Choosing plants for your refrigerator garden

What vegetables do you want to eat?

What are the growing conditions for your refrigerator garden bed? (sun and wind)

Most vegetables need at least 6 hours of sunshine daily. You want to position your refrigerator garden bed to avoid anything that could cast shadows on it, such as buildings and trees. Your refrigerator garden needs good air circulation, but shouldn't be an extremely windy area; for example, you do not want to place your refrigerator garden directly beside a fence or wall, which will block the airflow of the plants.

Learn about the sun/shade and water needs of the vegetables you want to grow. Consider if they are perennials or annuals and how many days to harvest.

Use a companion planting guide to choose a layout for your refrigerator garden bed. You can find helpful books like "Carrots Love Tomatoes" and "Raised-Bed Gardening for Beginners" at your local library. 

There are also helpful garden planners online that can be combined with the books. 

Planting

Start your plants by seed or purchase small seedlings from a local garden center or nursery. You can also use EBT to purchase seedlings and seeds from participating stores. For seeds, you will need to learn about each plant's sprouting process. 

Seedlings are seeds that have sprouted, essentially young plants. Typically seedlings are started 6 to 8 weeks before you're ready to plant them outdoors. Some plants do not like to be transplanted, and therefore, are best planted directly. A few examples of seeds that should be directly sown into the garden are carrots, corn, peas, beans, and radishes. Check your seed packet for planting directions. 

Start your own seedlings in biodegradable peat pots or recycled egg cartons. To plant seedlings, use a trowel to make a small hole that will fit your seedling. Gently place your seedling in the hole, and cover with a small amount of additional soil, making sure not to get any on the leaves.

When it comes to spacing your plants, each plant is a little different. Some, like radishes, don't mind being close together, while tomatoes and peppers each need a little space to branch out. Kale gets tall and can create shade. There are lots of things to consider, but with some research, you can maximize the food production of your refrigerator garden. 

Don't forget to water all your seeds and seedlings. Do a deep, gentle watering, and let the water soak down to reach the roots of your seedlings. Avoid getting water on the leaves.

What to replant

The goal for your refrigerator garden bed is continuous harvesting, which means you need to replant after you harvest the last of a plant. Plants that grow quickly, like radishes, can be planted every few days, and then again as you start to harvest. Other fast-growing plants include: some baby greens and lettuces, beets, and arugula. Because your garden is planted with a combination of annuals and perennials and you replant, you will be harvesting year round. You should learn about what grows during which seasons; some things love the summer weather, while others prefer winter weather.

What to do before replanting

Before replanting, you should do any necessary soil repair. Refer to the Composting and Fertilizing pages on how to care for your soil before replanting.