Tennent Family Garden

Knowing the importance of healthy food, Dr. and Mrs. Tennent keep their own garden yearly.  The following design uses the standard foods they grow for their family and is a great starter plan for anyone new to gardening.

TennentGarden


Peas

peas

  • Plant outdoors 1″ deep as soon as soil can be worked.
  • Spacing: nine to 16 per sq. ft. Provide support with string or wire trellis.
  • For a fall crop, plant again six to eight weeks before frost.
  • Days to harvest: 50 to 60 from planting. Very frost-hardy.
  • Hint: Add legume inoculant to soil when planting to increase vigor and yield.

Beans

Mrs. Tennent says, “Blue Lake Bush Beans have been the best for a great and prolific harvest!”

beans

  • Sow seeds 1″ deep directly in garden after all danger of frost.
  • Spacing: four plants per sq. ft. for bush beans, six to eight plants per sq. ft. for pole beans
  • Plant second crop of bush beans (if needed) two weeks after first planting.
  • Days to harvest: 50-80 from seed, depending on variety. Not frost-hardy.
  • Hint: Add a legume inoculant when planting to increase vigor and yield.

Peppers

peppers

  • Start seeds indoors 1/4″ deep 10 to 12 weeks before last frost.
  • Transplant into garden three weeks after last frost or when soil reaches 70 degrees F.
  • Fruits are edible from early green to full-color maturity.
  • Spacing: one plant per sq. ft.
  • Days to harvest: 50 to 65 green, 80 to 85 to full color. Not frost-hardy.
  • Hint: Do not fertilize peppers. Water sparingly.

Cherry Tomatoes

cherry_tomato

  • Sow seed indoors 1/4” deep, six to eight weeks before last frost. Choose a compact patio type for raised beds, or plan to install a support for tall varieties.
  • Transplant into garden one to two weeks after last frost or when soil reaches 65 degrees F.
  • Spacing: one plant per sq. ft. if grown on trellis. (Four squares required if grown with cage, nine if grown with no support). May grow early season crops nearby to allow more room later.
  • Days to harvest: 55 to 100 from transplanting, depending on variety. Not frost-hardy.
  • Hint: Remove lower leaves before planting, and bury extra stem.

Corn

corn

  • Sow seeds 1″ deep directly in garden.
  • Spacing: Plant four seeds per sq. ft.; thin to two plants per sq. ft.
  • Plant after frost, when soil reaches 60 degrees F.
  • Need to grow at least 12 to 18 plants of same variety to ensure good pollination.
  • Days to harvest: 65 to 75 from planting. Not frost-hardy.
  • Hints: Use garden fabric (row covers) early in spring to protect against frost and crows.

Tomatoes

tomatoes

  • Plant seeds 1/4″ deep indoors, six to eight weeks before last frost.
  • Transplant into garden one to two weeks after last frost or when soil reaches 65 degrees F.
  • Spacing: one plant per sq. ft. if grown on trellis. (Four squares required if grown with cage, nine if grown with no support). May grow early season crops nearby to allow more room later.
  • Days to harvest: 55 to 100 from transplanting, depending on variety. Not frost-hardy.
  • Hint: Remove lower leaves before planting, and bury extra stem.