Summer crop template

4x8 Tomato and Basil Bed Plan

This template keeps tomatoes supported and gives basil/marigolds harvest and airflow space near the edges.

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Bed size
8 x 4
Plants
10
Space range
15-52 sq ft

Plan setup

What this template assumes

The planner link stores the template locally in your browser so you can change quantities, drag plants, export a bed PDF, or clear it.

Bed footprint 32 sq ft

1 bed at 8 x 4 ft.

Site Zone 7B

Full sun, loam soil, medium water.

Estimated output 16-35 lb

Based on sourced yield rows where available; herbs and flowers may not have pound output.

Data coverage 4/4 spacing rows

4/4 plants have output ranges; 2 need extra risk review.

Plant list

Plants in this layout

Quantities are starting points. Use the Garden Planner to adjust spacing, layout, and risk checks.

Slicing tomato

Cherokee Purple tomato

Annual vegetable / zones 3a-11a

Qty
1
Spacing
2-3 ft in-row x 2-4 ft rows
Yield
8-20 lb/plant/season
Risk
Occasionally damaged / Juglone-sensitive
Cherry tomato

Sungold cherry tomato

Annual vegetable / zones 3a-11a

Qty
1
Spacing
2-3 ft in-row x 2-4 ft rows
Yield
8-15 lb/plant/season
Risk
Frequently damaged / Juglone-sensitive
Harvest edge

Genovese basil

Annual herb / zones 4a-11a

Qty
4
Spacing
0.8-1.5 ft in-row x 1-2 ft rows
Yield
-
Risk
Seldom damaged / Not rated
Flowering edge

Durango marigold

Annual flower / zones 3a-11a

Qty
4
Spacing
1-2 ft apart
Yield
-
Risk
Seldom damaged / Mixed or uncertain

Source trail

References behind this template

These are the common source families behind the plants in this layout. Individual plant pages keep their own source links and caveats.

11 template records NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox Reference basis for ornamental plant size, function, and right-plant-right-place screening. 8 template records Rutgers NJAES - Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance Deer browsing categories used as planning cues; no plant is deer proof under heavy pressure. 6 template records Penn State Extension - Landscaping and Gardening Around Walnuts and Other Juglone Producing Plants Black walnut and juglone sensitivity/tolerance cue for garden placement screening. 4 template records Illinois Extension - Growing Vegetables in Containers Container vegetable guidance for matching container size, rooting depth, and plant density. 4 template records University of Maryland Extension - Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables Container volume guidance, including large vegetables and 25-30 gallon dwarf fruit tree containers.

Useful supplies

Setup items for this plan

Product links may earn a commission and do not affect plant rankings.

Support / Install at planting

Cage, stake, or spiral support

Support upright fruiting vegetables and tall flowering annuals before stems get heavy.

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Support / As needed

Soft plant ties or clips

Fasten stems to stakes, cages, trellises, or young-tree supports without girdling growth.

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Watering / Install at planting

Drip irrigation kit

Deliver steady root-zone moisture with less leaf wetness and less water loss.

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Nutrition / During growth

Balanced garden fertilizer

Feed annual vegetables, herbs, flowers, and hungry container crops according to soil or label guidance.

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Planning / Planting day

Plant labels

Track cultivar, planting date, and variety when comparing harvests or pollination partners.

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Next step

Make it fit your yard

Templates are useful shortcuts, but ZIP, frost window, deer pressure, black walnut, and sun exposure still matter.

4x8 raised bed cropsCompare compact crops that make sense in a 32 sq ft bed. Zone 7 vegetablesBrowse Zone 7 kitchen crops with timing and spacing data. Deer-resistant plantsStart with plants that have better deer browsing cues.