This is just a random prompt I put into the website to see how detailed of a layout it would give me for a square foot
raised bed garden.
I'm not saying it did a good job, but it did a better job than I could have.
I think breaking each bed down into it's own series of questions would be even better.
This is the website for the a.i.
https://chat.openai.com/chat
Here is what I typed into the a.i.
"Design a square foot vegetable and flower garden for me in zone 8a. Tell me what plants to start indoors and when to plant them outdoors. I'd like it to be 100% organic. I'd like to plant flowers and herbs that are beneficial to the nearby vegetables. I'd like to have a few cherry tomato plants, a couple of medium sized tomato plants, I'd like to have at least fifty pepper plants of several different varieties, I'd like to have several leafy greens to
feed myself and also my
chickens and
rabbits. I have seven raised beds that are 8 feet long by 4 feet wide. Please provide me a detailed plan as to how to plant out each garden bed."
Here's what it spit out in about a minute.
"Great! It's exciting to design a vegetable and flower garden for you in zone 8a.
Before we start, here are some general tips for organic
gardening:
Start with high-quality soil that is rich in organic matter.
Use compost and organic fertilizers to nourish your plants.
Rotate crops to prevent soil-borne diseases.
Use natural pest control methods such as companion planting and handpicking pests.
Mulch your garden to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
For your 7 raised beds, we will divide them up according to the plants you wish to grow. We will start by designing a layout plan.
Layout Plan:
Bed 1: Herbs and flowers
Bed 2: Cherry tomatoes and lettuce
Bed 3: Peppers and spinach
Bed 4: Medium sized tomatoes and herbs
Bed 5: Peppers and kale
Bed 6: Leafy greens and onions
Bed 7: Peppers and herbs
Now, let's dive into the details of each bed.
Bed 1: Herbs and Flowers
In this bed, we will plant herbs and flowers that are beneficial to the nearby vegetables. Some good options for this bed include:
Basil
Chives
Dill
Marigolds
Nasturtiums
Oregano
Thyme
Start indoors: None
Plant outdoors: Early spring, once the soil has warmed up and there is no danger of frost.
Bed 2: Cherry Tomatoes and Lettuce
Cherry tomatoes are great for snacking, and lettuce is a good companion plant because it helps to shade the soil and keep it cool. In this bed, we will plant:
Cherry tomatoes (2-3 plants)
Leaf lettuce
Start indoors: Cherry tomatoes - 6-8 weeks before last frost date.
Plant outdoors: Late spring, once the danger of frost has passed.
Bed 3: Peppers and Spinach
Peppers come in many varieties, and they are great for adding a little heat to your meals. Spinach is a cool-season crop that will thrive in the early spring and fall. In this bed, we will plant:
10-12 pepper plants of different varieties
Spinach
Start indoors: Peppers - 8-10 weeks before last frost date.
Plant outdoors: Late spring, once the danger of frost has passed.
Bed 4: Medium Sized Tomatoes and Herbs
In this bed, we will plant medium-sized tomato plants and some herbs that will help to repel pests and attract beneficial insects. Some good options for this bed include:
Medium-sized tomato plants (2-3 plants)
Cilantro
Rosemary
Sage
Start indoors: Medium-sized tomato plants - 6-8 weeks before last frost date.
Plant outdoors: Late spring, once the danger of frost has passed.
Bed 5: Peppers and Kale
Kale is a hardy vegetable that can withstand some frost, and it is packed with nutrients. In this bed, we will plant:
10-12 pepper plants of different varieties
Kale
Start indoors: Peppers - 8-10 weeks before last frost date.
Plant outdoors: Late spring, once the danger of frost has passed.
Bed 6: Leafy Greens and Onions
In this bed, we will plant leafy greens that can be fed to your
chickens and rabbits, as well as some onions that will help to repel pests. Some good options for this bed include:
Arugula
Bok choy
Green onions
Lettuce
Mustard greens
Swiss chard
Start indoors: None
Plant outdoors"
So then I asked it for more specific details.
"Could you give detailed spacing for each bed, and plant varieties that would do well in my zone?"
and here is its
answer.
"Bed 1: Herbs and Flowers
Basil: 9-12 inches apart
Chives: 6-8 inches apart
Dill: 6-12 inches apart
Marigolds: 6-8 inches apart
Nasturtiums: 8-10 inches apart
Oregano: 12-18 inches apart
Thyme: 12-18 inches apart
Plant Varieties:
Basil: Genovese, Thai, Lemon, or Purple
Chives: Common or Garlic
Dill: Bouquet, Mammoth, or Fernleaf
Marigolds: French or African
Nasturtiums: Alaska, Empress of India, or Whirlybird
Oregano: Greek or Italian
Thyme: Common, English, or Lemon
Bed 2: Cherry Tomatoes and Lettuce
Cherry tomatoes: 24-36 inches apart
Lettuce: 8-12 inches apart
Plant Varieties:
Cherry tomatoes: Sweet Million, Sungold, or Super Sweet 100
Lettuce: Red Sails, Buttercrunch, or Black Seeded Simpson
Bed 3: Peppers and Spinach
Peppers: 18-24 inches apart
Spinach: 3-4 inches apart
Plant Varieties:
Peppers: Jalapeno, Bell, Cayenne, or Banana
Spinach: Bloomsdale, Space, or Tyee
Bed 4: Medium Sized Tomatoes and Herbs
Medium-sized tomato plants: 24-36 inches apart
Cilantro: 6-8 inches apart
Rosemary: 24-36 inches apart
Sage: 18-24 inches apart
Plant Varieties:
Medium-sized tomato plants: Celebrity, Early Girl, or Roma
Cilantro: Santo or Slow Bolt
Rosemary: Arp, Tuscan Blue, or Salem
Sage: Common or Berggarten
Bed 5: Peppers and Kale
Peppers: 18-24 inches apart
Kale: 12-18 inches apart
Plant Varieties:
Peppers: Anaheim, Poblano, or Serrano
Kale: Red Russian, Lacinato, or Winterbor
Bed 6: Leafy Greens and Onions
Arugula: 4-6 inches apart
Bok choy: 8-10 inches apart
Green onions: 2-4 inches apart
Lettuce: 8-12 inches apart
Mustard greens: 6-12 inches apart
Swiss chard: 8-12 inches apart
Plant Varieties:
Arugula: Astro or Wild
Bok choy: Toy Choi or Prize Choi
Green onions: White Lisbon or Red Baron
Lettuce: Red Sails, Buttercrunch, or Black Seeded Simpson
Mustard greens: Southern Giant or Green Wave
Swiss chard: Bright
Lights or Fordhook Giant
Bed 7: Peppers and Herbs
Peppers: 18-24 inches apart
Herbs: 12-18 inches apart
Plant Varieties:
Peppers: Habanero, Thai Hot, or Fresno
Herbs: Parsley, Cilantro, or Chives
I hope this detailed plan helps you create a successful organic vegetable and flower garden in zone 8a!"