Vegetable Garden Layout
Our vegetable garden at Z & Z Wodoe Enterprise LLC showcases practical, high-yield methods suited to the Cavalla River (Nuwon) floodplain. Using raised rows and crop rotation, we strengthen food security, create jobs, and build a reliable pipeline for fresh and organic produce.
Objectives
- Maximize production on fertile bottomland with simple, scalable practices.
- Adopt a four-block rotation for soil health and pest reduction.
- Introduce water-efficient irrigation with future readiness for drip systems.
- Standardize harvesting and post-harvest handling for quality and export readiness.
Site Overview
The garden is organized into parallel raised rows, as shown in our field photo. Beds are grouped in four rotation blocks to balance nutrients and interrupt pest cycles. Pathways allow easy access for weeding, irrigation, and harvest collection.
Bed Layout & Rotation
Each bed is approximately 1.2 m wide with 0.4 m paths. A typical production unit contains 12 beds arranged in four rotation blocks (A–D).
| Bed # | Block | Size (m) | Season 1 Crop | Season 2 Crop | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A (Fruiting) | 20 × 1.2 | Tomato | Leafy greens (Amaranth) | Stake & mulch |
| 2 | A (Fruiting) | 20 × 1.2 | Sweet Pepper/Chili | Cabbage | Neem spray IPM |
| 3 | A (Fruiting) | 20 × 1.2 | Eggplant (Bitterball) | Lettuce | Interplant basil |
| 4 | B (Leafy) | 20 × 1.2 | Cabbage | Carrot | Netting vs. moths |
| 5 | B (Leafy) | 20 × 1.2 | Kale/Collards | Onion | Regular side-dress |
| 6 | B (Leafy) | 20 × 1.2 | Amaranth | Beetroot | Harvest weekly |
| 7 | C (Root) | 20 × 1.2 | Onion | Cowpea | Keep weed-free |
| 8 | C (Root) | 20 × 1.2 | Carrot | Groundnut | Light, fine tilth |
| 9 | C (Root) | 20 × 1.2 | Beetroot | Cowpea | Thin to spacing |
| 10 | D (Legume) | 20 × 1.2 | Cowpea | Tomato | Fixes nitrogen |
| 11 | D (Legume) | 20 × 1.2 | Groundnut | Pepper | Mulch heavily |
| 12 | D (Legume) | 20 × 1.2 | Yard-long Bean | Eggplant | Trellis support |
Rotation key: A Fruiting (tomato, pepper, eggplant, cucumber) → B Leafy (cabbage, kale, amaranth) → C Root (onion, carrot, beet) → D Legume (cowpea, groundnut) → back to A. This 4-block rotation improves soil structure and reduces disease pressure.
Irrigation & Water Management
- Current: Furrow/row irrigation along raised beds for even moisture (as shown in the field image).
- Upgrade Path: Low-pressure drip lines fed from river or storage tank with simple filtration to reduce labor and water use.
- Water Harvesting: Storage drums and berms to capture wet-season surplus for dry-season production.
Soil Health & Fertility
- Incorporate compost/green manure after each harvest; keep beds covered with organic mulch.
- Side-dress heavy feeders (tomato, cabbage) with well-decomposed manure.
- Test soil annually; adjust pH and nutrients as needed.
Companion Planting & IPM
- Basil and marigold near tomatoes; onion borders around brassicas.
- Use neem, soap solution, and pheromone traps before resorting to chemicals.
- Rotate crops and remove plant residues to break pest cycles.
Planting Calendar (Liberia)
Rainy season: May–October. Dry season: November–April. Adjust by local onset of rains.
| Month | Key Tasks |
|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | Dry-season irrigation; transplant tomatoes/peppers; sow amaranth and onions. |
| Mar–Apr | Prepare beds; apply compost; sow cowpea/groundnut; set trellises. |
| May–Jun | Rainy season starts; plant cabbage/kale; direct-seed carrot/beet. |
| Jul–Aug | Weed, mulch, and stake; stagger plantings for continuous harvest. |
| Sep–Oct | Harvest leafy and root crops; start nursery for dry-season tomatoes. |
| Nov–Dec | Transition to dry-season; install drip lines/tanks; plant second tomato/pepper cycle. |
Harvest & Post-Harvest
- Harvest at cool hours; use clean crates; avoid sun exposure.
- Grade by size/quality; pre-cool leafy greens; store in shade.
- Record yields per bed to refine rotations and input use.
Partner With Us
Support irrigation, inputs, and training that turn fertile bottomlands into year-round organic production.