The Well Planned Vegetable Garden

Good planning turns hard work into steady progress—and makes growing more rewarding

Productive gardens don't happen by accident. The Well-Planned Garden: A Grower's Guide shows how thoughtful organization, timing, and goal-setting can dramatically reduce effort while increasing yields—whether you're managing a home garden or a diversified market farm.

Based on The Market Gardener Method, this practical, highly illustrated guide brings clarity to the many moving parts of food production. From space planning and crop rotation to season-long scheduling, it helps growers align daily tasks with long-term goals, working in harmony with natural cycles rather than reacting to problems as they arise.

What this Book Offers

A clear framework for organizing gardens and small farms for efficiency
Practical guidance on crop planning, spacing, and rotation
Tools for aligning production with climate, seasons, and available labor
A perpetual garden calendar with monthly priorities and task summaries
Strategies for balancing productivity, profitability, and quality of life


Rather than overwhelming growers with rigid schedules, this guide encourages flexible planning that adapts to changing conditions while keeping the big picture in view.

Who this Book is For

Gardeners who want better results with less stress
Market growers managing multiple crops and timelines
Growers transitioning from reactive to intentional systems
Readers seeking structure without rigidity
Anyone aiming to grow more food with greater confidence


Jean-Martin Fortier has spent decades refining systems that help small-scale growers succeed economically while maintaining ecological integrity. His planning approach reflects real-world experience managing complex gardens efficiently.

The Well-Planned Garden is part of the Grower's Guides from the Market Gardener series—practical manuals designed to support growers with tools that build resilience, clarity, and long-term success.

If you want your garden to work for you, not against you, this guide provides a clear path forward.