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Planning a vegetable garden but all you have room for is a 10 x 10 space? You might be surprised by what you can grow. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or a garden plan to use right away, you’ll find something that works in one of these examples.
Table of contents
- Plan 1: The summer classic
- Plan 2: The early spring plan
- Plan 3: The fall garden
- Plan 4: The Chef’s Garden
- Plan 5: Kid’s Favorites Summer Garden
- Plan 6: A practical garden for food storage
- Plan 7: the canning and preserving garden
- Printable plans
- Tips for laying out a square garden
- In case you’re wondering
- 🌽 More on garden planning and choosing your veggies
- Enjoy the harvest
The general rule of laying out a small garden: you can have anything you want, but not everything you want.
If you want to grow space hogs like corn and pumpkins, that will be pretty much all that fits. If you want a mix of veggies, you’ll only be able to fit a small amount of everything. You can’t expect a 100-foot garden to feed you and your family the whole year. (And if all you have the room for are 4×8 beds, check out these layouts.
But we can still do a lot! Browse through these plans and see all your options.
Plan 1: The summer classic
If you love basil, tomatoes, and cucumbers (and who doesn’t!), this is a great choice. You’ll have enough tomatoes, peppers, and beans for fresh eating all summer, plenty of carrots, and so many herbs. There are even enough cucumbers to make refrigerator pickles and eat fresh.
If you don’t need this many herbs, mix in some zinnias (super easy to grow from seed!), and add some color to your backyard.
Plan 2: The early spring plan
If you get spring fever every year, this garden will have you harvesting as soon as possible. Everything in here is harvested early. You’ll start munching on peas and radishes early, and the homegrown onions and carrots will arrive before the real heat of summer hits.
(Tip: in areas with long growing seasons, use the next plan as a fall garden and plant right after you harvest your early spring crops.)
Plan 3: The fall garden
Pumpkins take up a lot of room, so you have to be willing to give up about half your space. If that works for you, there’s still room for brussels sprouts, cabbages, and broccoli, all of which can be harvested right up to Halloween in many climates.
Plan 4: The Chef’s Garden
If you want to fill your harvest basket with big beautiful veggies, you’ll love this plan. A summer squash and a zucchini will keep you full all summer long, and you have enough tomatoes to plan some for slicing and canning tomatoes too.
Eggplants can be substituted for peppers if you’d like.
Plan 5: Kid’s Favorites Summer Garden
Kids love growing sunflowers and corn (they’re easy to grow, get super tall, and fun to harvest), and everything else in this plot is a happy summer choice. If you’re willing to give up the cucumbers and carrots from plan one, you can have room for both of these fun picks.
Plan 6: A practical garden for food storage
If you’re gardening to save money, you’ll want to plant some storage veggies that are filling and practical. And everything in this plan (onions, potatoes, turnips, cabbages, and carrots) keeps well.
This is a plan that you’ll want to start early in the spring.
Plan 7: the canning and preserving garden
Finally, we have a garden designed just for all your favorite canning recipes. You’ll want to plant Roma tomatoes, pickling cucumbers, basil and dill, and plenty of jalapenos. From this small space, you’ll get sauces, homemade salsa, home-canned relish, and pickled peppers.
Printable plans
Tips for laying out a square garden
- Make sure you leave enough room between rows to walk. These plans allow for just enough space for a person to weed and harvest. If you want to fit a tiller or wheelbarrow, you’ll need more space
- Plant tall things to the north of shorter things. Otherwise, your shorter plants will always be in shade.
- Do not try to cram in more stuff. This is the most common rookie gardener mistake, and it basically guarantees that nothing will do well.
In case you’re wondering
How much can you grow in a 10 x 10 garden?
Well… anywhere from two pumpkin plants to 300 carrots. If you’re planting medium-sized plants like basil, you could theoretically plant 100 of them (one per square foot). But you’ll need to allow room for walkways too.
How can I customize a garden plan?
Easy. Just substitute plants on the plan for similar-sized plants you like better
What if I want to grow more than this but I only have 100 square feet of garden space?
I’m sorry but math is math. If you add too much, none of your plants will thrive and you’ll harvest less than you would have if you’d just given them plenty of space.
🌽 More on garden planning and choosing your veggies
- If you have 4 x 8 raised beds (or wide rows), these 4 x 8 sample plans are what you need.
- More of a flower person? Here are sample cutting garden plans to print.
- For tips on choosing varieties, check out the best cucumbers for your garden and my favorite canning tomatoes.
Enjoy the harvest
There is plenty you can do with a 10 x 10-foot space. I hope you found a layout here that’s right for you.
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in gardening and vegetable cultivation, I can provide you with information related to the concepts mentioned in this article. Let's dive into it!
Planning a Vegetable Garden in a Small Space
If you have limited space, such as a 10 x 10 area, you might be surprised by the variety of vegetables you can grow. The article suggests several garden plans that can work well in a small space. Here are the key concepts mentioned:
1. The Summer Classic: This plan includes popular summer vegetables like basil, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans, and carrots. It also suggests adding zinnias for a touch of color.
2. The Early Spring Plan: This garden plan focuses on early-harvested vegetables like peas, radishes, onions, and carrots. It's a great choice if you want to start harvesting as soon as possible.
3. The Fall Garden: This plan incorporates pumpkins, brussels sprouts, cabbages, and broccoli, which can be harvested until Halloween in many climates. However, keep in mind that pumpkins take up a lot of space.
4. The Chef's Garden: If you enjoy big, beautiful vegetables, this plan is for you. It includes summer squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and peppers. You can even substitute eggplants for peppers if you prefer.
5. Kid's Favorites Summer Garden: This garden plan is designed to engage children in gardening. It includes sunflowers, corn, cucumbers, and carrots. It's a fun choice that allows kids to experience the joy of growing their own food.
6. A Practical Garden for Food Storage: This plan focuses on storage vegetables like onions, potatoes, turnips, cabbages, and carrots. These vegetables can be stored for a longer period, making them a great choice if you're gardening to save money.
7. The Canning and Preserving Garden: This garden plan is specifically designed for those who enjoy canning and preserving their harvest. It suggests planting Roma tomatoes, pickling cucumbers, basil, dill, and jalapenos to make sauces, salsa, relish, and pickled peppers.
The article also provides tips for laying out a square garden, such as leaving enough room between rows for easy access, planting tall plants to the north of shorter ones to avoid shading, and avoiding overcrowding.
Customizing a Garden Plan
If you want to customize a garden plan, the article suggests substituting plants on the plan with similar-sized plants that you prefer. This allows you to personalize the garden according to your taste and preferences.
Maximizing a Small Garden Space
While a 10 x 10 garden can accommodate a variety of vegetables, it's important to remember that you can't grow everything you want. The article emphasizes the need to prioritize and make choices based on the space available. Trying to cram too much into a small space can lead to poor growth and lower yields.
Conclusion
In conclusion, even with a small 10 x 10 garden space, you can grow a wide range of vegetables by choosing the right garden plan. Consider your preferences, the available space, and the specific vegetables you want to grow. By following the tips provided in the article, you can create a thriving vegetable garden and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Happy gardening!
Note: The information provided above is based on the concepts mentioned in this article.
