Garden Plans > 2017: Darrell's Back Yard

About this Garden Plan
SFG backyard garden
Plan Type, Soil and Location
Garden Location:	Louisiana
Garden Size:	43' 4" x 21' 5"
Garden Type:	Backyard / back garden
Garden Layout:	Square Foot Garden
Sun or Shade:	Sunny
Garden Soil Type:	Good soil
Plan Notes

Garden Plan

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Plant List

Plant	Number	Plants per Square Foot	Notes
Beans (Dry) Calypso	45	9	Organic Bush bean Black and white seeds Adapts well to all types of production areas Dry bean 70-90 days (aka Yin Yang) Originally from the Caribbean. One of the best for baking and soups. Round black and white seeds with contrasting eye borne heavily on strong 15" plants. Averages 4-5 seeds per pod. Adapts well to all types of production areas. Bush habit, dry, 70-90 days.
Beans (Dry) Oje De Tigre	45	9	The pods of this pinto-like bean can be picked immature for fresh eating, young beans can also be shelled and cooked fresh but this variety which translates to eye of the tiger really shines as a dried bean. The large glossy beans have a tan color with unique dark mahogany stripes. This stunning variety has an incredible creamy texture when cooked, ideal for re-fried beans or soup.
Beans (Dry) Dragon's Tongue Wax	54	9	Bush bean Large cream and purple pods Stringless pods; exceptionally crisp and juicy Wax bean 55-60 days This Dutch wax bean has large 6-8" cream-colored pods with vivid purple stripes that disappear when blanched. Pods are stringless, wide, and exceptionally crisp and juicy. Compact high yielding plants. Bush habit, wax, 55-60 days.
Beans (Dry) Borlotto Di Vigevano Nano	54	9	These beautiful beans are a sensation at the farmers market and with local-food chefs. Grown primarily for the stunning pink and white seeds, which make superior shell beans. Can be used as a snap bean, as well. Straight, round pods splashed in red.
Beans (Pole) Cherokee Trail of Tears	72	8	Pole, 65 days. This heirloom was brought from Tennessee by the Cherokee people as they were marched to Oklahoma by the Federal Government in 1839 over the infamous "Trail of Tears" that left so many dead and suffering. This prolific variety is good as a snap or dry bean and has shiny, black beans. Vigorous, vining plants.
Beet Ruby Queen	18	9
Beet Golden Beet	18	9	55 days. This variety dates back to the 1820's or before. The beets are a rich, golden-yellow and very sweet. A beautiful beet that wont bleed like red beets. The greens are also very tasty. A favorite of many.
Blackberry	2	0
Blueberry	3	0
Carrot Rainbow Hybrid	32	16
Carrot Cosmic Purple	16	16
Chili Pepper Jalapeno Traveler Strain	4	1	Organic Cylindrical fruits grow to 3 inches Peppers ripen from green to bright red Hot pepper 70-90 days from transplant From SSE member Larry Pierce of Cabool, Missouri. Named Traveler because Larry carried this seed with him when he moved to Oklahoma, Wyoming, and then Missouri. Sturdy plants covered in cylindrical fruits that average 3" long. Fruits ripen from green to bright red. 70-90 days from transplant. Hot.
Chili Pepper Rezha Maceonian	1	1	80 days. The name means engraved; another local name, Vezeni Piperki, means embroidered. Both names refer to the curious lines on the skins of tapering, long, thin peppers. The fruits, which range from mild to sometimes very pungent, are to be seen hanging in great clusters, drying in Macedonian warm late autumn sun. The traditional farmers save seed from the hot fruits which also show the most pronounced striations. Our foundation Seed was donated by schoolchildren from the villages of Kalugeritsa and Zleovo.
Chili Pepper Black Hungarian	3	1	75 days. Unique, black-colored fruit that are the shape of a Jalapeno. They are mildly hot and have a delicious flavor. The tall plants have beautiful purple flowers that make this variety very ornamental. Rare and colorful!
Chili Pepper Figitelli Sicilia (Sweet)	2	1	Crisp, thick-walled fruits are sweet and juicy. Almost a pepperoncini type, often pickled and occasionally having a hint of heat. Popular Italian market type reputedly originated on the sunny Mediterranean island of Sicily.
Chili Pepper Anaheim	1	1	80 days. Delicious mildly hot flavor, excellent for roasting or frying; good yields of very large chili peppers.
Corn Country Gentleman	32	4	Short Description HEIRLOOM. From 1890, this unusual white corn has irregular rows and great flavor. Full Description Country Gentleman is one of the most unusual sweet corns around because its white kernels are arranged irregularly, not in rows. The kernels are also very deep and narrow, hence its alternate name, Shoe-peg. Developed around 1890 in the Connecticut River Valley, it is a much bigger form of a very old variety. In fertile soils, it can yield three ears per stalk, sometimes more. It is a beautiful corn with wonderful texture and flavor. It holds its peak quality much longer than most heirloom corns.
Corn Golden Bantam	32	4	HEIRLOOM. This variety made yellow sweet corn popular. Orig. 1902 Full Description This variety made yellow sweet corn popular. When Burpee introduced it in 1902, people only wanted white corn white signified refinement and quality. It was created by a skilled gardener in Greenfield, Massachusetts who loved to have the earliest corn in town. Golden Bantam quickly rose to the top since it sprouted in cool soil better than all other corns of the time, and growers could make big money with it. The stalks are only 5 ft. tall and often bear two 5 1/2 to 61/2" long ears apiece. For old- fashioned corn flavor and early plantings, it's still outstanding.
Corn Bodacious	16	4
Cucumber Dragon's Egg	4	2	Beautiful cream-colored fruit are about the size and shape of a large egg! Mild, bitter-free and sweet-tasting, this little cucumber set massive yields in our gardens. So fun to grow, and very unique-looking; great for children and all who like delicious cucumbers. We were sent this new favorite by Reinhard Kraft, a German seed collector, but this heirloom originated in Croatia.
Cucumber Bushy	2	2	Organic Short vines grow to 5 feet Good production 45-50 days Introduced to American gardeners by SSE in 1992. Originated in Russia where its short vines (up to 5' long) and ease of growing made it perfect for dacha or second-home gardens near Moscow. Produces bumper crops for fresh eating and pickling. 45-50 days.
Cucumber Russian Pickling	12	2	Organic Smooth green skin Sweet crisp flesh 50-55 days First offered in the 1991 SSE Yearbook by Daniel L. Flyger from South Dakota who said the seed was brought to Hutchinson County, SD by Schwartzmeer Deutsch (aka Black Sea Germans) in the 1870s. Daniel originally received his seeds from his neighbor, Viola Neuharth. Early maturing smooth green pickling cucumber with a delicious sweet flavor and good crunch. 50-55 days.
Eggplant Black Beauty	2	1	90 days. Standard old type, large black fruit of excellent quality. Very tasty but is lower yielding and much later than many types and needs a long season.
Garlic Inchelium Red	56	4	A soft neck garlic that is mild at harvest but increases in flavor during storage, and with just a touch of spicy heat. Its large 3" bulbs produce many cloves. A wonderful garlic for all-purpose use where mild flavors are preferred. Its tight coarse tunics make for a long storage life of up to 9 months. Harvest fall planted garlic the following season, late spring or early summer, about 240 days from planting. Harvest spring planted garlic the same season, about 90 days from planting. Averages 10 cloves per bulb. Softneck variety.
Marigold Queen Sophia	8	4	Large, showy blooms change color as flowers mature. Full Description This 1979 All-America Selections winner has large, showy fully double blossoms with russet red petals and a delicate rim of gold on the edges. Blooms early. Marigold may be grown from seed sown early indoors and transplanted outside after frost, or sown directly in the garden after frost, or from potted plants. Sowing Seed Indoors: Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost using a seed starting kit Sow seeds inch deep in seed starting soil Keep the soil moist at 70-75 degrees Seedlings emerge in 7-14 days As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night. Raise the lights as the plants grow taller. Incandescent bulbs will not work for this process because they will get too hot. Most plants require a dark period to grow, do not leave lights on for 24 hours. Thin to one seedling per cell when they have two sets of leaves. Seedlings do not need much fertilizer, feed when they are 3-4 weeks old using a starter solution (half strength of a complete indoor houseplant food) according to manufacturers directions. Transplant hardened-off seedlings to the garden after the frost. Before planting in the garden, seedling plants need to be hardened off. Accustom young plants to outdoor conditions by moving them to a sheltered place outside for a week. Be sure to protect them from wind and hot sun at first. If frost threatens at night, cover or bring containers indoors, then take them out again in the morning. This hardening off process toughens the plants cell structure and reduces transplant shock and scalding. Sowing Directly in the Garden Direct sow seeds in average soil in full sun after all danger of frost. In frost free areas, sow from fall to early spring. In the Deep South, a spot that receives shade during the afternoon helps protect plants from excessive h
Marigold Chameleon	8	4	No two plants are ever the same! A totally unique variety with each plant displaying single, semi-double and crested blooms in varying blends of yellow, gold, orange and red. No two plants are ever exactly the same. Vigorous and bushy, covered in color from early summer to frost. Marigold may be grown from seed sown early indoors and transplanted outside after frost, or sown directly in the garden after frost, or from potted plants. Sowing Seed Indoors: Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost using a seed starting kit Sow seeds inch deep in seed starting soil Keep the soil moist at 70-75 degrees Seedlings emerge in 7-14 days As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night. Raise the lights as the plants grow taller. Incandescent bulbs will not work for this process because they will get too hot. Most plants require a dark period to grow, do not leave lights on for 24 hours. Thin to one seedling per cell when they have two sets of leaves. Seedlings do not need much fertilizer, feed when they are 3-4 weeks old using a starter solution (half strength of a complete indoor houseplant food) according to manufacturers directions. Transplant hardened-off seedlings to the garden after the frost. Before planting in the garden, seedling plants need to be hardened off. Accustom young plants to outdoor conditions by moving them to a sheltered place outside for a week. Be sure to protect them from wind and hot sun at first. If frost threatens at night, cover or bring containers indoors, then take them out again in the morning. This hardening off process toughens the plants cell structure and reduces transplant shock and scalding. Sowing Directly in the Garden Direct sow seeds in average soil in full sun after all danger of frost. In frost free areas, sow from fall to early spring. In the Deep South, a spot that receives shade dur
Onion Australian Brown	27	9	Intermediate type - Introduced in 1897 by W. Atlee Burpee. This variety produces extra fine large bulbs that have superb flavor! The yellow-brown roots are a standard on our farm for their sureness to produce quality.
Onion White Creole	27	9	Short day. medium sized, round bulbs have a translucent white flesh that is very firm. This variety is an excellent choice for southern growers, forms perfect bulbs and has excellent storage quality. Excellent fresh or cooked, white creole is a top choice for dehydrating as it has a very high dry matter content and a pungent flavor.
Onion (Red) Red Wethersfield	9	9	Long-day onion Flattened globe-shaped bulbs Purple-red skin Concentric circles of red 100 days from transplant (aka Dark Red Beauty) Listed as Large Red in 1834 by Hovey & Co. of Boston. By 1850, the name Wethersfield was in use by such companies as Comstock, Ferre & Co of Wethersfield, Connecticut. Large flattened globes with purple-red skin. Mildly pungent flesh with red concentric circles. Best used for salads and garnishes, not for extended storage. Long-day type. 100 days from transplant.
Onion (Red) Red Creole	18	9	This short day onion is great for the South and is a good keeper. Hard, flat bulbs have spicy, red flesh. A good cooking onion or in salads.
Onions (Green)	32	16
Other (Large) Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry	2	1	65 days. Polish heirloom variety has unusually fine flavorvery sweet with a nice hint of tartness. 1/2-3/4 fruits are enclosed in a papery husk, drop to the ground when fully ripe. High pectin content makes this one choice for pies and preserves.
Peanut Shronce's Deep Black	16	4	An heirloom variety improved by Gordon Schronce of Iron Station, North Carolina. Over a period of several years, after beginning with a few black peanuts a friend had given him, Gordon hand selected those seeds that had darker skins and more seeds per shell. Thanks to his efforts, the Schronces Deep Black is darker, often has 3 to 4 seeds per shell, and is slightly sweeter than the similar Carolina Black Peanut. And it is black! Makes for a stunning arrangement when served with the Tennessee Red peanut. Requires about 125 to 140 days to harvest.
Peanut Tennessee Red	16	4	(Arachis hypogaea) 110 days. A treasured heirloom that has been grown since before 1930, each pod contains from 2-5 red-skinned, mild, sweet kernels. A Valencia type, earlier than the Virginia strains. Superior for roasting or boiling, which is a preferred method of preparing them in the Deep South. Each packet contains at least 1 ounce of unshelled peanuts.
Peas Super Sugar	16	8
Pepper Marconi	1	1	Organic Huge, sweet red fruits grow to 12 inches long Excellent eaten fresh or fried Sweet pepper 70-90 days from transplant Prolific Italian variety prized for its gigantic sweet red fruits. Delicious 12" long peppers are excellent eaten fresh or fried. 70-90 days from transplant. Sweet.
Pepper Purple Beauty	2	1	Fruits ripen from green to purple to red Fruits are thick walled and crisp Mild sweet flavor Holds purple color well Sweet pepper 70-75 days from transplant Absolutely stunning purple bell pepper. Large 4-lobed thick-walled fruits borne on sturdy compact plants. Tender crisp texture, mild sweet flavor. Holds in the purple stage for some time before ripening to a radiant purple-red. 70-75 days from transplant. Sweet.
Pepper Sweet Chocolate	1	1	Organic Fruits ripen from green to chocolate with brick red interior Thick sweet flesh Great for gardeners in short season areas 60-85 days from transplant Sweet pepper (aka Choco) Early bell pepper bred by Elwyn Meader and introduced by the University of New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station in 1965. Ripens from green to chocolate on the outside and brick red inside. Thick sweet flesh. Great for gardeners in short season areas. 60-85 days from transplant. Sweet.
Pepper Red Marconi	1	1
Potatoes (Maincrop) Red Cloud	6	1
Potatoes (Maincrop) Kennebec (eyes)	18	1
Shallots Zebrune Heirloom	45	9	Pink-brown skinned bulbs Torpedo shaped bulbs Good keeper and resistant to bolting Sweet and mild flavor In France this variety is referred to as 'Cuisse de Poulet du Poitou' (chicken leg of Poitou). It is a type of Eschalion, or banana shallot, so named because of its distinctive torpedo shape. Shallots are a type of onion that developed in Central or Southeast Asia. Onions are thought to have been used as a food source for millennia, but it isn't clear when onion bulbs began to be cultivated rather than collected from the wild. It appears to have been used in ancient Egypt and Greece. In the Middle Ages onions formed an important part of European diets. Early European settlers brought bulbing onions to the Americas, where the indigenous peoples were already using wild onions.
Sunflower Little Becka Hybrid	4	1	Do you believe in love at first sight? This compact charmer, just 3' tall, dazzles with a profusion of 6" flowers with luminous yellow halos, punch-red petals and golden picotees. The one-of-a-kind dwarf bicolor adds spark and excitement to borders or as cut flowers. Requires well-drained soil. Sun. Sunflowers are grown from seed sown directly in the garden after frost. Direct sow seeds in average soil in full sun after all danger of frost. When choosing a site consider that sunflowers need a well-drained soil. They face the sun, so make sure they are in an open area of the garden. The taller varieties will cast shadows on other plants, so plant these at the north end of your garden. Prepare the soil by removing weeds and working organic matter into the top 6-8 inches of soil; then level and smooth. Most plants respond well to soils amended with organic matter. Compost is a wonderful form of organic matter with a good balance of nutrients and an ideal pH level, it can be added to your planting area at any time. If compost is not available, top dress the soil after planting with 1-2 inches of organic mulch, which will begin to breakdown into compost. After the growing season, a soil test will indicate what soil amendments are needed for the following season. Sow seeds inch deep in groups of 2 or 3 seeds. Space the groups 18-24 inches feet apart, depending on the variety. Firm soil lightly, water and keep evenly moist. Seedlings will emerge in 7-10 days. Thin to one plant per group when seedlings have two sets of leaves. Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating. Mulches also help retain soil moisture and maintain even soil temperatures. For annuals an organic mulch of shredded leaves lends a natural look to the bed and will improve the soil as it breaks down in time. Always keep mulches off a plant
Tomato (Large) Black Krim	2	1	Fruits are violet-brown and purple-red Sun exposure darkens the color Beefsteak tomatoes Excellent flavor Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season 70-90 days from transplant (aka Black Crimea) Introduced to SSE by Lars Olov Rosenstrom of Sweden. Orginially from Krim, Russia. Beefsteak fruits are a unique combination of violet-brown and purple-redthey turn almost black with sufficient sunlight and heat. Excellent full flavor. Indeterminate, 70-90 days from transplant.
Tomato (Large) Burpee Big Boy Hybrid	3	1	When we bred and introduced Big Boy hybrid tomato in 1949, its incredible productivity and gorgeous, perfect, large red fruit made it an instant hit. What's kept Big Boy tomato a best-selling tomato all these years is the wonderful aroma and rich flavor. The fruits weigh in 10 oz. with many reaching 1 lb. or more. Healthy, indeterminate vines produce all summer long. The bountiful harvest begins about 78 days after setting plants in the garden. How to Sow and Plant Sow tomato seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost in spring using a seed starting kit Sow seeds inch deep in seed-starting formula Keep the soil moist at 75 degrees F Seedlings emerge in 7-14 days As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night. Raise the lights as the plants grow taller. Incandescent bulbs will not work for this process because they will get too hot. Most plants require a dark period to grow, do not leave lights on for 24 hours. Seedlings do not need much fertilizer, feed when they are 3-4 weeks old using a starter solution (half strength of a complete indoor houseplant food) according to manufacturers directions. If you are growing in small cells, you may need to transplant the seedlings to 3 or 4 inch pots when seedlings have at least 3 pairs of leaves before transplanting to the garden so they have enough room to develop strong roots Before planting in the garden, seedling plants need to be hardened off. Accustom young plants to outdoor conditions by moving them to a sheltered place outside for a week. Be sure to protect them from wind and hot sun at first. If frost threatens at night, cover or bring containers indoors, then take them out again in the morning. This hardening off process toughens the plants cell structure and reduces transplant shock and scalding. Planting in the Garden: Select a location in full sun with good rich mo
Tomato (Large) Japanese Trifele Black	1	1	Deep red fruits grow to 4-5 ounces Productive and rarely cracks Potato leaf plants Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season 70-80 days from transplant One of the best Russian black tomatoes. High yields of blemish-free fruits that rarely crack. Rich full flavor, great for canning. The size of a Bartlett pear, weighing 4-5 ounces. Potato leaf foliage. Indeterminate, 70-80 days from transplant.
Tomato (Small) Italian Ice Hybrid	1	1	Sugary sweet and bursting with juicy flavor, Italian Ice is a summer picnic treat. Clusters of 1-1 1/2" snack-sized fruits ripen from green to ivory white, becoming uniquely sweet and mild-tasting. Chill a bowlful for a satisfying portable snack when the sultry days of summer call for a cooling, melt-in-your-mouth taste sensation.
Tomato (Small) Lucid Gem	1	1	This new Brad Gates selection is an absolute masterpiece! Slicing-type fruits are stunning, inside and out! This sister selection to Blue Beauty yields loads of 5-ounce, beefsteak-type fruits, very meaty and containing very few seeds. First they ripen yellow, then more toward orange when very ripe. Incredibly attractive with the black anthocyanin splashes really contrasting with the lighter colored skin. The sweet, juicy flesh is marbled yellow to red, and the flavor is fruity and superb. Unusually heat-tolerant; the fruits are great keepers. You cant go wrong with this one!
Watermelon Petite Yellow (Organic)	1	0	Organic Small round fruits are ideal for small families and small refrigerators Pale yellow flesh is sweet and refreshing Excellent for market growers and short season climates A deliciously sweet and refreshing small icebox watermelon. Ideal for small familiesand small refrigerators. Early maturity, adapted to short-season areas. Excellent market variety. 65-80 days.

Planting Times

	Plant	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
	Beans (Dry) Calypso
	Beans (Dry) Oje De Tigre
	Beans (Dry) Dragon's Tongue Wax
	Beans (Dry) Borlotto Di Vigevano Nano
	Beans (Pole) Cherokee Trail of Tears
	Beet Ruby Queen
	Beet Golden Beet
	Blackberry
	Blueberry
	Carrot Rainbow Hybrid
	Carrot Cosmic Purple
	Chili Pepper Jalapeno Traveler Strain
	Chili Pepper Rezha Maceonian
	Chili Pepper Black Hungarian
	Chili Pepper Figitelli Sicilia (Sweet)
	Chili Pepper Anaheim
	Corn Country Gentleman
	Corn Golden Bantam
	Corn Bodacious
	Cucumber Dragon's Egg
	Cucumber Bushy
	Cucumber Russian Pickling
	Eggplant Black Beauty
	Garlic Inchelium Red
	Marigold Queen Sophia
	Marigold Chameleon
	Onion Australian Brown
	Onion White Creole
	Onion (Red) Red Wethersfield
	Onion (Red) Red Creole
	Onions (Green)
	Other (Large) Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry
	Peanut Shronce's Deep Black
	Peanut Tennessee Red
	Peas Super Sugar
	Pepper Marconi
	Pepper Purple Beauty
	Pepper Sweet Chocolate
	Pepper Red Marconi
	Potatoes (Maincrop) Red Cloud
	Potatoes (Maincrop) Kennebec (eyes)
	Shallots Zebrune Heirloom
	Sunflower Little Becka Hybrid
	Tomato (Large) Black Krim
	Tomato (Large) Burpee Big Boy Hybrid
	Tomato (Large) Japanese Trifele Black
	Tomato (Small) Italian Ice Hybrid
	Tomato (Small) Lucid Gem
	Watermelon Petite Yellow (Organic)

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Garden Plans > 2017: Darrell's Back Yard

About this Garden Plan

Plan Type, Soil and Location

Plan Notes

Garden Plan

Plant List

Planting Times