Help me plan my 1 bed garden layout based on my zone. 9a.

 Henderson, NV, is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild winters. Your garden bed, with 5–6 hours of morning sun and afternoon shade under a terraza, creates a microclimate ideal for plants that thrive in partial sun or need protection from intense afternoon heat. Below is a tailored plan for your 1-bed garden, incorporating companion planting to maximize yield, deter pests, and enhance soil health. I’ll also provide a planting calendar with seed starting, transplanting, and outdoor sowing dates based on Henderson’s climate and your garden’s conditions.

### Garden Layout and Companion Planting

**Assumptions**: A standard raised garden bed (4’ x 8’, 32 sq ft) is assumed, as you mentioned “1 bed.” If your bed size differs, let me know, and I can adjust the plan. The layout accounts for morning sun (5–6 hours) and afternoon shade, favoring crops that tolerate partial sun and benefit from shade during Henderson’s hot afternoons.

**Crop Selection**:

- **Tomatoes (cherry varieties like Sweet 100 or Roma)**: Heat-tolerant, smaller-fruited types perform well in Henderson’s climate. They need full sun but can tolerate partial shade with morning light.[](http://www.starnursery.com/star-notes/205-warm-weather-vegetable-garden)

- **Lettuce (leaf varieties like Black Seeded Simpson)**: Thrives in partial shade, ideal for afternoon shade to prevent bolting in heat. Can be succession planted year-round.[](http://www.starnursery.com/star-notes/205-warm-weather-vegetable-garden)

- **Cucumbers (Armenian, burpless)**: Heat-tolerant, can grow vertically on a trellis to save space. Morning sun is sufficient with shade protection.[](http://www.starnursery.com/star-notes/205-warm-weather-vegetable-garden)

- **Carrots**: Root crops do well in loose, well-drained soil and tolerate partial sun. Direct sow, as they dislike transplanting.[](https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/NC/Henderson)

- **Marigolds**: Companion flowers that deter pests like aphids and attract beneficial insects. Suitable for borders.[](https://www.almanac.com/planning-companion-planting-garden)

- **Basil**: Companions well with tomatoes, repels pests, and tolerates partial sun.[](https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/mar/05/garden-party-everything-you-need-to-know-to-grow-y/)

**Companion Planting Benefits**:

- **Tomatoes + Basil**: Basil repels tomato pests (e.g., hornworms) and enhances flavor.[](https://www.almanac.com/planning-companion-planting-garden)

- **Tomatoes + Marigolds**: Marigolds deter nematodes and aphids, protecting tomatoes.[](https://www.almanac.com/planning-companion-planting-garden)

- **Cucumbers + Lettuce**: Lettuce benefits from cucumber’s shade, and both tolerate partial sun.[](https://www.vegetablegardenguru.com/vegetable-garden-layout.html)

- **Carrots + Tomatoes**: Tomatoes provide light shade for carrots, and carrots loosen soil for tomato roots.[](https://www.vegetablegardenguru.com/vegetable-garden-layout.html)

**Layout Plan**:

- **North Side (tallest plants)**: Tomatoes (2 plants, staked or caged, 24” apart) and cucumbers (2 plants, trellised, 18” apart) to avoid shading shorter crops.[](https://www.vegetablegardenguru.com/vegetable-garden-layout.html)

- **Center**: Carrots (2 rows, 3” spacing between plants, 12” between rows) for efficient use of space.

- **South Side (low-growing)**: Lettuce (2 rows, 10” spacing) for easy harvesting and shade tolerance.

- **Borders**: Marigolds (8 plants, 8” spacing) along edges to deter pests.

- **Basil**: Interplanted near tomatoes (4 plants, 12” spacing).

**Visual Representation** (4’ x 8’ bed, top is north):

```

[North]

T C T C (T = Tomato, C = Cucumber, trellised/staked)

M B B M (M = Marigold, B = Basil)

   Carrot Row 1

   Carrot Row 2

L L L L (L = Lettuce)

L L L L

M M M M

[South]

```

**Notes**:

- **Spacing**: Follows seed packet recommendations (e.g., tomatoes 24”, lettuce 10”, carrots 3”).[](https://www.vegetablegardenguru.com/vegetable-garden-layout.html)

- **Trellising**: Use a trellis for cucumbers to save space and improve air circulation.[](http://www.starnursery.com/star-notes/205-warm-weather-vegetable-garden)

- **Soil**: Use a well-draining mix like Dr. Q’s Vegetable and Herb Planting Mix, amended with compost, as Henderson’s native soil is alkaline and rocky.[](https://thegardenmagazine.com/henderson-nv-usda-hardiness-zone-map-planting-guide/)[](http://www.starnursery.com/star-notes/205-warm-weather-vegetable-garden)

- **Watering**: Deep, infrequent watering (drip irrigation ideal) to suit Henderson’s arid climate. Avoid overhead watering for squash to prevent mildew.[](https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/mar/05/garden-party-everything-you-need-to-know-to-grow-y/)[](http://www.starnursery.com/star-notes/205-warm-weather-vegetable-garden)

- **Shade Cloth**: Consider 30–50% UV-blocking shade cloth during peak summer if plants show heat stress, though your terraza’s shade may suffice.[](http://www.starnursery.com/star-notes/205-warm-weather-vegetable-garden)

### Planting Calendar

Henderson’s frost-free season begins around February 16, with a last frost in early to mid-March and first frost in mid-November. The table below provides planting dates for your selected crops, adjusted for your garden’s partial sun and Henderson’s two planting seasons (spring and fall). Dates are based on Almanac data and local guides, with moon phase planting optional.[](https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/mar/05/garden-party-everything-you-need-to-know-to-grow-y/)[](http://www.starnursery.com/star-notes/205-warm-weather-vegetable-garden)[](https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/NV/Henderson)

# Planting Calendar for Henderson, NV (Zone 9a, Morning Sun, Afternoon Shade)

| Crop | Start Seeds Indoors | Transplant Outdoors | Start Seeds Outdoors | Last Date to Plant | Notes |

|-------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|--------------------|-------|

| **Tomatoes** | Jan 15–Feb 1 | Mar 1–Mar 15 | N/A | May 1 (spring), Aug 15 (fall) | Use transplants; cherry varieties best. Harden off 7–10 days. |[](https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/mar/05/garden-party-everything-you-need-to-know-to-grow-y/)[](https://www.almanac.com/tips-transplanting-seedlings)

| **Lettuce** | Jan 1–Feb 15, Jul 15–Aug 15 | Feb 15–Mar 15, Aug 15–Sep 15 | All year | Year-round | Succession plant every 2 weeks. Afternoon shade prevents bolting. |[](http://www.starnursery.com/star-notes/205-warm-weather-vegetable-garden)

| **Cucumbers**| Feb 1–Feb 15 | Mar 15–Apr 1 | Mar 15–Aug 1 | Aug 1 | Trellis for space. Armenian varieties heat-tolerant. |[](http://www.starnursery.com/star-notes/205-warm-weather-vegetable-garden)

| **Carrots** | N/A | N/A | Feb 1–Mar 15, Aug 1–Sep 15 | Sep 15 | Direct sow; dislikes transplanting. Loose soil critical. |[](https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/NC/Henderson)

| **Marigolds**| Feb 1–Feb 15 | Mar 15–Apr 1 | Mar 15–Apr 1 | Aug 1 | Easy from seed or transplants. Pest deterrent. |[](https://www.almanac.com/planning-companion-planting-garden)

| **Basil** | Feb 1–Feb 15 | Mar 15–Apr 1 | Mar 15–Apr 1 | Aug 1 | Plant near tomatoes. Pinch to encourage bushiness. |[](https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/mar/05/garden-party-everything-you-need-to-know-to-grow-y/)

## Notes:

- **Indoor Seed Starting**: Use heat mats and grow lights for 6–8 weeks before transplanting. Keep soil moist, thin seedlings as needed.[](https://www.homedepot.com/l/Henderson/NV/Henderson/89014/3302/garden-center)[](https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/KY/Henderson)

- **Hardening Off**: Gradually expose seedlings to outdoor conditions 7–10 days before transplanting (e.g., 2 hours in shade, increasing daily).[](https://www.homedepot.com/l/Henderson/NV/Henderson/89014/3302/garden-center)[](https://www.almanac.com/tips-transplanting-seedlings)

- **Transplanting**: Do on overcast mornings to reduce sun stress. Keep soil moist post-transplant.[](https://www.almanac.com/tips-transplanting-seedlings)

- **Outdoor Sowing**: Ensure soil is warm (e.g., >60°F for cucumbers, tomatoes).[](https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/NV/Henderson)

- **Moon Planting (Optional)**: Sow above-ground crops (tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, basil) during waxing moon; root crops (carrots) during waning moon.[](https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/NV/Henderson)

- **Fall Planting**: August–September sowing yields fall harvests (Oct–Dec).[](https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/mar/05/garden-party-everything-you-need-to-know-to-grow-y/)

- **Frost Protection**: Rare in Henderson, but use cloches or sheets if frost is forecast.[](https://www.almanac.com/tips-transplanting-seedlings)[](http://www.starnursery.com/star-notes/205-warm-weather-vegetable-garden)

### Additional Tips

- **Microclimate Considerations**: Your terraza’s shade mimics a cooler microclimate, so monitor for excessive moisture retention, which can cause root rot in arid climates. Ensure good drainage.[](https://thegardenmagazine.com/henderson-nv-usda-hardiness-zone-map-planting-guide/)

- **Pest Management**: Marigolds and basil reduce aphids and hornworms. Inspect cucumbers for spider mites, common in Henderson’s heat.[](https://www.almanac.com/planning-companion-planting-garden)[](http://www.starnursery.com/star-notes/205-warm-weather-vegetable-garden)

- **Local Resources**: Visit Star Nursery or Moon Valley Nurseries in Henderson for heat-tolerant seeds, transplants, and soil amendments.[](https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=gardening&find_loc=Henderson%2C%2BNV)[](https://www.starnursery.com/)

- **Community Advice**: Connect with local gardeners via Dave’s Garden or Yelp reviews for Henderson-specific tips.[](https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/zipbyzip.php?zip=89015)[](https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=gardeners&amp%3Bfind_loc=Henderson%2C%2BNV)

This plan leverages your garden’s unique light conditions and Zone 9a climate, with companion planting to optimize space and health. If you’d like a diagram of the layout, adjustments for a different bed size, or specific cultivar recommendations, let me know!