1' 11" x 2' 11" 
Spinach 107"5" x 11" 
Squash (Summer)
 Delta Hybrid
11' 11"1' 11" x 1' 11" 
Strawberry
 Toscana
11' 11"1' 11" x 1' 11" 
Strawberry
 Rainbow Treasure
11' 7"1' 5" x 1' 11" 
Sunflower 411"11" x 11" 
Sweet Potato 61' 5"1' 5" x 1' 11" 
Tomato (Large) 21' 7"1' 5" x 1' 11" 
Tomato (Small) 41' 7"1' 5" x 1' 11" 
Tulip 585"3" x 5" 
Watermelon 22' 11"2' 11" x 2' 11" 
Zucchini
 Black Beauty
31' 11"1' 11" x 1' 11" 

Planting Times

Plant List key
 PlantJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Agastache
Allium (Ornamental)
Amaranth (Ornamental)
Anemone
Apple (Espalier)
Apricot (Dwarf)
Basil
Beans (Pole)
 Blue Lake Fm1
Beans (Pole)
Beet
 Detroit Dark Red
Blueberry
Borage
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage (Spring)
Cabbage (Summer)
Cantaloupe
Carrot
 Rainbow (F1)
Carrot
 Nantes Scarlet
Celery
Celosia
Cherry (Dwarf)
Chili Pepper
 Cayenne Long Red Slim
Chili Pepper
 Jalapeno
Chives
Cilantro
Corn
 Obsession
Cover Crop
Cucumber
Dahlia
Echinacea
Edamame
Eggplant
 Long Purple Organic
Fig (Container Grown)
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Fruit (Trellised)
Garlic
Gladiolus
Gourd
 Bitter Gourd
Heliotrope
Kale
Kiwi
Larkspur
Lavender
Lemon
Lettuce (Leaf)
Lily
Marigold
Mint
Monarda
 Panorama Mix
Nasturtium
Okra
Onion (Red)
Onions (Green)
Orange
Other (Perennial)
Parsley
Peach (Dwarf)
Pear (Dwarf)
Pear (Espalier)
Peas
 Sugar Snap
Pepper
 Sweet Mix
Plum (Dwarf)
Potatoes (Early)
Potatoes (Maincrop)
Radish
 Sparkler
Raspberry
Spinach
Squash (Summer)
 Delta Hybrid
Strawberry
 Toscana
Strawberry
 Rainbow Treasure
Sunflower
Sweet Potato
Tomato (Large)
Tomato (Small)
Tulip
Watermelon
Zucchini
 Black Beauty



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