A
Arugula, 40, 42, 46, 51, 61, 74, 77, 94, 201
family classification, 134, 182
first sowing, 73, 76
over wintered, 74, 139
page on, 87
partial page on, 119
planting dates, 73, 76, 98, 139
rotation, 134, 137
second sowing, 72, 98, 119, 129, 130
seeds, 71, 146-147
varietal substitution, 179, 180
Aphids, 158, 159-160, 161, 162
Animals & birds, 148-149, 152, 156, 166
B
Beets, 17, 44, 94, 160
family classification, 134, 182
page on, 89
planting date, 73, 76, 139
rotation, 134, 137
seeds, 71, 147
varietal substitution, 179
Broadcasting, 38, 39, 40, 46, 52, 80, 81
Broccoli, 17, 60, 91, 129, 130, 131
family classification, 134, 182
intercrop radish, 72, 120, 121
page on, 122
planting date, 72, 98, 140
rotation, 134, 137
seeds, 71, 147
transplants, 91, 95, 98, 120, 121, 122
varietal substitution, 179, 181
Brussels sprouts, 181, 182
Bugs, see Insects/bugs
Bush beans, 17, 92, 94, 95, 124, 138, 201
family classification, 134
bush beans and onions, 128
page on, 123
partial planting, 73, 98, 117
planting date, 73, 98, 140, 141
rotation, 134, 137
seeds, 71, 145
test, 187-188
varietal substitution, 179
C
Cabbage, 160, 182
Calibrated forefinger, 199
Carrots, 17, 77, 92, 94, 116, 201
family classification, 134, 182
page on, 90
partial page on, 117
planting date, 73, 76, 98, 139
rotation, 134, 137
second sowing, 73, 98, 117, 128, 129
seeds, 71, 147
varietal substitution, 179
winter survival, 74, 129, 139
Cats, 148
Caterpillar, 160
Celery, 16, 182
Climbers, 174-176
cucumbers, 175-176
pole beans, 174-175
trellis for, 175
Cluster cage, 103, 104-109, 113, 192
assembling, 106-109
Cluster planting, 38, 39, 103, 110, 111, 121
Composting, 63-69
active, 66
building the pile, 64-68
containers, 64, 67, 68
greens and browns, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68
location, 64
materials used, 64-66
materials to avoid, 66
passive, 66-68
optional handling of coffee grinds and eggshells, 65-66
screens, 69
Compost tea, 69, 112, 175
Controls
cultural, 10, 12, 158, 159
pest, 10, 12, 126, 148-152, 156, 158-162
See also specific pest
Corn, 16, 179, 182, 190
Crop rotation, 17, 71, 134-137, 159, 181, 182, 183, 200
Cucumbers, 175-176, 182
trellis for, 175
Cultivating and mulching, 52-53
Cultivation, 52-54, 187, 188
See also specific crop grown
Cut-and-come again, 42-43, 48, 50, 51, 61, 62, 86, 87, 130, 146, 201
Cutworms, 110, 133, 160, 161
D
Damping off, 100
Double digging, 15, 22-24
E
Earthworms, 13, 52, 63, 132, 190
Eggplant, 181, 182
End panel, 152-154, 155, 156, 157
Endive, 40, 42, 43, 46, 51, 77, 94, 201
family classification, 134, 182
first sowing, 73, 76
overwintered, 74
page on, 86
partial page on, 118
planting dates, 72, 73, 76, 98, 139
rotation, 134, 137
second sowing, 72, 98, 118, 129, 130
seeds, 71, 146-147
varietal substitution, 179
Experimentation, 184
case history, 188
conducting a test, 187-188
controlled experiments, 185, 186
factorial test, 185-187
simple test, 185, 186, 187, 188
F
Fall procedure, 124, 126-133
arugula, broccoli, endive, lettuce,
parsley, Swiss chard 129-131
bush beans and onions, 128
fall clean up, 126-128
putting the garden to sleep, 131
roll of garlic, 124, 129
tomatoes, beans, carrots, 128-129
Fava beans, 92, 159-160, 201
family classification, 134
page on, 78
planting date, 72, 76, 139
rotation, 137
seeds, 71, 145
varietal substitution, 180
French marigolds, 116
Frosts, 8, 29, 30, 99, 102, 124, 125, 126, 128, 129, 130, 131, 138, 175
Frames, 21, 24, 25, 164
making, 24-25
Furrows, 34, 35, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46
making, 34
G
Garden
arrangement of modules, 15, 19, 20, 163-165
calendar, 138-141
cultivation, 52-54, 187, 188
diaries, 14, 131, 191
evolution of, 14-19
guidelines / criterion, 14, 18
hygiene, 11, 94, 126
locating, 14, 20-21, 163-165
map, 72, 73, 201
one-module, 191, 201
size, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
three-module, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 70-73, 163-165, 190
upsizing or downsizing, 190-191
winter preparation, 126-133
Gardening economics, 12-13
Gardening philosophy, 9-12
complexity, 10
controls, 10, 11
Gardening procedures
an overview, 29-30
general harvesting guidelines, 61-62
laying out rows, 34, 35
making furrows, 34, 35
seedbed preparation, 33
soil preparation, 31
soil structure, 30-31, 32
sowing seeds, 43-64
Garlic, 92, 116
fall planting, 98, 124, 128, 129
family classification, 134, 182
nook option, 177
overwintered, 74, 76, 77
page on, 125
planting date, 73, 98
rotation, 134, 137
varietal substitutions, 180
H
Harvesting, 48-51, 60-62, 77, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 126-131, 133, 138, 139, 140, 141
legumes, 61
lettuce and other leaf crops, in
general, 61, 139, 140, 141
in triplex rows, 48, 49, 50, 51, 61-62
prolonging, 77, 113, 168, 169
root crops, 62
tomatoes, 113, 140, 141
See also specific crop grown
Hand cultivator, 26, 27, 28
Hand trowel, 26, 27, 28, 62, 92, 176
Hardening-off, 100, 101, 102
Herbs, 177, 180
Hill planting, 39, 176
Hilling, 54, 78
Hose, 26, 27, 57
Hot weather sowing, 96-97
I
Insects / bugs, 10, 11, 12, 128, 129, 148, 149, 156, 158-162
See also specific kind
Impulse sprinkler, 26, 27, 56, 57, 59, 60, 98
Indoor sowing, 76, 99-101
Initial planting, 76, 200, 201
preparing the beds, 74-75
schedule, 76
Intercrop, 72, 76, 79, 98, 120, 121
K
Kale, 181, 182
Kitchen wastes / scraps, 65, 66, 67, 68
Kohlrabi, 181, 182
L
Lady beetle, 158, 160
Larvae, 33, 74, 123, 129, 133, 159, 160, 162
Lath house, 97, 172, 173
Lath panels, 96, 97, 156, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173
Lath tents, 101, 102, 172, 173
Leaves
fall, 65, 67, 68
shredding of, 124, 128
Leafminer, 160, 161
Legumes, 61, 134, 135, 136
Lettuce, 40, 42, 46, 51, 58, 61, 94, 96, 201
family classification, 134, 182
first sowing, 73, 76, 94
page on bibb, 88
partial page on bibb, 119
page on leaf, 85
partial page on leaf, 118
planting dates, 72, 73, 76, 98, 139
rotation, 134, 137
seeds, 71, 146
second sowing, 72, 96, 98
varietal substitutions, 180
Living mulch, 36, 52, 53, 54
M
Maggots, 160
Mesclun, 42, 62, 86, 119
Mexican bean beetle, 123, 160, 161
Modules
arrangement of, 15, 19, 20, 163-165
definition of, 15
location of, 15, 20-21, 163-165
making the raised bed, 15, 21-25
Module fence, 152-157, 168, 169
making end panels, 152-154
plastic covering, 168-169
putting on a top, 156-157
Modular planting stick, 26-27, 34, 35, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50
Monoculture, 10, 11, 115, 159
Mulch, 11, 74, 75, 77, 108, 112, 124, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 177
Mustard, 42, 182
N
Nature, 9, 10, 11, 12, 158
Nitrogen, 65, 69, 109, 134, 135
No-dig method, 126, 132
Nook and cranny crops, 174-177
climbers, 174-176
garlic option, 177
herb garden, 177
sprawlers, 174, 176-177
trellis for climbers, 174, 175
O
Onions, 58, 70, 94, 116, 128
family classification, 134, 182
page on, 82
planting date, 73, 76, 139
rotation, 134, 137
seeds, 71, 147
vareital substitutions, 180
Organic, 7, 13, 29, 31, 63, 158, 189, 190
Organic gardening, 189-190
Overwinter/ed/ing, 70, 73, 74, 76, 77, 129, 130, 146, 147
P
Parsley, 48, 51, 61, 70, 92, 116
family classification, 134, 182
first introduced, 17
page on, 83
planting date, 72, 76, 139
overwintering, 74, 77, 129, 130, 139
rotation, 134, 137
seeds, 71, 146, 147
varietal substitution, 180
Parsnips, 181, 182
Patio blocks, 166-167
Peas, 39, 43, 52, 92, 108, 201
broadcasting, 46, 81
family classification, 134, 182
page on, 80
planting date, 73, 76, 139
rotation, 134, 137
seeds, 71, 145
varietal substitution, 180
Pepper, 160, 181, 182
Pest control, 10, 126, 148-162
Pest panels, 149-152, 154, 155, 156, 157, 168
Plant props, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173
Plant spacing, 17, 18, 34, 36-39
cluster planting, 38, 39, 103
conventional rows, 36, 37
overview, 34, 36
staggered rows, 36, 37, 187, 188
unstructured, 38, 39
Pole beans, 174-175
trellis for, 175
Pollination, 142-144, 145, 146, 147, 178
Post-succession planting, 124, 125
schedule, 98
Potato, 16, 182
Preparing beds, 74-75, 92, 93, 126-131
Pumpkin, 176, 177, 182
R
Radish, 44
family classification, 134, 182
first sowing, 72, 76
Intercropped, 72, 76, 78, 79, 83, 98, 120, 121
page on, 79
partial page on, 120
planting dates, 72, 76, 98, 139
rotation, 134, 137
seeds, 71, 147
second sowing, 98, 120, 121
varietal substitution, 180
Raised bed, 14, 15, 21-24
Rake, raking, 26, 27, 28, 33, 53, 74, 75, 91, 92, 93, 95, 126, 127, 128, 133
Rotation, see Crop rotation
Rows
conventional, 36-37, 187, 188
laying out, 34, 35
single, 17, 18, 34, 35, 36, 37, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47
staggered, 36, 37, 187, 188
triplex, 39-42, 46, 48-52, 53, 61, 62
See also specific crop grown
Rye, 136
S
Seed saving, 18, 142-147
basic fundamentals, 142-144
general guidelines, 144-147
open-pollinated, 144, 178, 196
hybrid, 143, 178
Seeds in general
buying of, 71, 180, 181, 183, catalogs, 181, 183
saving of, 18, 142-147
sowing of, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43-46, 70, 74, 75, 76, 93, 95, 96-97, 99-100, 101, 120, 121, 184-185, 187, 188, 201
See also specific crop grown
Seedbed, 33, 74-75, 92, 93, 95
Semi-hardy crops, 30, 76, 126, 129
Squash, summer, 176, 177, 182
Squash, winter, 176-177, 182
Slugs, 65, 158, 161, 162
Soil
an overview, 29
classification, 30-31
double diggings, 15, 22-24
no-dig, 126, 132
preparation of, 31, 33, 74, 75, 91, 92, 93, 95
simple test, 185, 186, 187
structure, 30-31, 32
tilling, 132, 133
temperatures, 96
Soap, as insecticide, 159-160
Sowing seed
envelope/ball point pen, 44, 45, 46
in hot weather, 96-97
large seed / broadcasting, 46, 80, 81
large seed / single rows, 43-44, 45
small seed / broadcasting, 40, 46
small seed / single rows, 40, 44-46
small seed / triplex rows, 46
Spinach, 16, 77, 8 4, 94, 182
Sprawlers, 174, 176-177
summer squash, 176-177
winter squash, 176-177
pumpkin, 177
Sprays, 158, 159, 160
Spring procedure, 74-77
Squirrels, 148, 150
Substitutions, 178-183
varieties, 178-181, 183
vegetables, 181-183
Succession planting, 98, 200, 201
procedures, 95-97
schedule, 98
Swiss chard, 44, 61, 70, 92, 160, 201
family classification, 134, 182
first introduced, 17
overwintering, 74, 77, 129, 130, 139
page on, 84
planting date, 72, 76, 139
rotation, 134, 137
seeds, 71, 146, 147
varietal substitution, 180
T
Thinning, 47-52
broadcast crops, 52
single rows, 47
triplex rows, 48-52
very small seed crops, 51-52
See also specific crop grown
The one module garden, 200
Tools and equipment, 26, 27, 28
Tomatoes, 17, 54, 58, 60, 91, 95, 201
cages, 102, 103, 192, 193
classification, 195-196
cluster planting, 103-109
determinate, 195
family classification 134, 182
fertilizing and mulching, 112-113
green tomatoes, 128
hardening off, 100, 101, 102
harvesting, 113, 140, 141
indeterminate, 99, 195
pages on, 99-116, 192-198
planting date, 73, 76, 98, 139, 140
potential problems, 114-116
pruning, 192, 194, 197
rotation, 134, 137
seeds, 71, 145-146
selecting a variety, 196
semi-determinates, 196
staking, 102, 192, 193
starting from seed, 99-100, 101
storing, 113
terminology, 196
training systems, 102-103, 192-195
trellis for, 102, 194, 195
trench planting, 198
varietal substitution, 180
Tomato hornworm, 161, 162
Transition process,
procedures, 91-94
Triplex rows, 39-42, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 61-62
basic method, 40-42, 48-51, 61-62
cut-and-come-again method, 42-43, 48, 50, 51, 62, 86, 87, 130, 146
Transplants, 38, 39, 42, 60, 76, 91, 92, 95, 98, 99-102, 109-111, 112, 120, 121, 122, 139, 140, 160, 173, 198
buying, 99, 102
hardening off, 100, 101, 102
setting out, 109-111, 120-121, 122, 140, 197
from one spot to another, 54-55
Turnip, 181, 182
V
Varieties
list of, to be planted, 71
substitutions, 178-181, 183
See also specific variety grown
Vegetables
family classifications, 134, 182
feeding habits, 134, 135
list of, to be planted, 71
substitutions, 178-183
See also specific crop grown
Vetch, 136
W
Wasp, larvae, 162
Watering, 55-60
devices, 26, 27
established plants, 58, 59
newly sown plots, 57, 59
special situations, 60
transplants, 60
See also specific crop grown
Watering can, 26, 27, 28, 57
Watering wand, 26, 27, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60
Weeds, 10, 12, 65
Winter preparation, 126-131
fall wrap up, autumn leaves, 124
Z
Zucchini, 16, 176, 190
Frequently asked question
Q. If I keep spreading a one-to-two-inch layer of compost over the soil in my garden beds each year, won’t they in time become high plateaus of earth?
A. The short answer is no! Organic materials are always decaying. When you put compost on the beds it will continue to decompose but at a slower rate. Over time its elements will be converted into gaseous states, which simply evaporates into the atmosphere. Only a tiny fraction remains as humus.