Garden Plans > 2025: Mittleider Garden

About this Garden Plan

Mittleider Garden for 2025, North Texas. Small backyard.

Plan Type, Soil and Location

Garden Location: North Texas
Garden Size: 40' 10" x 31' 0"
Garden Type: Backyard / back garden
Garden Layout: Traditional layout - rows etc
Sun or Shade: Sunny
Garden Soil Type: Heavy / Clay soil

Plan Notes

Pruning: Leaves on ground, old/sick leaves, shading other plants. - Remove all suckers on indet tomatoes. - Remove sucker past first fruit on cucumbers, melons, and winter squash. - Watermelons have no pattern to setting fruit...let suckers grow 6-10" long. If it sets fruit, cut bud off - if not, remove the entire thing. Fertilizing: Any time plants look hungry they should be fed. - Ever-bearing crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, etc) should receive Pre-Plant feeding every 6 weeks after transplant into garden. - Fertilize with weekly feed up until 3 weeks before harvest for single-crop varieties, and until 8 weeks before first expected killing frost for ever-bearing. - Jim currently recommends alternating NANO with soil feed. C. Pepo - Conneticut Field Pumpkin, Straightneck Squash, Zucchini C. Mello - Armenian Pale Green, Cantaloupes, Honey Dew Melon Spring: Painted Mountain Corn, Squash/Zucchini, Cantaloupes Fall: Blue Hopi Corn, Pumpkins, Honey Dew or Armenian 160' 2024 170'-185' growing space vertical + 24' Three Sisters 173' growing space horizontal + 24' Three Sisters Single Row: Cucumbers, Indet Tomatoes, Melons/Squash, Okra, Pole Beans, Pumpkins Alternating: Asparagus, Brococoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Collards, Corn, Kale, Head/Romaine Lettuce, Mustard, Peppers, Rape, Sunflowers Oregon Giant English/Shelling Peas Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Peas - Harvest young, use in asian dishes MI Pink Eye Purple Hull Cowpea/Southern Pea great for everything Snap (String) Beans - Eaten as Green Beans Shell Beans - Swoll but not fully mature or dry. Eat fresh, shelled, or freeze. Dried Beans - When beans fully mature and dry, plant is dead.

Garden Plan

Plant List

 PlantNumberSpacingSpacing in RowsNotes
Amaranth (Grain)
 Sesame
211"11" x 1' 2"Sun loving plant, 1 yard tall, pretty tubular flowers in multiple colors. Harvest seeds when they turn green. Collect the pods and place them in a paper sack to dry. Once they have completed dried gently break up the pods to release the seeds, then winnow over a fan to separate the seeds from the chaff. When seeds are ready to harvest they'll pop - quickly get a bowl to gather up all the remaining pods for the spice. 12" in two alternating rows for Mittleider, 18" apart for regular planting.
Arugula
 Roquette
33"3" x 11"Member of the mustard family. Spicy, tangy flavor and is commonly used in salads, pesto, or as a cooked green. Not great performance spring 2025.
Beans (Bush Snap)
 Roma
103"3" x 11"A green stringless 5" flat italian bean, robust in flavor and highly productive. It produces a heavy harvest over a 2-3 week period, which makes it ideal for canning or drying.
Beans (Bush Snap)
 Golden Wax
103"3" x 11"This classic golden-yellow stringless wax bean has 4" pods with a buttery flavor and is often used in bean salads. Snap/Green Bean
Beans (Bush Snap)
 Contender
103"3" x 11"Early stringless Green/Snap Bean, tasty and very productive. This bush bean produces a heavy harvest over a 2-3 week period, which makes it ideal for canning or drying.
Beans (Dry)
 Pinto
103"3" x 11"A staple in Mexican and southern cooking. This bush variety should be used as a dried (aka shell) bean. Easy to grow and suitable for succession planting. Can also be harvested and eaten as green beans.
Beans (Dry)
 Taylor Horticultural
103"3" x 11"A bush variety with 14-18" long runners that does especially well in cool climates. Good as an early snap/green bean but generally used as green shell beans.
Beans (Lima)
 Large Speckled
103"3" x 11"These large flat beans are creamy green with red markings. Also known as Christmas Pole, this popular variety is dependable, flavorful, and heat-resistant.
Beans (Pole)
 Blue Lake
251"1" x 11"A stringless and tender 6" green bean, these have been a workhorse in gardens for generations. Great fresh, steamed, or cooked and ideal for freezing.
Beans (Pole)
 Kentucky Wonder
251"1" x 1' 6"These straight 7" green/snap beans are noted for producing bumper crops as well as for their exception flavor.
Beet
 Detroit Red
221"1" x 11"Standard all-purpose sweet red beet. Both leaves and root highly nutritious. Midseason variety tolerant of cooler temperatures. Could not get to come up in spring 2025 or in germination tests - think seeds are bad.
Broccoli
 Waltham 29
51' 2"1' 2" x 11"Variety works well in all growing zones, plant in spring or fall. Flavorful 6" dark blue/green heads. Plant in 2 rows alternating. Best performing brassica spring 2025 - not saying much.
Brussels Sprouts
 Catskill
31' 2"1' 2" x 1' 11"One of the hardiest plants in our garden, but slow to mature. Cold tolerant and highly productive. Produces abundant yields of flavorful deep green 2" round sprouts. Plant in 2 rows alternating.
Cabbage (Summer)
 Golden Acre
211"11" x 1' 9"Early variety with compact and tender 2-4lb heads. Disease resistant, great for gardens where space is an issue. Plant in 2 rows alternating.
Cabbage (Summer)
 All Season
511"11" x 11"This reliable cabbage is early and very flavorful. One of the best all-around cabbages, suitable for spring, summer, or fall gardens. Plant in 2 rows alternating.
Carrot
 Imperator
401"1" x 11"These easy to harvest carrots are sweet, crispy, and tasty. They grow 10" long, so don't plant in a shallow bed with a barrier underneath.
Carrot
 Danver
801"1" x 5"High-yielding, deep orange carrots with 2" shoulders tapering to a blunt end. Heat resistant and adaptable to most soils (excels in clay), this variety also stores well.
Cauliflower
 Snowball
11' 2"1' 2" x 11"The 7" heads look remarkably like snowballs, only tastier! High-yield favorite for well over a century. Plant in 2 rows, alternating. Could not get to come up spring 2025.
Celery
 Tall Utah
111"11" x 11"Compact, dark green stringless 12" stalks. A varietal standard bursting with crunchy flavor. Plant in 2 rows, alternating. Could not get to come up in spring 2025.
Chili Pepper
 Jalapeño Gigantia
11' 1"11" x 1' 3" 
Chili Pepper
 Cayenne
111"11" x 1' 3"Use fresh, or dry and grind for use as chili powder. 30-50k scoville units. Plant in 2 rows, alternating.
Chinese Cabbage
 Pak Choi
47"7" x 11"Aka Bok Choy. Immediately bolted in Texas spring. Didn't seem to fare well in clay or spring heat.
Collards
 Vates
17"7" x 11"Disease and frost resistant breed that matures earlier than standard collards. Dark, blue-green nutritious leaves, best to grow throughout the summer, timing harvest around your first frost. Plant in 2 rows, alternating. Would not come up this spring. Not sure if clay, heat, or both.
Corn
 Hopi Blue
727"7" x 7"110 days, Blue Hopi (Zea mays) is an ancient flour corn variety. When nuxtamalizing, use about 1 part ash to 4 parts water. Soil temp of at least 65F to germinate, don't plant early. Full sun, keep well watered. Sow seeds 1.5-2.5 in deep.
Corn
 Painted Mountain
727"7" x 7"80-100 days, Zea mays Painted Mountain is the most cold hardy corn available; plant a month early before last frost, 1.5-2.5 inches deep. Plants average 5' in height and produce 7" long, beautiful ears.
Crowder Peas
 Pink Eye Purple Hull
611"1" x 7"This indeterminate bush Cowpea/southern pea produces high yields of long dark purple pods. The cream colored peas have a maroon eye and are very flavorful, excellent for drying or canning. Great for everything
Cucumber
 Armenian
109"9" x 1' 11"Also known as snake melon, this 18" fruit is neither Armenian nor a true cucumber. Even so, it looks, functions, and tastes just like one and is a staple in Mediterranean cooking. C. mello, they vine everywhere. Blanch for 1 minute
Cucumber
 National Pickling
109"9" x 1' 6"Harvest at 2-3" for gherkins or 4-6" long for cucumber slices/spears. Crispy, tender-skinned and long lasting. They vine everywhere. Blanch for 1 minute. Cucumis sativus
Edamame 53"3" x 1' 3"Complete protein, typically served as edamame or used to make tofu (livestock will enjoy it). After harvest - but before plants yellow - turn the plants into the soil to rejuvenate beds. High estrogen content, so men should avoid excessive consumption.
Eggplant
 Black Beauty
61' 2"1' 1" x 1' 5"6 fruits per plant, harvest before glossy dark skin fades to a dull purple. Ripeness determined by tone and gloss, not size. Plants require early staking to support the bountiful and heavy fruit.
Kale
 Siberian
11' 3"1' 1" x 1' 5"Hardy, easy to grow, nutritious and productive. Handles even hot Texas summers well.
Kohlrabi
 White Vienna
361"1" x 11"Leaves function like collards. Bulb can be cooked, eaten raw, or used as a mashed potato substitute. Doesn't seem to like clay or Texas spring much.
Leek
 American Flag
721"1" x 3"A classic leek, good for soups, salads, cooking, canning, and freezing. 8-10" at maturity, hardy in all zones.
Lettuce (Crisphead)
 Buttercrunch
611"11" x 11"Juicy crisp lettuce with dark green leaves on loose heads, a classic favorite. Somewhat heat resistant. Plant in 2 rows alternating. Could not get to come up in spring 2025.
Lettuce (Crisphead)
 Parris Island Cos
611"11" x 11"Could not get to come up in spring 2025.
Melon
 Honey Dew
49"9" x 2' 11"A canary yellow skin enclosing a sweet white flesh. This variety is slightly more tangy than a typical green fleshed honey dew. Didn't come up in from seed in June/July/August 2024 plantings. Grow on trellis to mitigate pests and insects. Healthy plants can support melons by the vine only; when fruit falls to the ground it is ripe and ready to be eaten. Ripeness can also be determined by feeling for the quarter-sized soft spot on at the end of the melon. Has been difficult to come up from seed in clay. Not sure if seeds, variety, or both.
Muskmelon
 Hale's Best Jumbo
49"9" x 1' 6"Slightly oval, solid 3-5lb fruits have a rich flavor. Heavily netted, firm and fine textured with a small seed cavity. Drought resistant, compact vines make this a backyard favorite. Grow on trellis to mitigate pests and insects. Healthy plants can support melons by the vine only; when fruit falls to the ground it is ripe and ready to be eaten. Ripeness can also be determined by feeling for the quarter-sized soft spot on at the end of the melon. Comes up really easily.
Muskmelon
 Rockyford
59"9" x 2' 11"The plant produces good yields of 5" diameter cantaloupes. The green flesh is sweet with a spicy and distinct flavor. It does well in the heat. Grow on trellis to mitigate pests and insects. Healthy plants can support melons by the vine only; when fruit falls to the ground it is ripe and ready to be eaten. Ripeness can also be determined by feeling for the quarter-sized soft spot on at the end of the melon. Not as easy as Hale's Jumbo to come up.
Mustard
 Florida Broadleaf
267"7" x 5"A mild flavored mustard producing large, rich green leaves. Good steamed or cooked in broth. Big producer, seems to not mind clay nor heat at all. Possibly best choice for spring greens.
Okra
 Clemson Spineless
611"11" x 1' 11"This popular 4' high plant produces and abundance of dark gree spineless grooved pods. Pick pods at 3", knowing they can grow 5" in 12 hours. Okra can be boiled, fried, or pickled and is also good in soups, stews, and relishes.
Okra
 Red Burgundy
211"11" x 1' 11"Stunning color, although turns green when cooked. Pods remain tender up to 6 inches, but less of a producer than Clemson.
Onion
 Borettana Cipollini
363"3" x 3" 
Onion (Red)
 Red Creole
363"3" x 3"These short day onions grow great in the south and tropics. The flat hard red bulbs are spicy and work well in salsas, Cajun cuisine, and other zesty dishes. They also keep well.
Peas
 Oregon Giant
361"1" x 7"Average 5" length pods, high-yielding Shelling/English Pea is naturally disease resistant. Bushes grow 3' in height and peas mature in roughly 60 days.
Peas
 Oregon Sugar Pod II
361"1" x 7"Snap/Snow pea. High yielding compact bushes throw off large sweet snow peas that are best picked when the forming peas are just barely visible. Wonderful in stir-fried dishes, salads, or cooked by themselves.
Pepper
 California Wonder 300
211"11" x 1' 3"Introduced in 1928 and is still the largest heirloom bell pepper breed available. Vigorous and prolific. Plant in 2 rows, alternating.
Pepper
 Sweet Banana
211"11" x 1' 3"6" pepper starts out yellow but eventually turns crimson. This breed is sweet, a little spicy, and often used for pickling.
Potatoes (Early)
 Adirondack Red
157"7" x 1' 7"Determinate
Potatoes (Maincrop)
 Magic Molly
197"7" x 2' 5"Indeterminate; requires mounding.
Pumpkin
 Connecticut Field
11' 8"1' 8" x 2' 11"One of the oldest heirloom varieties in the Texas-Ready lineup, this one dates back to the 1600s. Large orange fruit that should max out at about 25lbs. 2024 plant was over 20ft long in 7 weeks in Mittleider garden. C. Pepo, you can leave pumpkins on the vine and field-store them a long time. Roast seeds.
Radish
 Cherry Belle
301"1" x 11"Classic 1" round salad radish. Crisp and bright red with a bit of a bite. Grows fast, 25 days.
Rutabaga
 Purple Top
103"3" x 1' 3"Round 5" bulb, purple top as name implies. Grown like turnips, great at breaking up hard ground. Leaves are edible, roots can be prepared like mashed potatoes, and the entire plant can be used for livestock fodder.
Spinach
 Bloomsdale Savoy
313"3" x 11"Almost two centuries old, this is the classic heirloom spinach variety with large, ruffled dark-green leaves. Very cold tolerant. Seems to do well in clay and in Texas spring heat.
Squash (Summer)
 Summer Straightneck
31' 8"1' 8" x 1' 11"Early summer variety, high producing and flavorful. Harvest at 5-6" length to keep plant producing and to enjoy best vegetables. Curcurbita Pepo, Blanch for 3 minutes
Squash (Winter)
 Buttercup
29"9" x 2' 11"A hard shell winter squash, this butternut variety is dark green and blocky. 3-5lb fruits have a deep orange fiberless flesh known for its rich, sweet flavor. Stores well. Came up from seed in 2025 really easily. Curcurbita Max
Squash (Winter)
 Butternut Improved
29"9" x 2' 11"Hard shell 8" squash, this favorite stores well and can be baked or used in soups. Curcurbita moschata
Sweet Potato 87"7" x 1' 11" 
Swiss Chard
 Rainbow Blend
75"5" x 11" 
Tomato (Large)
 Marglobe Improved
41' 2"1' 2" x 11"Determinate variety that is extremely disease resistant, and ideal for canning. Plant in 2 rows.
Tomato (Large)
 San Marzano
39"9" x 1' 6"Large indeterminate vines produce intensely red fruits up to 4" long. This crack resistant italian breed is high in solids and excellent for paste, puree, or canning. Use for italian dishes.
Tomato (Large)
 Homestead
41' 2"1' 2" x 11"Determinate, meaty, medium sized "slicer" variety that is both heat and wilt resistant. Plant in 2 rows
Tomato (Small)
 Red Cherry
59"9" x 1' 6"Indeterminate, salad tomato produces nickel sized fruits. Volunteers readily each spring from fruits left in the garden.
Turnip
 Seven Top
203"3" x 11"This breed's root is not good for eating, but great for greens. Bit bitter, tho. Doesn't mind Texas heat and gets going quickly. Grown like rutabaga, great at breaking up hard ground. Leaves are edible, the entire plant can be used for livestock fodder.
Watermelon
 Black Diamond
31' 8"1' 8" x 2' 11"Expect good yields of fruit weight 25lbs and higher. The bright red flesh is flavorful, the tough rind resists bruising, and the large leaves help protect the fruit from sunburn. Heat resistant, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance. Give the vines plenty of room to sprawl. Hand-pollination required if bee count is low. Ripe when closest opposite tendril is brown, melon smells fruity, and underbelly has a cream/yellowish tint.
Zucchini 11' 8"1' 8" x 1' 11"Early 7" straight variety with a smooth green skin, both vigorous and prolific. Curcurbita Pepo, Blanch for 3 minutes

Planting Times

Plant List key
 PlantJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Amaranth (Grain)
 Sesame
Arugula
 Roquette
Beans (Bush Snap)
 Roma
Beans (Bush Snap)
 Golden Wax
Beans (Bush Snap)
 Contender
Beans (Dry)
 Pinto
Beans (Dry)
 Taylor Horticultural
Beans (Lima)
 Large Speckled
Beans (Pole)
 Blue Lake
Beans (Pole)
 Kentucky Wonder
Beet
 Detroit Red
Broccoli
 Waltham 29
Brussels Sprouts
 Catskill
Cabbage (Summer)
 Golden Acre
Cabbage (Summer)
 All Season
Carrot
 Imperator
Carrot
 Danver
Cauliflower
 Snowball
Celery
 Tall Utah
Chili Pepper
 Jalapeño Gigantia
Chili Pepper
 Cayenne
Chinese Cabbage
 Pak Choi
Collards
 Vates
Corn
 Hopi Blue
Corn
 Painted Mountain
Crowder Peas
 Pink Eye Purple Hull
Cucumber
 Armenian
Cucumber
 National Pickling
Edamame
Eggplant
 Black Beauty
Kale
 Siberian
Kohlrabi
 White Vienna
Leek
 American Flag
Lettuce (Crisphead)
 Buttercrunch
Lettuce (Crisphead)
 Parris Island Cos
Melon
 Honey Dew
Muskmelon
 Hale's Best Jumbo
Muskmelon
 Rockyford
Mustard
 Florida Broadleaf
Okra
 Clemson Spineless
Okra
 Red Burgundy
Onion
 Borettana Cipollini
Onion (Red)
 Red Creole
Peas
 Oregon Giant
Peas
 Oregon Sugar Pod II
Pepper
 California Wonder 300
Pepper
 Sweet Banana
Potatoes (Early)
 Adirondack Red
Potatoes (Maincrop)
 Magic Molly
Pumpkin
 Connecticut Field
Radish
 Cherry Belle
Rutabaga
 Purple Top
Spinach
 Bloomsdale Savoy
Squash (Summer)
 Summer Straightneck
Squash (Winter)
 Buttercup
Squash (Winter)
 Butternut Improved
Sweet Potato
Swiss Chard
 Rainbow Blend
Tomato (Large)
 Marglobe Improved
Tomato (Large)
 San Marzano
Tomato (Large)
 Homestead
Tomato (Small)
 Red Cherry
Turnip
 Seven Top
Watermelon
 Black Diamond
Zucchini



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