--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I recommend, especially at the beginning…" description: "\"“I recommend, especially at the beginning, that you plant only what you want to eat. Occasionally try something new, of course, but especially at first..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/mel-bartholomew-27001_gardening_i-recommend-especially-at-the-beginning_249100.jpg" --- # I recommend, especially at the beginning, that you plant… ![“I recommend, especially at the beginning, that you plant only what you want to eat. Occasionally try something new, of course, but especially at first only grow those vegetables and herbs that you normally eat. Remember, plant each adjoining square foot with a different crop. Why? Here are several…” quote by Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/mel-bartholomew-27001_gardening_i-recommend-especially-at-the-beginning_249100.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/mel-bartholomew-27001_gardening_i-recommend-especially-at-the-beginning_249100.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/mel-bartholomew-27001_gardening_i-recommend-especially-at-the-beginning_249100.jpg) > ““I recommend, especially at the beginning, that you plant only what you want to eat. Occasionally try something new, of course, but especially at first only grow those vegetables and herbs that you normally eat. Remember, plant each adjoining square foot with a different crop. Why? Here are several reasons: 1. It prevents you from overplanting any one particular item. 2. It allows you to stagger your harvest by planting one square foot this week and another of the same crop in two weeks or so. 3. It promotes conservation, companion planting, crop rotation, and allows better plant hygiene and reduced pest problems. 4. It automatically helps to improve your growing soil three times a year in very easy, small steps. Remember the saying, “Square by square, you’ll soon be there.” 5. Besides all of the above, it looks pretty.”” [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Planting diverse crops in small plots prevents over‑planting, improves soil, and reduces pests. **In simple terms:** Grow varied crops in small spaces. Key Takeaway Use diverse, small‑scale planting. Themes sustainability gardening diversity Mood practical encouraging Type instructional motivational When to use this quote - Urban balconies - community gardens - home vegetable beds Key Concepts Companion planting soil health crop rotation Questions to Reflect On - What crops work best together? - How can you adapt this in limited space? A Different Perspective Requires careful planning of space. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Gardening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gardening/) [Small steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-steps/) ## Related quotes > [Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built an ark. Professionals built the Titanic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-afraid-to-try-something-new-remember-amateurs-built-an-ark/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I try to go with the flow, and I feel pretty comfortable with who I am. I feel courageous enough to go outside myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/i-try-to-go-with-the-flow-and-i-feel-pretty-comfortable-with-who-i-am/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [Always try something new with your partner to enhance a healthier relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-nwakama/always-try-something-new-with-your-partner-to-enhance-a-healthier/) [Anne Nwakama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-nwakama/) > [Try something new each day. After all, we're given life to find it out. It doesn't last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-gordon/try-something-new-each-day-after-all-we-re-given-life-to-find-it-out/) [Ruth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-gordon/) > [Misfortunes happen, but don't use it as an excuse to not try something new, or to wither in the face of a failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-rai/misfortunes-happen-but-don-t-use-it-as-an-excuse-to-not-try-something/) [Suman Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-rai/) > [Don't be afraid to try something new. We all make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-afraid-to-try-something-new-we-all-make-mistakes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Rather than fight the same tired battles that have dominated Washington for decades, it's time to try something new. Let's invest in our people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/rather-than-fight-the-same-tired-battles-that-have-dominated/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What happened with reggaeton is that many artists kept recycling the same sound. But there are a lot of reggaeton artists that are still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romeo-santos/what-happened-with-reggaeton-is-that-many-artists-kept-recycling-the/) [Romeo Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romeo-santos/) > [“The sentiment behind the golden rule is great (treating others the way we wish to be treated ourselves). But nowadays we don’t even treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timber-hawkeye/the-sentiment-behind-the-golden-rule-is-great-treating-others-the-way/) [Timber Hawkeye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timber-hawkeye/) > [The most important lesson is to never get comfortable; always come up with new ideas; learn something new; try something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmella/the-most-important-lesson-is-to-never-get-comfortable-always-come-up/) [Carmella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmella/) > [Go live. Go explore. Try something new!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/go-live-go-explore-try-something-new/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [When you're playing the same character for a decade it's natural that there are moments when you want to try something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/when-you-re-playing-the-same-character-for-a-decade-it-s-natural-that/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [“Learning new things and having varied experiences are what matter, whether or not we succeed or fail at these. Having the courage to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parul-sheth/learning-new-things-and-having-varied-experiences-are-what-matter/) [Parul Sheth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parul-sheth/) > [Most musicians make the same record every time, and that's fine. But the people I respected when I was growing up, like Jeff Beck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-moore/most-musicians-make-the-same-record-every-time-and-that-s-fine-but/) [Gary Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-moore/) > [I decided to leave England because I wanted to try something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mooy/i-decided-to-leave-england-because-i-wanted-to-try-something-new/) [Aaron Mooy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mooy/) ## More by Mel Bartholomew > [“After many experiments, I found that three of my favorite ingredients made the perfect mix when combined in equal portions: 1/3 Peat Moss—Available at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/after-many-experiments-i-found-that-three-of-my-favorite-ingredients/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Installing a Vertical Frame MATERIALS To construct a vertical frame, you need: two 5-foot electrical conduit pipes (1/2-inch diameter); one 4-foot conduit pipe (1/2-inch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/installing-a-vertical-frame-materials-to-construct-a-vertical-frame/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Keep in mind that we harvest many of the crops continuously, if possible. For example, a leaf lettuce is not allowed to wait until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/keep-in-mind-that-we-harvest-many-of-the-crops-continuously-if/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Attaching Vertical Frame Netting To attach the trellis netting to your frame, first hook the netting on the two corners. Next, cut the netting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/attaching-vertical-frame-netting-to-attach-the-trellis-netting-to/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“The second inexpensive material is wood lath, which is sold in home improvement centers. Believe it or not, they already come 4 feet long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/the-second-inexpensive-material-is-wood-lath-which-is-sold-in-home/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Did no one ever think, “Let’s just plant a few seeds every 3, 4, or 6 inches?” I guess it took someone outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/did-no-one-ever-think-let-s-just-plant-a-few-seeds-every-3-4-or-6/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Through the years I experimented with all different types of materials and frames. Finally, I settled upon one that was so simple, easy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/through-the-years-i-experimented-with-all-different-types-of/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large Think of these plants as if they were shirt sizes. Shirts come in all four sizes: small, medium, large,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/small-medium-large-extra-large-think-of-these-plants-as-if-they-were/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“TEN MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ORIGINAL SQUARE FOOT GARDEN METHOD 1. Location—Close to the House 2. Direction—Up, Not Down 3. Soil—Mel’s Mix 4. Box…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/ten-major-improvements-to-the-original-square-foot-garden-method-1/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“So, let’s review how to figure volume. Volume is merely: area × depth = cubic feet. In other words, square feet (the area) times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/so-let-s-review-how-to-figure-volume-volume-is-merely-area-depth/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Now that the vertical frame has been constructed, it is time to add something for the plants to grow on. I used to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/now-that-the-vertical-frame-has-been-constructed-it-is-time-to-add/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“So, in summary, if plants should be thinned to 12 inches apart, plant one per square foot. If plants should be thinned to 6…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/so-in-summary-if-plants-should-be-thinned-to-12-inches-apart-plant/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“To make the vertical frame extra strong for watermelons, squash, and pumpkins, drive a steel fence post into the ground first instead of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/to-make-the-vertical-frame-extra-strong-for-watermelons-squash-and/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Through the years I experimented with all different types of materials and frames. Finally, I settled upon one that was so simple, easy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/through-the-years-i-experimented-with-all-different-types-of-2/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Get a large tarp, at least 16 × 16-feet, and open it near your garden where you have all your boxes built and located.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/get-a-large-tarp-at-least-16-16-feet-and-open-it-near-your-garden/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) [Explore all 21 Mel Bartholomew quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) ## More Flower quotes > [“It is not the force of the wind, but the depth of the roots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-is-not-the-force-of-the-wind-but-the-depth-of-the-roots/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Most girls get flowers or candy. I get a declaration of martial law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-shearin/most-girls-get-flowers-or-candy-i-get-a-declaration-of-martial-law/) [Lisa Shearin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-shearin/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [Sometimes, sometimes it is really difficult to turn and walk away from someone you have loved and cherished for so long. You know deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kreger/sometimes-sometimes-it-is-really-difficult-to-turn-and-walk-away-from/) [David Kreger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kreger/) > [This, at last, was where things were as they ought to be. Everything was in its place -- the tree, the earth underneath, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-liedloff/this-at-last-was-where-things-were-as-they-ought-to-be-everything-was/) [Jean Liedloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-liedloff/) > [A garden has a curious innocent way of consuming cash while all the time you are under the illusion that you are spending nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-meynell/a-garden-has-a-curious-innocent-way-of-consuming-cash-while-all-the/) [Esther Meynell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-meynell/) > [My days – the blossom of my youth and the flower of my manhood – have been darkened by the dreariness of servitude. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-o-connell/my-days-the-blossom-of-my-youth-and-the-flower-of-my-manhood-have/) [Daniel O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-o-connell/) > [My life is a crystal teardrop. There are snowflakes falling in the teardrop and little figures trudging in slow motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/my-life-is-a-crystal-teardrop-there-are-snowflakes-falling-in-the/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [“But any picture could deal with the problem of light. 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Thinking about this gigantic tree that you think is so beautiful but it started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/sometimes-it-s-about-less-is-more-it-s-about-the-seed-thinking-about/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) [Browse all 12,347 Flower quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I recommend, especially at the beginning, that you plant only what you want to eat. Occasionally try something new, of course, but especially at first only grow those vegetables and herbs that you normally eat. 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