Garden Produce Guide

This guide shows everything that has been grown in the garden at some point since it was founded, as well as tips and directions on how to grow them. (Crops, flowers and herbs are listed alphabetically.)

Asparagus

AsparagusWarm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Asparagus thrives when planted in beds that get sunlight and are least disturbed by activity.
  • Seed Spacing: 10-16inches apart
  • Seed depth: 3 inches
  • Harvest: typically when 8 inches tall with at least a pencil width. Snap or cut them off at the soil line.

Basil

BasilWarm Weather Herb (Spring-Summer)

  • Thrive in warm temperatures in a location with more sunlight
  • Seed spacing: 10-18 inches apart
  • Harvest: pinch at the tips of the stems. Harvest regularly to keep plant producing.
  • Care: make sure to trim the budding off the top of the basil

Beans

Beans.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Will not begin to germinate until average soil is about 60F.
  • Seed depth: 1 inch
  • Harvest: perfect length to pick varies by variety
  • Green and purple: pick when pods are ¼ to 3/8 inch in diameter
  • French or filet: when slender, about 1/8 inch in diameter

Beets

Beets.Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • To sow indoors: 5 weeks before last frost
  • To sow outside: 3-4 weeks before last frost
  • Seed depth: 1/2 inch (13mm)
  • Rotation Considerations: avoid after spinach or Swiss chard
  • Needs: deeply dug, wide raised beds, even moisture watering, fertilize every 3-4 weeks with low nitrogen, organic fertilizer that is high in phosphorus and potassium
  • Tastes best when harvested at about 1.5-2.5 inches

Blackberries

Blackberry.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Blackberries thrive in direct sunlight. Plant in early spring
  • Seed Spacing: 3-5 feet apart
  • Seed depth: 1-2 inches
  • Harvest: pick berries regularly
  • Water: 1 inch per week

Bok Choi

Bok Choi.Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • To sow indoors: Plant 4-6 weeks before last frost
  • To sow outdoors: 10-12 weeks before first frost before fall crop
  • Seed depth: ¼- 1/2 inch (6-13mm)
  • Needs: Water evenly, mulch during warm weather, avoid weeds at all costs, requires fertilizer with plenty of compost, high nitrogen
  • Harvest promptly

Broccoli

Broccoli. Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • To sow indoors: Plant 6-8 weeks before last frost.
  • To sow outdoors: Early summer for fall crop
  • Seed depth: ¼ inch (6mm)
  • Spacing in beds: 40 cm in a staggered pattern
  • Water: Moderate and even
  • Rotation Considerations: Avoid following with cabbage family crops
  • Needs: fertile, friable soil, high nitrogen, compost or well-aged manure, leaf mold
  • Do not start growing broccoli too early or too late

Brussel Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts.Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • Thrive in cold
  • To sow inside: 4-6 weeks before last frost
  • To sow outdoors: At least 4 months before first fall frost
  • Seed depth: ¼ inch (6mm)
  • Needs: require rich fertile soil and moisture, take about 100 days to grow, fertilize every 3-4 weeks into late summer with organic fertilizer like fish emulsion
  • In warmer months: apply organic mulch to moderate soil temperature, maintain a layer of compost

Cabbage

Cabbage.Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • Cabbage thrives in cooler temperatures
  • Plant in some sunlight, the more the better, and 6-8 weeks before the first fall frost
  • Plant Spacing: 10-16 inches apart
  • Plant depth: deep, cover main stem 1-2 inches
  • Harvest: when the head of the cabbage is solid and firm, cut from the base
  • Water: regularly

Carrots

Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • To sow indoors: not recommended
  • To sow outdoors: early spring to mid-summer
  • Rotation Considerations: avoid celery, dill, fennel, parsley or parsnip
  • Needs: Moist soil, generous amounts of compost, water every day, wide space between seeds

Chard

Chard.Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • Prefer cooler climates
  • Sow in mid June to mid July for fall planting
  • Watering: regularly at base of plant
  • Harvest: Begin harvesting as soon as they are large enough to toss in a salad. Avoid tearing stems. Make sure to harvest regularly to keep plants producing

Cucumbers

Cucumber.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Best sown outdoors!
  • Best time to plant: two weeks after last frost
  • Seed depth: ½ – 1 inch (2 inches apart)
  • Mature: 50-100 days
  • Harvest: when green and firm (smaller is better)
  • To extend harvest: plant another crop in mid/late summer

Eggplants

Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Best to use transplants!
  • Best time to plant: after the last frost when soil is warm
  • Plant: set 18-24 inches apart, rows 30-36 inches apart
  • Mature: 50-80 days
  • Harvest: pick when 6-8 inches long and shiny
  • Ready if the flesh rebounds when gently pressed
  • Spoil quickly!

Honeysuckle

Warm Weather Flower (Spring-Summer)

  • Thrive in sunlight
  • Plant in early spring
  • Plant Spacing: 2 feet apart
  • Water: regularly

Kale

Kale.Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • East to grow, hardy to harvest even under snow!
  • To sow indoors:
  • In cool climates: late spring, early summer
  • In warm climates: early spring
  • Overwintering: late summer, early fall
  • To sow outdoors: 6 weeks before frost
  • Seed depth: ¼ to ½ inch (13mm)
  • Water: Heavy during growing season, light after first frost
  • Rotation Considerations: Avoid following cabbage family crop
  • Begin harvesting as soon as they are large enough to toss in a salad. Avoid tearing stems.

Lavender

Lavender.Warm Weather Flower (Spring-Summer)

  • Thrive in sunlight
  • Plant 10-16 inches apart
  • Harvest: whenever by cutting at stem line
  • Care: prune every now and then to keep stems producing

Lettuce

Lettuce.Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • To sow indoors: 4 weeks before transplanting
  • To sow outdoors: When soil can be worked
  • Seed depth: ¼ to ½ inch (6-13mm)
  • Water: light to moderate
  • Needs: fertile soil, great compost, continuous moisture, shade in the summer, high level of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
  • Harvesting: Lettuces goes from seed to salad in about a month! You can harvest as micro greens, gather outer leaves, cut-and-come-again, and harvest entire plants
  • Secret to growing lettuce: keep it growing fast!

Marigolds

Marigolds.Warm Weather Flower (Spring-Summer)

  • Thrive in sunlight
  • To sow indoors: 4-6 weeks before the last spring frost. Transplant them to the garden at 2 inches tall
  • To sow outdoors: early spring when soil is warm
  • Water: regularly

Mint

Mint.Warm Weather Herb (Spring-Summer)

  • Thrive in sunlight
  • Plant 1-2 feet apart
  • Harvest: right before the mint starts to flower, cut the stem 1 inch from the ground
  • Water: regularly

Mustard

Mustard.Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • To sow indoors: 2 weeks before last frost
  • To sow outdoors: Every 3 weeks from spring to Summer for early crop and from late summer to early fall for fall crop
  • Needs: fertile, friable soil, compost mixed in, nitrogen & phosphorus in adequate supply
  • Harvest grows quickly, most types ready in 1.5 months

Okra

Okra.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Will grow from 1-2 meters high!
  • Soak seeds overnight in a bowl or container of water (germinate)
  • Planting: 2-3 seeds per clump
  • 1-2 cm deep
  • Thin out seedlings
  • Select the strongest seedling and allow it to grow
  • Mature: 8-12 weeks
  • Harvest: pick the seedpod when not too firm

Onions

Onions.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Plant sets in early spring
  • Best results typically from bulb sets
  • Plant depth: 1 inch (1 inch apart from green onions, 2-4 inches from slicing onions)
  • Mature: 100-120 days
  • Harvest:
  • Green onions: when tops are about 6 inches tall
  • Larger onions: when tops fall over
  • Allow the onions to lie on the ground for a day to dry
  • Place in a box for a couple weeks in a sheltered spot. Bring inside and store in a cool, dry place.

Oregano

Oregano.Warm Weather Herb (Spring-Summer)

  • Thrive in sunlight
  • Plant 6-8 inches apart
  • Harvest: harvest leaves as you please
  • Water: regularly
  • Care: pinch or trim occasionally

Parsley

Parsley.Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • To sow indoors: late winter, early spring
  • To sow outdoors: early spring before last frost
  • Rotation considerations: avoid carrot, celery and parsnip
  • Needs: fertile, friable and deeply looned soil enriched with compost.
  • Allow germinating 3-5 weeks and do not allow soil to dry out. Harvest leaf stem along leave blades to maintain production and quality

Peas

Peas.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Do not do well in the summer (wither when temperature rises)
  • Thrive in cooler weather, should plant earlier than other vegetables
  • Seed depth: 1 to 2 inches (4 inches apart)
  • Mature: 54-72 days
  • Harvest: when seeds are visible, but before they are too big
  • Pick regularly for continued production
  • Thrive in moderate climates with some shade
  • Seed depth: 1 to 2inches
  • Seed spacing: 2 inches apart
  • Water: typically suffer from heat and draught, make sure to water regularly!
  • Harvest: Harvest peas when pod is full. Make sure to harvest regularly to keep plants producing

Peppers

Peppers.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Love heat! Don’t rush them into the garden until the soil is warm enough.
  • Seed depth: ¼ inch
  • Harvest: can begin when they are green, but they are entirely ripe when they are red
  • Keep in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks, after they will go bad
  • Many varieties of sweet and hot peppers

Potatoes

Potatoes.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Best in summer
  • Thrive in sunlight
  • Plant seeds (at least 2 eyes per piece) eye side up 0-2 weeks after last spring frost
  • seed spacing: 8-12 inches apart
  • seed depth: 4 inches
  • watering: regular deep watering
  • harvest: potatoes are usually ready to harvest up to ten weeks after being planted. dig up potatoes on a dry day.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Thrive in sunlight
  • To sow indoors: preferably plants seeds directly in ground but can sow indoors 2-4 weeks before last spring frost
  • Soil prep: pumpkins like a lot of soil. Create rows of small hills of soil 5-6 inches tall and 3-6 feet apart.
  • Seed depth: plant 4-5 seeds 10-15inches deep in each hill
  • Care: When plant reaches 2-3 inches tall, thin to 2-3 plants per hill pinch off fuzzys on vines and gently turn pumpkin to even growth and shape
  • Harvest: cut the stem 3-4 inches away from pumpkin
  • Water: deep watering at least once a week

Radishes

Radishes.Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • To sow indoors: not recommended
  • To sow outdoors:
  • In cool climates: early spring, fall
  • In warmer climates: winter
  • Water: even and moderate to heavy
  • Needs: sensitive to any interruptions in their growth, at their best for a very short time, harvest the whole crop when it is mature, grow and harvest fast!

Rice

Rice.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Container garden rice thrives when its container simulates a rice padi
  • Thrive with sunlight
  • Fill bucket (make sure there are no holes!) with at least 6 inches of soil and add until it’s at least 2 inches above the soil line. Throw a small handful of long-grain brown rice into bucket
  • Maintenance: once the plant is 4-5 inches tall, add 4-5 inches of water to container
  • Harvest: once stalks change from green to gold, cut stalks and wrap them in newspaper, let them dry in a warm place for about 2-3 weeks.

Rosemary

Rosemary.Warm Weather Herb (Spring-Summer)

  • Thrive in sunlight, some shade is okay
  • Plant seedlings 2-3 feet apart
  • Harvest: harvest as you please, cut at the stem
  • Water: regularly once soil has dried out
  • Care: prune dead wood regularly

Sage

Sage.Warm Weather Herb (Spring-Summer)

  • To sow indoors: 6-10 weeks before last spring frost
  • Transplant seedlings/cuttings to garden 1-2 weeks before last spring frost
  • Seedling Spacing: 16-24 inches apart
  • Harvest: harvest as you need by cutting the stem or pinching off leaves
  • Water:
  • Care: prune plants to promote growth. Thin regularly to prevent mildew

Spinach

Spinach.Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • To sow indoors: 3-4 weeks before last frost
  • To sow outdoors: early spring
  • Needs: Can handle a wide variety of soils but make sure they are fertile and moist. Go light on manure because too much nitrogen makes spinach bitter. Grows best in cold weather at the beginning of end of growing season.
  • Rotation Consideration: Not after legumes
  • Variety of harvesting techniques: individual leaves, entire plant or cut an inch above soil level and watch it re-grow

Squash

Squash.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Thrive in sunlight
  • Seed Spacing: 18-30 inches apart
  • Seed depth: 1 inch
  • Harvest: ready to harvest when skin is soft and squash is at least 4-6 inches long
  • Water: water deeply and regularly

Strawberries

Strawberries.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Thrive in sunlight
  • Plant Spacing: 18-30 inches apart in rows that are 4 feet apart
  • Plant depth: deep enough to cover entire root system but crown should be at soil line
  • Harvest: ready to harvest ripe berries 4-6 weeks after blossoming by cutting the stem.
  • Water: regularly
  • Care: weed regularly

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Best in summer
  • Thrive in sunlight
  • plant spacing: 10-16 inches apart
  • plant depth: cover the roots and 1/2 inch of the stem
  • watering: regular deep watering
  • harvest: whenever potatoes are big enough for a meal, generally 3-4 months after planting
  • Care: occasional weeding

Thyme

Thyme.Warm Weather Herb (Spring-Summer)

  • Thrive in sunlight
  • To sow indoors: plant seeds or cuttings 6-10 weeks before last spring frost
  • To sow outdoors: transfer seeds/cuttings 2-3 weeks before last spring frost
  • Seed spacing: 9 inches apart
  • Water: regularly
  • Harvest: pick leaves or sprigs as you need
  • Care: prune and trim in spring and summer to promote growth

Tomatoes

Tomatoes.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Tomatoes thrive in warm climates
  • To sow in doors: From February to late March
  • To sow outdoors: May
  • Seed depth: deep in the ground, can even burry bottom leaves
  • Seed spacing: 16-24 inches apart
  • Watering: heavy watering during growing season
  • Harvest: begin harvesting them when they look like the expected color!

Turnips

Turnips.Cold Weather Crop (Fall-Winter)

  • To sow indoors: not recommended
  • To sow outdoors: early spring to mid-summer
  • Seed depth: ¼ to ½ inch (6mm-13mm)
  • Rotation considerations: avoid following cabbage family crops
  • Needs: deep loose soil with lots of organic matter, do not need supplemental fertilizing
  • Best when harvested young!

Zinnias

Zennia.Warm Weather Flower (Spring-Summer)

  • Thrive in sunlight
  • Seed depth: 1/4 inch
  • Seed spacing: 4 inches apart in rows 2 feet apart

Zucchini

Zucchini.Warm Weather Crop (Spring-Summer)

  • Best time to plant: after the last frost
  • Enjoy rich, deep loam soils that are well drained
  • Plant depth: 10 mm
  • Mature: 7-13 weeks
  • Harvest: young (when too large are woody)
  • Will continue to grow until the first frost if established well in the spring