Gardening by the Foot

Here's the idea:

Plan your garden like a patchwork of squares, each one foot wide by one foot high. And remember, the squares can be in the ground or be in a pot or other container. Plant the recommended number of plants in each square. You plant only one of the larger plants like tomatoes or peppers ‘per square. BUT... the big plants don’t need the whole square right away. Before they grow too large, you can plant smaller, fast-growing plants (like radishes  or some leaf lettuces) at the corners of the square.... for example, one square can have a tomato in middle, oak leaf lettuce at the corners and 8 radishes in between.

One way to do it: 

 The easiest way to begin is with a 4 foot by 4 foot patch. That gives you 16 squares. One row of squares may be planted with climbers. Plant this row at the North edge of the block so it will not shade the rest of the garden from the sun. (NOTE:To determine which direction is north, go outside in the morning when the sun is just rising. Face the sun and put your hands out to your sides. Your left hand will be pointing north.) Plant the seeds. The general rule of thumb is to plant seeds to a depth equal to three tines the thickness of the seed. Some seeds can get a head start by starting them indoors. Plants like tomatoes, cabbage and those plants marked with a   below, do better when you start with plants already started rather than seed planted outside in your garden. 

Mulch:

 Mulching is covering the soil around your plants to help keep the soil temperature even and retain moisture. Partially decomposed hay or straw,  wood shavings or even leaves work well.