I wish I had spent more time planning my garden before I built those first two beds. I sketched something quick and jumped in. A year later, I had to spend a whole day relocating those beds to a better spot. It wasn’t the end of the world, but it was time and energy I could have spent on other projects. A lot of lost ime, effort, and money can be saved by planning your first backyard vegetable garden in advance.
Now I spend extra time creating my plans and going over them. During the winter my plants move all around the garden until I feel good about what I’ve got planned. It’s not a one time deal. Since winters here mean below freezing temperatures and snow, I spend a lot of time reading and watching videos on gardening. Sometimes I’ll find something that really intrigues me and I want to try out. So I revised my next season’s plan and tried to fit in the new concept.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Planner makes this easy to do. It’s simple, visual, and has features that make planning a backyard vegetable garden much easier than doing it all on paper.
Start with the Basics: Sun, Water, and Access
Before you open up any planner or sketch a design, pay attention to your yard.
- Sunlight: Most vegetables need at least 6–8 hours of direct sun per day. Watch how the light shifts through the day so you know which spots are best.
- Water: Make sure your garden is close to a hose or easy to water. Carrying buckets across the yard gets old fast.
- Access: Leave room for pathways. It’s no fun stepping over plants or compacting your soil just to harvest a tomato.
Taking a little time to visualize your garden and what you want will make this a fun and easy task. Great gardens don’t just support healthy plants. The plan should incorporate pathways and access to areas. A lot of times, crowded plants will compete with each other for sun and nutrients. Do yourself a favor and plan for adding extra space between beds and plantings.
Raised Beds, Rows, or Containers
Next, think about how you want to structure your garden.
- Raised beds keep things neat, improve drainage, and make it easier to control soil quality. (See my post on [Raised Bed & Container Gardening for Small Spaces] for more tips.)
- In-ground rows are great if you have space and decent soil.
- Containers let you garden almost anywhere, from patios to small backyards.
There’s no “one right way.” Choose what fits your budget, space, and goals. Mix and match works too. Don’t limit yourself to a single method. If you’re looking for cheap DIY options, check out my post How to Start a Backyard Vegetable Garden on a Budget.
Choosing Plants with a Garden Planner
Once you know where the garden will be built, start looking at what plants will thrive in those areas. If you’re new to gardening, start with easy-to-grow varieties that are forgiving and productive. I’ve put together a list of [10 Easy Vegetables Beginners Can Grow Successfully] that’s a great place to start.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Planner makes the process simple and visual. You can drag and drop plants into your layout, and it automatically sets spacing by variety. You can even add custom varieties if your favorite isn’t listed.
The planner saves your layouts from year to year, which makes crop rotation much easier. It also provides planting schedules, showing you when to start seedlings indoors, sow outdoors, and expect harvests. Plus, you can export plant lists and materials to create a ready-made shopping list.
Each plant variety includes companion planting information, so you can see which plants work well together as you design your layout. This makes it easier to fill your backyard garden with beneficial combinations and even mix in flowers that add beauty while supporting your vegetables. Two of my personal favorites are planting marigolds with nightshades to deter pests, and pairing tomatoes with basil since basil repels pests, improves tomato flavor, and thrives under the same growing conditions.
For beginners, it is a game changer. It takes the guesswork out of spacing, rotation, and companion planting. It is also fun to test out different layouts before you commit to digging in the soil.
Crop Rotation and Plant Families
One of the easiest mistakes to make is planting the same crop in the same spot year after year. For example, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants are all in the nightshade family. If you keep putting them in the same bed, pests and diseases already have a foot hold in that area. If you’ve had issues in the past, you most likely will have them again unless you move your plants around.
Good layout planning solves this. The Almanac planner tracks what you plant making it easy to plan next season. Over time, this simple step makes your garden healthier and more productive.
Companion Planting and Plant Spacing
Certain plants just do better together. Basil near tomatoes, carrots with onions, or beans climbing corn stalks — these partnerships can save space and improve harvests. For more ideas, check out my guide on Companion Planting Tips That Really Work — coming soon!
At the same time, overcrowding is a common beginner mistake. It’s tempting to squeeze in just “one more row,” but plants need room to breathe. The planner helps with spacing so you don’t end up with stunted plants fighting for nutrients.
It spaces the plants and tells you how many plants for each given area. This count makes it easy to know how many seed packets you need, how many seedlings to start, and exactly how much space you need when you plant or sow in your backyard garden.
Pro Tip: Companion planting can save space, improve harvests, and reduce the need for pesticides. Try marigolds with nightshades to deter pests or pair tomatoes with basil for better flavor and fewer bugs.
Succession Planting and Season Extension
Another thing to consider in your backyard vegetable garden layout is timing. Instead of planting all your lettuce at once, try sowing in waves every two to three weeks. That way you’ll have fresh greens all season instead of one big harvest that bolts in the heat. I will plant an early set of leafy greens in spring and then will plant another round for late summer. When the beds are empty, I’ll throw a cover crop in there to help regulate nutrients.
f you plan ahead, you can also make room for fall crops like carrots, broccoli, or spinach after your summer vegetables are done. Tools like the Almanac planner make it easy to see what will fit where, and when. For more strategies, see my guide on Succession Planting for Continuous Harvests — coming soon!
Wrapping It Up: A Plan Saves Time and Stress
Taking time to plan your garden layout pays off in so many ways. It helps you make the most of your space, avoid common mistakes, and set yourself up for a better harvest. You don’t have to use an online tool, but I’ll be honest: once I tried the Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Planner, I never wanted to go back to planning on paper.
Start small, plan ahead, and don’t be afraid to adjust as you go. The best garden layout is the one that works for your space, your budget, and your lifestyle. If you want to learn more check out my Backyard Gardening Basics: Getting Started guide.
