It’s not quite spring “planting time,” but now is “spring planning” time.

You have a tiny backyard but would love a fresh tomato that you’ve grown yourself.

You can have that home-grown flavor even if you have a small space by readjusting your thinking.

When you read the seed packet, it will tell you to plant in long rows, two to three feet apart, depending on what vegetable you are growing.

This information is for gardeners who have lots of room.

The only tools you need for a small garden space are a shovel or spade, a rake, and a hand trowel.

Preparing the area is the hardest part.

Choose an area that receives six to eight hours of sunlight each day.

With the spade or shovel, remove any grass and weeds growing in the area.

Make sure to get the roots or they will come back.

Next, dig the soil and turn it over.

You will need to get down 10 to 12 inches.

This encourages roots to grow deep and makes for healthier plants.

Then add a three- to four-inch layer of organic matter such as compost, well-aged manure or peat moss.

The peat moss won’t add nutrients but will help to hold moisture and prevent heavy clay soils from compacting.

Now add fertilizer.

There are organic and chemical fertilizers. Decide which type is best for you.

Read the directions on the bag to know how much you need to add to your garden.

Better yet, have your soil tested. The result will tell you exactly how to amend the soil.

Next, mix the organic material and fertilizer into the soil.

Smooth out the area with a rake or shovel.

You are ready to plant.

This is where you readjust your thinking.

A pack of carrot seeds has 1,500 seeds.

You don’t want 1,500 carrots, you only want 16 plants.

Plant only 16 seeds but don’t plant them in a row.

Section off your garden into 12-inch by 12-inch blocks.

Spread your index and middle fingers from each hand and poke four rows and plant the carrot seeds in the four holes within the square foot block.

This prevents having to thin out seedlings.

If a seed doesn’t germinate, replant a new seed.

Using this method of planting in a three-foot-by-three-foot garden you could have one staked tomato plant, one pepper plant, 16 carrots, 16 radishes, 16 onions, four lettuce plants, one eggplant, and one broccoli plant.

Adapt this strategy to fit your needs, remembering you are working with one-foot squares.

Vertical gardening is a must with this method.

Tomatoes need space to grow.

Instead of letting them sprawl on the ground, stake them.

A tomato uses a one-foot by two-foot space by growing it vertically.

Vining cucumbers and squash can be grown vertically on a trellis or use the bush varieties of cucumbers and squash.

You still only use a one-foot by one-foot space for each plant.

By using square foot gardening, you can plant succession crops much easier.

When one crop is finished, plant another in its space.

There will be less weeding because the plants are close together and shade the ground.

This also helps keep weeds smothered and prevent weed seeds from germinating.

Every time you plant a succession crop, add something back to the soil.

Compost or rotted manure is best, but a little fertilizer will also help; the crop that was grown before has depleted some nutrients from the soil.

Keep a journal. Record when you plant, how well it does, what space you used for each crop, and always rotate your crop.

“Growing Green” is contributed by Diane Dorn, Lehigh County Extension Office Staff, and Master Gardeners. Information: Lehigh County Extension Office, 610-391-9840; Northampton County Extension Office, 610-813-6613