Companion Gardening: Basic Vegetable Gardening, Designing Your Garden

1. Basic Vegetable Gardening
Lesson 2: Designing Your Garden
Lesson Summary: In this planning activity, members will learn about several different types
of gardens. Based on the strengths and weaknesses of these garden types, they will
choose what type of garden to design for their club. They will make a list of plants to
include in the garden and then draw a map of their garden and where they will plant
each vegetable.
Intended Learning Outcomes:
Members will be able to analyze several different types of gardens.
Members will be able to make a drawing of a garden design.
Length: 60 minutes
Materials:
3 pieces of A4 paper or notebook paper
Chalkboard or large paper for the leader
Dimensions of garden site
Background: Conduct this lesson after your group has decided where to put their garden.
During this lesson, members will make a plan for the garden. This is the second step.
1. Choosing a site: Where to put your garden
2. Preparing a site: Choose your garden design
3. Planting the garden
4. Tending the garden
5. Harvesting, preparing and eating the food
Leader Note: See Lesson #11 for additional information on alternative gardening methods.
Lesson Steps
1. (3 minutes) – Introduction
Have members summarize the key points from the previous meeting or lesson. If
the group completed Lesson 1, they should recall that they decided on a site for their
garden. Reinforce the key points of choosing a garden site, including considering the
topography of the land, traffic patterns, safety and security. Review the characteristics
of the chosen site to remind members why they chose the site. Refer to members’
notebooks to look at how the garden site was rated on their charts.
2. (10 minutes) – Leader or member informs members about different types of
gardens.
2.1 (7 minutes) There are several different types of gardens that are suitable for
small vegetable gardening. Today members will analyze the garden site and
decide which type of garden is best for their situation. Read the following
information to the group, or ask a member read each section. Or, copy enough pages of
the following information so everyone can follow along. As members read about each
type of garden, ask them to give an example of where they might have seen this used.
4-H Global Knowledge Center – Basic Vegetable Gardening – Lesson 2: Designing the Garden - detailed

2. Use Garden Beds Wisely – It is important to have a low impact approach to
gardening. This means you should choose a type of garden that does the least damage
to the soil and surrounding natural resources. When we disturb the soil we can be
destroying thousands of years of work by many different organisms. Try to minimize
environmental impacts when designing and preparing your garden. You can even tuck
your garden into the space available, conforming to the shape of the land rather than
to a specific geometric shape.
Rectangle – A rectangle garden is an easy and simple design for first time gardeners. It
is easy to measure and divide a rectangle garden into sections, and it can be a fun way
to learn math.
Sloped Beds/Terracing – If the garden site is sloped, it is important to prevent runoff
by building terraces. Soil erosion problems can occur during heavy rains, and building
a terrace can prevent soil and valuable nutrients from washing away to lower areas.
Build a terrace by placing logs or rocks perpendicular to the slope, like stair steps. The
built up edges will hold the soil. Terracing also helps conserve water.
Raised Beds – Raised beds are gardens that have portions that are higher than the
other ground around it. Use a raised bed if your soil is poor quality. If you would like to
use a raised bed, about one month prior to planting, spread compost liberally (about
20 cm. high) in the area that you plan to cultivate. Just before planting, break the
ground under the compost (about 10 cm. deep) and mix it with the overlaying
compost. Then form the raised beds as defined by your garden plan, adding new
compost where necessary to build up the bed. This method creates very fertile soil
which will produce healthy plants and promote high yields. It is easy to weed and tend
raised gardens, and it improves soil aeration. However, raised beds require more soil
and more labor to start. (See Lesson #9 for more information about composting.)
4-H Global Knowledge Center – Basic Vegetable Gardening – Lesson 2: Designing the Garden - detailed

3. Trenched Beds –This is a solution to minimally impact the soil when there is a
problem with water, be it a lack of water or an over-abundance of water. Dig trenches
in a checkered pattern. Ideally the soil from the trench should be mounded up on the
undisturbed soil to create a ridge about 30 cm. high.
2.2 (3 minutes) Discuss the different gardening techniques with the group and
decide on the best one for your group. If you are not building on a slope and do not
have water problems, then a rectangle garden is a good type of garden to start with.
Use raised beds if you have concerns about your soil quality.
Note: Save time by summarizing the information above for the group members instead
of reading it out loud.
4-H Global Knowledge Center – Basic Vegetable Gardening – Lesson 2: Designing the Garden - detailed

4. 3. (15 minutes) – Members decide what plants to grow
3.1 (5 minutes) Split the members into groups of 3. Instruct the groups to create
a list of 10 plants they would like to plant in their garden. Members must work
together to make their list. Remind the members of any goal you have for the garden,
such as being able to cultivate vegetables throughout the year, or providing nutrition
to members. You may also want to hand out the list of vitamins associated with
different plants found at the end of this lesson.
3.2 (10 minutes) After the small groups have created their lists, have each group
read their list out loud. As they read the lists, the leader or another member should
make a complete list on the chalkboard or a large sheet of paper. Duplicate plants
should be marked so the class can see which plants were listed by more than one
group. After the plant names are written on the board, narrow the list down to about 8
– 15 different types of plants. As you narrow them down, cross off any plants that
would be very difficult to grow in the conditions of your garden.
4. (20 minutes) – Designing the Garden
4.1 (5 minutes) Now the whole group will design the layout of the garden. First
decide if defensive plants will be planted around the perimeter of the garden. Insect-
repelling plants such as marigolds, pyrethrum (chrysanthemum) or daisies help repel
pests. Sisal (agave sisalana) or African milkbush (euphorbia tirucalli) help repel
animals. Discuss with the class if any of those plants will be planted around the garden.
Take your environment into consideration when deciding whether or not it is
necessary. Next begin drawing a diagram of where each type of plant will be planted in
the garden. As you are doing this, remember that some plants like squash and
pumpkins require larger amounts of space, as they are planted in large mounds. Most
other plants will be planted in rows.
4.2 (5 minutes) If you do not know the dimensions of your garden, go outside
and measure the perimeter of your planting space. If the garden is not square,
make a map so your plan can be more accurate.
4.3 (10 minutes) With the whole group, draw an outline of the garden space on
the chalkboard or on a large sheet of paper. Take suggestions from group members as
to where the plants should be planted. You will want to develop something like the
examples shown below.
Companion Gardening – As you design the garden, keep in mind that to maximize
space, provide natural pest control, and promote favorable growing conditions, it is
important to interplant crops that have varied root levels. For example, onions,
eggplant and peppers each have roots which seek nutrients at different depths in the
soil. Each plant also promotes the proper biological functions to restore the nutrients
that the other companion plants use. Some plants should not be planted together. They
may stunt each other's growth, attract harmful insects, or release chemicals that
suppress growth.
 Do not plant corn with tomatoes.
 Do not plant potatoes near squash or peas.
 Do not plant peas or beans next to onions.
4-H Global Knowledge Center – Basic Vegetable Gardening – Lesson 2: Designing the Garden - detailed

5. 4-H Global Knowledge Center – Basic Vegetable Gardening – Lesson 2: Designing the Garden - detailed

6. 5. (10 minutes) – Summary and Debrief
5.1 Discuss the key points of the lesson by asking the members some of the
following questions:
 Can you think of a way your family could plant a small garden?
Answer: Families can plant vegetables or herbs in small containers around the
house. Families could also build a small square garden. See lesson #11 to learn
more.
 What would be the best types of plants to plant in a small container garden?
Answer: Herbs and other smaller plants are perfect for growing in small containers.
Tomatoes and peppers work well because they produce fruit for a long time.
Radishes, lettuce and carrots do not need very much space, so they also work well
in containers.
 What is something you could use at home for a container for your plants?
Answer: Note: Containers for gardens could be almost anything including pails,
buckets, wire baskets, plastic bowls and sacks, wooden boxes, washtubs, large food
cans, or any number of things. It is important to make several holes in the bottom
of the container for drainage.
 How could you find out more information about planting a small garden at home?
Answer: Ask the leader for more information, consult members of the community,
or use the teacher manual as a resource.
 What are some things you learned today that would help you plant a garden at
home?
Answer: There are many different ways to garden and therefore, it is possible for
anyone to plant a garden at their home, even if space is limited, you are in poor
health, or you cannot dig up the ground.
 What is one thing you would like to share with your parents or brothers or sisters
about planning the garden?
6. (2 minutes) – Close
Thank the participants for their good work and ideas and notify them of the next
meeting date. Tell them that they will begin an experiment at the next gathering that
will test the viability of the seeds. (Viability is how well the seeds will grow into
plants.) They will also be working in the garden at the next gathering, so they should
wear appropriate clothing.
Be sure to collect any drawings or notes if you want to keep them for the next meeting.
4-H Global Knowledge Center – Basic Vegetable Gardening – Lesson 2: Designing the Garden - detailed

7. Nutritional Benefits of Common Fruits and Vegetables
Amaranth Good source of Vitamin A, B, C, calcium, and iron
Banana High in potassium and energy
Easily digested (good for infants and elderly persons)
Small amounts of vitamin A and C
Cabbage Vitamin A, C, zinc, and fiber
Carrot Excellent source of vitamin A
Cassava High in Vitamin C, good source of fiber and some energy
Citrus Excellent source of vitamin C
Collards Excellent source of vitamin A and C, iron and calcium
Some vitamin B and K, folate and potassium
Corn Energy, potassium, fiber, vitamin B
Cucumber High in potassium and fiber, some vitamin A, B, C
Eggplant High in potassium
Endive Vitamin A, C, K, iron, calcium, potassium, and folate
Green Bean High in fiber, iron, zinc, and potassium
(French Bean)
Gumbo Vitamin C, iron, calcium, potassium
Mango Excellent source of vitamin A and C, and potassium
Onion Vitamin C and potassium
Papaya Excellent source of vitamin C, high in vitamin A
Contains papain, an enzyme wish aids digestion
Peanut Excellent source of protein, fat, iron, and vitamin B
Pepper Excellent source of vitamin A, high in vitamin C
(green or red) Mostly useful for adding flavor
Pineapple High in vitamin C
Plantain High in vitamin A and C. Some iron
Pumpkin High in vitamin A and energy
Safu Excellent source of plant oils and protein. Aids in the absorption of
some vitamins, especially vitamin A
Sorrel Some vitamins, minerals, and fiber
Spinach Excellent source of vitamin A, high in many other vitamins and
nutrients, including vitamin B, C, K, iron, calcium, folate, and potassium
Sweet Potato Excellent source of vitamin A and C
Raw leaves are rich in iron, vitamin A and C, and energy
Tomato High in vitamin A and C and lycopene
Yam Good source of vitamin C
4-H Global Knowledge Center – Basic Vegetable Gardening – Lesson 2: Designing the Garden - detailed