Garden Plans > 2017: Hypothetical Cropping System

About this Garden Plan

Alternative Cropping System Assignment AGR 4212 University of Florida Corina McBride Layout of garden: first row and last row from the top are raised beds with amended soil. Two middle rows are in-ground row crops Mostly all crops are planned in succession to help increase the nutrients and add to the soil. Chicken coop is located in the lower left. Chickens are let loose during the day/under supervison to explore, weed and eat the bugs in the garden. Be careful not to let them in the beds or increase density of plantings to count for a decreased yield. Use chichen manure to add nutrients in bed. Feed chickens weeds from garden and undesirable pests. Bees are located on the first walkway from the left at the top of the garden. They pollinate crops and provide honey.

Plan Type, Soil and Location

Garden Location: North Central Florida
Garden Size: 39' 11" x 14' 11"
Garden Type: Home garden
Garden Layout: Raised Beds
Sun or Shade: Sunny
Garden Soil Type: Light / Sandy soil

Plan Notes

Garden Plan

Plant List

 PlantNumberSpacingSpacing in RowsNotes
Arugula 875"3" x 7" 
Asparagus 71' 5"1' 5" x 1' 5"Companion plant for dill. Perennial so they go dormant for part of the year. Dill can be harvested and used as a cover crop to reduce weeds while the asparagus gets established.
Beans (Bush Snap) 229"5" x 1' 1" 
Beans (Pole) 319"5" x 1' 1"Positioned on the outside of the chicken fence, the beans use the fence as a trellis . The native flowers on the other side of the fence protect the beans from chicken consumption but you may experience a slight decrease in yield due to this location. To me, happy chickens are worth decreased yield.
Beet 585"3" x 7" 
Borage 41' 1"11" x 1' 11"Located next to beehive for the bees to pollinate
Broccoli 61' 5"1' 5" x 1' 5" 
Buckwheat 263"3" x 3"Cover crop to put organic matter and nitrogen back into soil
Cabbage (Fall Red) 32' 9"2' 7" x 2' 11" 
Carrot 583"3" x 5" 
Chamomile 1111"9" x 1' 3" 
Cilantro 27"5" x 9" 
Collards 911"11" x 1' 3" 
Crimson Clover 1123"3" x 3"Cover crop to put nitrogen and organic matter back in soil
Dill 387"5" x 9" 
Echinacea 41' 1"11" x 1' 3" 
Feverfew 2011"11" x 11"cover crop, feeds bees
Flower 307"5" x 7"native wildflowers line the wire fence around the chicken coop to give the chickens something to play/scratch in and to serve as a natural wall
Gaillardia 1811"11" x 11"cover crop
Kale 81' 3"1' 1" x 1' 5" 
Lemon Balm 21' 11"1' 11" x 1' 11" 
Lettuce (Leaf) 293"3" x 5" 
Marigold 287"7" x 7"Cover Crop= Reduces pest pressures from zucchini the previous season, provides flowers for pollinators, builds organic matter. Chickens can eat/scratch into soil in late spring to mid summer
Marjoram 387"5" x 9" 
Melon 32' 11"2' 11" x 2' 11"Use trellis fromprevious bean crop. Reduce labor by leaving trellis in place year round
Mint 37"5" x 9" 
Mustard
 [cloche]
205"5" x 5" 
Nasturtium 1011"11" x 11"cover/trap crop
Oats 853"3" x 3"located outside chicken coop. Chickens can play in and eat the oats as well as scratch the earth around the compost bin (to the right). Compost is located near chickens so person feeding them can throw them kitchen scraps at the same time as taking compost out.
Okra 61' 7"1' 5" x 1' 11" 
Onion 275"3" x 7" 
Onions (Green) 293"3" x 3" 
Parsley
 [cloche]
45"3" x 9"Cloches used to extend growing season and to protect against frost, giving us increased output for the input
Potatoes (Maincrop) 71' 5"1' 1" x 2' 5" 
Quinoa 61' 11"1' 5" x 2' 11" 
Rosemary 47"7" x 7" 
Rye (Cereal) 1933"3" x 3"Winter crover crop to increase soil organic matter and reduce nematodes. Harvest seed for rye bread and let chickens scratch into soil around march
Spinach 197"5" x 11" 
Stevia 11' 1"11" x 1' 3" 
Sunflower 911"11" x 11"Cover crop= trap stink bugs, feed the birds, add organic material and can be harvested
Swiss Chard 91' 1"11" x 1' 3" 
Tomato (Small) 61' 7"1' 5" x 1' 11" 
Watermelon 32' 11"2' 11" x 2' 11" 
Zucchini 51' 11"1' 11" x 1' 11" 

Planting Times

Plant List key



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