Couple of questions. Is this going to be a raised bed or just tilled up ground? If raised bed, what fill? 8x8 can be a difficult size to work/access without wasting space on paths. Could it be two 3' wide areas with at least a 3' path between and around in any way?

Next, where are you located so we know what climate and time frame you are working with? It is getting late in much of the country to be just starting. Is the ground already tilled and the soil amended?

As you can probably tell, getting the garden ready first and knowing the status of that part of the project is more important than plant placement right now.

Dave

PS: can you post any pictures of the area?

Ahh thanks. That makes the picture more clear. Just a suggestion to consider but one diagonal path from the gate corner to the back corner by the chair would you give you more growing room. How is your sun exposure going to be affected by the high fences on 2 sides? You'd want your sun lovers like the pepper and tomato plant out in this front corner of course but that may make it difficult to get enough sun to anything in that far back corner.

As to number of plants, I assume you understand this is a very small patch so if one used standard spacing requirements it would be nigh on to impossible to include all the things you list. One way to compensate is by using dwarf, bush, and container sized varieties of the plants. Most squash for example could easily use up 1/2 that bed. You can also crowd a little more in by using trellises attached to the 2 fenced in sides like for cukes and pole beans. And if you want more than 1 or 2 tomato plants then you will have to prune them severely - like to one stem - or they could take over all the bed. Most indeterminate varieties are easily 3-4' sq. if unpruned.

Just some thoughts to consider.

Dave

Which way is north and what time of day was the pic taken?

Well the OP said the 8 foot high fences are on the South and East sides of the garden with the chain link being on the North and West sides. So I assume in the OP's pic that we are looking Southeast. If so that wooden fence is going to cause considerable shading.

Rodney

<So I assume...> You may assume - I prefer not to.

I prefer to ask.

Digdirt2: I did not think of going diagonally with the path good idea. But it sounds like I'm not going to have any room either way which is very discouraging. Gumpy_ct: I went out with a compass and North is the corner post closest to you in the picture. Time of picture was around 1:45 pm.

My thoughts were to plant 2-3 Tomatoes against chain link by chair this will get the most sun. Pole beans along back 8' with chicken wire on it to vine up then cucumbers & lettuce against side 8'. Zucchini & Green onionswere if I could.

Like I said depends on the varieties you choose. How much gardening experience do you have? Using proper spacing can be vital for success for new gardeners. Old hands know some of the tricks that can let them sneak extra in.

Also keep in mind that if you have more yard room, especially out away from the tall fence where the sun exposure will be better, you can grow sun loving things in big containers too. Given the beds orientation and your location you will get good sun on the back corner only in the late morning to early afternoon IF the house or other structures or IF other plant don't shade it more.

In that front N corner you could fit 2 regular tomato plants with some pruning or 3 with heavy pruning. But that would be the max I think.

Dave

Anytime you plant close or near to a fence it is challenging. This plot will be even more challenging. I think all the guidelines most gardeners follow will be out the window for you in this spot.

Meaning you will have to become very unorthodox - like planting the tall or vining things at the back near one of the walls. Not sure if one gets more sun than the other.

IF you don't I doubt anything will get any sun once things start to grow.

You may also was to try things in pots or something you can move around easily to follow the sun.

Is there a reason you can't plant anywhere else?

The first year in any garden is a challenge. Keep a garden notebook to help the memory for next and following years.

Maybe plant the peas, beans, or whatever early harvesting plants in front to allow the long & late season crops to get sun once the others are pulled.

Are you worried about animals or dogs, is that why the fence? Maybe get creative with some kind of wooden trellis?

If you want to maximize the use of your space, I would use the square-foot gardening method; instructions are easily found on the Web. You can add additional yield to your space by growing cucumbers from containers hanging from your 8 foot fence. The containers should be at least 1 gallon and larger if possible. Use potting soil with added organic fertilizer and keep it well watered.

I am an avid SqFt gardener but will say that following the SqFt method (to the letter) in this space will not likely work so well for reasons stated above.

There are some types of tomatoes that are grown in not so sunny areas. I'm thinking of a San Francisco type patio tomato I have seen in a few places here in Sonoma Co, Ca.. We do get some very foggy areas, and these tend to do well in these foggy areas.

I'll look into these. Nancy