Throughout the process our focus will be on which foods you enjoy most.  The decisions will dictate how we build the garden; for example tomatoes need extra support via stakes or tied from above, beans and peas need a wood or rope trellis to climb, squash need extra room, strawberries may need to be enclosed separately, etc. etc.  During design we will define the type and amount of food you expect to eat.  Generally a family of four will need about 100sq feet of planting area but your individual needs may differ.  Our crop planning spreadsheet will help you work through your options.

Planting Dates

The first thing to know is that there is plenty of time to plan a spring garden.  If a garden is planted by late May you will have at least two full seasons of growth.  Spring planting dates are determined by your region’s last frost date.  Eastern Mass has a usual last frost date right around May 15.  Using raised beds will move that date up earlier where the soil reaches adequate temperature quicker.  Some plants can go in the ground up to four weeks before last frost.  If you’re looking to have a root vegetable heavy early season harvest of carrots, onions, potatoes and combine with lettuce, kale, and spinach then you will want to have your garden installed by mid-April.  Many vegetables prefer to be seeded or transplanted in already temperate soil either at last frost date or two – four weeks past.  Tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, melons, squash all need to wait until late May or early June to grow as healthy as you would like them.  Your melons and peppers are some your plants that really like to grow in the heat of summer.

Grow All Season Long

Your plants will produce all season up to the last frost if they are cared for and harvested appropriately.  The last frost date is generally around October 25 in our area.  That means you can plant up to late August and later for your hardier roots and leafy vegetables.  For continuous harvests we recommend planting over time, for example plant one tomato plant a week over three weeks in early June, lettuce can be planted on a weekly basis throughout the season, melons can go in one at a time over three weeks starting in the middle of June.

Transplant or Seed

There are some plants that are best off grown from seed but if you would like us to start your garden for you we will be using transplants.  Our network of partners provide quality seedlings of appropriate age to perform very well in your garden environment.  Once your garden is established we can work with you to produce your own seedlings via cold shut plantings or under growing lights inside.  Cost varies on the amount and type of transplants you will need and we will discuss that when it comes time to finalize the installation.

Here is an example of a garden started with transplants in the spring.  The owners crop plan required raised trellises for support, our preferred bed architecture.  In the summer picture you can see why we encourage the tower trellises.  During the summer a high production garden can resemble controlled chaos.  Each plant will need its own attention and there are few better ways to provide that than rope trellises and supports from above.