​The beds are designed and waiting for construction. You can’t wait to get your hands dirty, but the weather is not cooperating with your goals.
Cold, rainy days are the perfect time to decide what you want to put in those beds.
 
As you put your mind to growing, what is it that you see in your garden? What vegetables and herbs do you often use in your cooking?
The usual garden staples are tomato, carrots, radish, lettuce, and zucchini. But there are so many more. It is okay to start small, then work bigger as you gain confidence and experience.
 
How much should you grow? How big is your household? Do you want enough to share? How much space do you have?
Overcrowding is a common mistake. We all need some breathing room, and so do your plants.
Spacing for row gardens and raised beds vary. I use a modified square foot garden. I have discovered a bit more space does well in our humid Texas summers.

​There are many recommendations as to how much to plant per person. We are a household of two, empty nesters we are, but I plan on sharing with the kiddos. So, I am planning on 4 people to begin.
 
Once you know what you want to grow, decide where you want to place each plant.
There are a few essentials to consider. Each plant needs to have enough space. I draw a grid for each garden box, 1 foot square. Then I loosely follow the recommended spacing lined out for square foot gardening.
 
Each plant has specific needs for how much light it needs. Most plants need at least 6 to 8 hours per day. Hopefully, you garden location has already taken this under consideration.
 
Another important consideration are companions. There are those bothersome neighbors, such as fennel, which do not play nice with others. And then there are the good neighbors who help with growth and protection.
 
Arrange the plants on a grid so that when you are ready to plant, you will know exactly where each should go.

This is my approach:

1. Choose your main plant.

              How much space does it need?
              For this example, I chose tomato plants.
              ​Tomatoes need one square foot.
              On average, they grow to be 2-3 ft tall, so I placed the plants in the center of the bed.

1. Choose your companion plants.

              Make sure they are good companions with each other as well.
              Basil and marigold are good plants who like each other and help tomatoes grow.
              ​Basil planted in the same bed can help enrich the flavor of ripe tomatoes.

1. Add variety and beauty.

              Again, make sure everyone gets along.
              There is nothing worse that placing plants together that hate each other.
              Neither will grow well.
              I added Garlic, chives, and onions. They just sound good with tomatoes,
              ​and they help to deter munching pests such as slugs and snails

​Continue working through each bed. Now you are ready to order those seeds!

Now that you have determined the location of your garden, it is time to design. I find this one of the most enjoyable tasks in preparing a garden. This is where you can live out your dreams, even if it proves to not be practicable. If time and money were no object, what would you want your garden to look like? It’s okay to dream, just do it in pencil.
​
First, measure the area available for your garden.
I have a large open area to work with, but any area can be a rewarding garden, both big and small.

I began by drawing my outer dimensions on a grid. I love graft paper, but have adapted to using the computer so that it is less time consuming and messy to make changes. Changes are inevitable.

​Find the center of your garden and work from there.
8’ x 4’ and 4' x 4' boxes are the typical raised bed dimensions.
Use any size bed you want to add character and creativity to you plan, as long as they fit comfortably within your boundary.

I make squares I can move around my design. This makes it easy to explore ideas without having to start designs over when I want to try it a different way.

Also, don’t forget to include pathways.
I have tried 2ft and 3ft pathways in the past. An average sized wheelbarrow can fit within a 3ft pathway. I found the problem with both of these two spaces, it is hard to turn corners. Since space is not an issue, I have chosen 4ft pathways for this garden.

What do you want to be the focal point of your garden? What do you want the center of the garden to look like? Do you want a simple layout, or a more complex design.
With that in mind, just start. You can adapt your design as you go.

I decided to make the center of the garden my focal point. My last garden, I made my greenhouse the focus.

Notice the narrow pathways. I had less space to work with, so I sacrificed pathways.
 
I have a cute antique table and chair set I want to be at the center of the garden. I made space in the center of the plan first. Then I wrapped the area with small beds to make a cozy room at the heart of the garden. I can see my future self drinking tea as I bask in the beauty of my garden...

In my previous garden, I surrounded the area with an animal proof fence, lined the inside of the fence with pathways, then added the beds. It worked like a charm. A fence needs to be 2 1/2 ft high to keep those cute little cotton tails from dinning on your vegetables.

​​Now, I just fill in the interior with my beds. I decided a formal, symmetrical garden works with the style of our house.
 
After much maneuvering, I have come up with this plan.

I can't wait to see the real-life version of this garden!