Adventurous Cooks Garden Layout

Here is the best of the rest, including some unusual crops to challenge both the gardeners that grow them and the cooks that use them.

NOTES: Vertical support is essential to space crops this closely. Plant Malabar spinach and pole beans in a single row on a trellis in the following pattern: 1 Malabar spinach, 9" space, 3 pole bean seeds 3" apart, 9" space, repeat. Use round cages for eggplant to improve air flow. The scent of herbs helps repel pests.

CROP PLANTING DIRECTIONS Celeriac Use transplants 12 plants, double row, 8" apart, 8" between rows Swiss chard  Plant seeds Sow 2" apart in row, thin to 8" between plants, plant double row with 8" between rows Malabar spinach  Plant seeds, leave 9" between this & bean  Pole bean  Plant seeds Sow 3 seeds, 3" apart, leave 9" between this & spinach  Summer savory Use transplants 12 plants, 24" apart between trellis & eggplant  Eggplant  Use transplants 5 plants, 24" apart  Marigold  Use transplants 12 plants, 24" apart in front of eggplants  Giant kohlrabi  Use transplants 6 plants, 8" apart in a single row

Arboretum's chosen varieties for 2010

Celeriac ‘Giant Prague'
Swiss chard ‘Bright Lights'
Malabar spinach
Pole bean ‘Fortrex'
Summer savory ‘Aromata'
Eggplant ‘Orient Express'
Marigold ‘Lemon Gem'
Giant kohlrabi ‘Kossak'

 Many varieties of these vegetables are available locally and will perform well in this region. Varieties chosen by Arboretum gardeners for 2010 Veggies by the Yard garden plantings at the Arboretum are available from Johnny's Seed Company or Territorial Seed Company.