When Brian Latimer isn’t fishing in tournaments, he’s fishing for fun. And, given that he spends so much time on the water, he winds up eating a lot of fish—which is why he’s picked up gardening. He says it’s a great way to add variety and taste to every meal, as well as a more “adult” way to spend your time in your backyard. Plus, he says that being able to simply step out into your backyard to pick whatever veggies you need for the meal of the day just can’t be beat. So, here’s how BLat goes about planning his vegetable garden layout to garden “with a purpose.”
Picking Your Plants
To get started, Brian recommends visiting your local garden center to check out their options. Local nurseries typically carry fruits, veggies, and plants that you can grow locally. (If in doubt, you can always check the back of the seed packet or container the starter plants are housed in for pertinent information about a particular species.)
When selecting your preferred plants, Brian cautions against overdoing it. From years of landscaping experience, he admits that it’s easy to get carried away by picking up 10 to 15 different plants to create a beautiful garden. Instead, he recommends just picking up a few—it doesn’t take too many to realize an incredible harvest.
Brian also says that if landscaping doesn’t have a purpose, it’s not worth it. He recommends grabbing some planting containers for variety because they “just work out better, sometimes.” They can be a great place for colorful annuals to give your patio a boost, not to mention provide a convenient space to grow your own food—giving you a real sense of purpose.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO:
Vegetable Companion Planting Guide with PDF Download
Some plants just grow better together. Watch this Backyard Smart video to discover the benefits—and “dos” and “don’ts”—of companion planting!
Vegetable Garden Layout Pointers
When planting your veggies, Brian suggests not always thinking about gardening in a literal sense (like a huge field that you have to plow). Instead, keep your vegetable garden layout small and simple by using containers to plant. Plus, everyone is really busy these days, so something small and simple is easier to manage—and helps you grow a larger harvest than you anticipated.
To achieve a larger harvest, some of Brian’s favorite veggies and herbs to plant together are broccoli and thyme. Thyme improves the flavor of the growing broccoli, helping ensure the best taste out of his meals. Likewise, he likes to plant chives and broccoli together, as chives deter pests from making a meal out of the growing broccoli with their fragrant smell.
