How to Grow More Vegetables ( PDFDrive )

Flower Spacing Chart

Spacingsvary for flowersdepending on the variety and how the flowersare used. The
following will help you start out with the most common flowers.

ANNUALS—REPLANT EACHYEARINSPRINGFROM SEED

Height Inches
Apart*

African daisy 4-6" 12

Aster 1-3’ 10-12

Calendula*** 1½–2’ 12

California poppy*** 9–12" 12

Columbine 2-3’ 12

Cosmos*** 2-3’ 12–18

Echinacea 1’ 18–24

Flowering tobacco 2–3’ 18–24

Hollyhock*** 4–6’ 12

Marigold, African 2–4’ 12-24

Marigold, French 6–18’ 8–12

Nasturtium, climbing*** Trailing 10

Nasturtium, dwarf*** 1’ 8

Pansy 6-9’ 8-10

Petunia 12–16’ 12

Phlox (Phlox drummondii)** 6–18’ 9

Portulaca 6’ 6–9

Scarlet sage (Salvia splendens)** 1–1½’ 12

Schizanthus 1½–2’ 12–18

Shirley poppy 1½–2’ 12–18

Snapdragons 1½–3’ 12

Stocks 1–2½’ 12

Strawflower 2–3’ 12–18

Sweet peas Climbing 12

Zinnia 1-3’ 12–18

PERENNIALS—NEEDAPERMANENT SPACEINTHEGARDEN

Height Inches
Apart*

Alyssum (Lobularia maritime)** 4–6" 10–12

Aubrieta Trailing 12–15

Baby’s breath 3–4’ 14–16

Bachelor’s button 2’ 12

Carnation 1’ 12

Chrysanthemum 2–3’ 18–24

Coral bells (Heuchera sanguinea)** 2’ 12

Coreopsis 2’ 9–18

Delphinium 1–5’ 24

Foxglove 3’ 12

Gaillardia 2–3’ 12

Gazania 6–12’ 10

Iceland poppy 1’ 12

Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium caeruleum)** 6"–3’ 12–15

Marguerite 2½–3" 18–24

Oriental poppy 2½–3" 12–14
12
Painted daisy 3’
14–16
Peony 2’ 12
12
Pinks (Dianthus)** 1’
10–12
Scabiosa 2’ 12
12
Sea pink (Armeria)** 4–6"

Shasta daisy 2½–3’

Sweet William 1–2’

Note: Most flowers have long-germinating seeds (8 to
21 days).
* Spacings for standard-sized plants. For smaller
varieties, reduce the spacings in proportion to the
reduced plant size.
** Botanical Latin names prevent possible confusion.
*** Reseed themselves easily by dropping many
seeds on the ground.

Herb Spacing Chart

ANNUALS—PLANT SEEDINSPRINGFORLATESUMMERHARVEST

Height Inches Apart*

Anise 2’ 8

Basil, sweet 1–2’ 6

Borage 1–1½’ 15

Caraway 2½’ 6

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) 2½’ 6–10

Chervil 1–1½’ 4

Cilantro 1-1½’ 5

Coriander 1–1½’ 6

Cumin 1’ 18

Dill 2½’ 8

Fennel 3–5’ 12

Parsley 2½’ 5

Savory, summer 1–1½’ 6

PERENNIALS††—NEEDAPERMANENT SPACEINTHEGARDEN

Height Inches Apart*

Angelica 4–6’ 36

Bee balm† 3’ 30

Burnet 15’ 15

Catnip 2–3’ 15#

Chamomile, Roman (Chamaemelum nobile)† 3–12’ 12

Chives 10–24’ 5

Comfrey† 15–36’ 12

Costmary 2–6’ 12

Feverfew 1–3’ 10–15

Apple 10’ 18

Coconut 8–12" 18

Geraniums, scented† Lemon 2–3’ ##
Lime 2’ 18

Peppermint 2’ 48

Rose 3’ 30
1’ 16
Good King Henry 2’ 9#
Horehound 2’ 12
Hyssop 3’ 18
Lavender 3’ 12#
Lemon balm 10’ 24
Lemon verbena 6’ 3
Lovage 1’ 12
Marjoram 2’ 18–24
Oregano† 2½’ 12#
Peppermint 4’ 24–36
Pineapple sage† 3–4’ 18–24
Rosemary 3’ 18
Rue 2’ 18
Sage 2’ 30
Santolina 1’ 12
Savory, winter 3–5’ 30
Southernwood 2–3’ 15#
Spearmint† 1–1½’ 12
Stevia 4–6’ 24#
Stinging nettle 2’ 8
St. Johns wort 4’ 30
Tansy

Tarragon 2’ 12–18

Thyme 1’ 6

Valerian 4’ 18

Woodruff† 6–10" 8–12#

Wormwood 3–5’ 12–24

Yarrow, common (Achillea millefolium) 3–5’ 12–18

Yarrow, white-, red-, or pink-flowered† 2½–3’ 12

Note: Manyherbs have extra-long-germinating seeds (22 to 28 days). †
Generallybased on our experience. Others are from the Herb Chart by
Evelyn Gregg, Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association,
Wyoming, Rhode Island. †† Normallystarted from cuttings or root
divisions, theyoften take 1 to 4 years to reach full size from seed. #
Spreads underground; keep it contained or plant where it can keep going.
## Unknown.

ENDNOTES

1 For more information on the potential yield figures in column E of
the Master Charts and how they were and are determined, see
Ecology Action’s “Yields” information. Available for $1.00 plus a
self-addressed long envelope with two first-class stamps to: Ecology
Action, 5798 Ridgewood Rd., Willits, CA 95490.

2 V. T. Aaltonen, Boden und Wald (Berlin: Parey, 1948).

3 One good foot-treadle-powered mini-thresher is available from
CeCeCo., P.O. Box 8, Ibaraki City, Osaka, Japan, or from Christy Hunt
Agricultural, Ltd., Foxhills Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe, South
Humberside, DN15 8QW, United Kingdom.

4 From Donald N. Maynard and George J. Hochmuth, Knott’s Handbook
for Vegetable Growers (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1999), pp. 97–
98; and other reference sources.

5 Ibid., p. 460; and other reference sources.

6 Column I ÷ Column B ÷ Column C.

7 The number of plants you will need may vary. The rise of a curved
bed surface (approximate 10-inch rise) adds up to 10% to the
planting surface, and a “flat-topped” raised bed adds up to 20% to
the planting surface. Also, the hexagonal “offset” spacing uses up less
space than spacing where plants are lined up opposite each other. Up
to 159 plants fit in 120 square feet of curved surface on 12-inch (1-
foot) centers, rather than fewer plants. You will probably have more
plants ready than you need when using Column I to plan, so use the
best plants first and save the rest for “spotting” areas that lose plants,
or give the extras to friends. To calculate the distance between rows
on offset spacing, multiply the spacing by 0.87. To calculate the
number of plants on offset spacing in a flat bed, first calculate the

number of plants on “square” spacing, then multiply by 1.13.

8 Less seed may be necessary if the seed of a given variety is
particularly small and/or if there is not much rise to the bed.

9 Estimates based on our experience and research. Use lowest figure if
you are a beginning gardener; middle if a good one; highest if an
excellent gardener with exceptional soil and climate. (The testing and
development process requires a long time and has involved many
failures. Its direction, however, has been encouraging over the years,
as the soil, our skills, and yields have improved, and as resource-
consumption levels have decreased. There is still much left to be
done.)

10 The approximate plant yield averages in some instances are much
lower than one would expect. For example, a beginning gardener will
get carrots much larger than the .04 lb noted, but all of their carrots
will probably not germinate as well as a good or excellent gardener’s
will and they will probably not be as large. Therefore, it is estimated
that the average weight of each carrot would be .04 lb, assuming the
bed produces 2,507 carrots.

11 Column E 3 Column I 3 0.01.

12 From U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Statistics—2005,
2003 data (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2000;
see the index at the end of the volume); and other reference sources.

13 Numbers in quotes are approximations from other data, because
official data are not available for this crop.

14 Assumes flat with internal dimensions of 14 inches by 21 inches (or
273 square inches) for both 3-inch- and 6-inch-deep flats, in which
at least 250 plants fit on 1-inch centers and 60 plants on 2-inch
centers; if half-sized flats are used, 125 plants fit on 1-inch centers

and 30 plants on 2-inch centers.

15 When seeds are broadcast into a flat, it is possible to reduce the
number of flats used. To calculate the number of flats needed for
broadcast seed, determine the number of plants you need, divide by
the number in Column L2, then divide by the number in Column L3.
Broadcast the needed amount of seed evenly into the number of flats
just calculated.

16 From Donald N. Maynard and George J. Hochmuth, Knott’s
Handbook for Vegetable Growers (New York: John Wiley & Sons,
1999), p. 51; and from our experience and research.

17 The Approximate Weeks to Maturity in Ground generally remains
the same whether seeds are started in a flat or in a bed because the
number of weeks to maturity indicated on the seed packet assumes
optimal growing conditions that are rarely present.

18 From U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Statistics—2005,
2003 data (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2000;
see the index at the end of the volume); and other sources.

19 Based in part on standard field figures from James Edward Knott,
Handbook for Vegetable Growers (New York: John Wiley & Sons,
1975), pp. 198–199, in combination with a multiplier factor based
on our research and experience; and other reference sources. The
result, however, is preliminary, for your guidance, and very
experimental. If growing seed, remember to adjust for the
germination rate when determining the amount to grow for your use.

20 Column BB ÷ Column F.

21 Column BB ÷ Column E 3 100. Use the lowest figure in Column E if
you are a beginning gardener; middle if a good one working with

good soil; highest if an excellent gardener working with excellent
soil.

22 Column CC ÷ Column L2 or M3.

23 Column DD 3 Column D 3 .01.

24 Column GG ÷ Column G.

25 From U.S. Department of Agriculture, “Composition of Foods”
(Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1963) and other
reference sources, and from USDA food search website:
www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/index.html.

26 In warm weather and/or with a good mini-greenhouse, 6 to 8 weeks;
in cooler weather outdoors without a mini-greenhouse, 6 to 8 weeks;
9 to 12 weeks.

27 Johnny’s Selected Seeds.

28 Smaller secondary and tertiary heads may also be used and may
double the yield.

29 The Redwood City Seed Company carries an interesting tropical
variety, Snow Peak, which heads only in the summer. A good variety
with small heads for out-of-season growing.

30 Produces 4 times the general protein (not amino acids) and 8 times
the calcium (free of oxalic acid) per unit of area compared to the
milk produced by a cow or a goat fed on an equal area of alfalfa.

31 Be sure to obtain “seed” Irish potatoes; many potatoes in stores have
been treated to retard sprouting. Sprout without soil in a 3-inch-deep
flat or box with small air spaces between the tubers in a warm, dry,
airy location in indirect light for up to 1 month, until sprouts are
about ¼ inch long. Caution: Avoid conditions of 90% humidity and
70°F, or more, for a period of 24 hours; they can encourage blight.

Use pieces of potato weighing at least 1.5 to 2 ounces. Each potato
piece should optimally have 2 or 3 sprouted eyes. For planting
purposes, tubers are in dormancy for 5 to 20 weeks after harvest. For
planting procedure, see note on p. 26.

32 Be sure to obtain “seed” sweet potatoes; many potatoes in stores
have been treated to retard sprouting. Sprout in wide-mouth canning
jars with water. Insert toothpicks into sweet potatoes around their
outside to hold the upper half out of the water. Roots form on the
portion in the water, and small plantlets grow from the eyes on the
upper portion. Each 8-ounce sweet potato will make 3 to 4 of these
“starts.” When a shoot is about 1 to 1½ inches long, nick it off along
with a very small piece of the sweet potato where it is attached, and
plant it in a 3-inch-deep flat on 2-inch centers so only the last set of
leaves is above the surface of the flat soil. Whole sweet potatoes may
also be sprouted side by side in a flat; approximately 4 to 8 flats are
needed for a 100-square-foot bed. When the seedlings are 7 to 9
inches tall, transplant them into the growing bed so at least 6 inches
of the stem is beneath the soil.

33 Bountiful Gardens.

34 Use the French variety (Vilmorin’s Cantalun—orange-fleshed) or the
Israeli variety (Haogen—green-fleshed). Both have a smooth exterior
without netting. This minimizes rotting.

35 Stokes Seeds.

36 Try the torpedo onion. Its long shape is particularly suited to
intensive raised-bed gardening and farming, and it can produce twice
the yield per unit of area.

37 Irish potatoes. Place your order for the entire year in January in
order to ensure availability. Specify untreated seed and delivery

date(s) desired (1 month before planting, so sprouts can develop
properly).

38 Sweet potatoes: Jewel, Centennial, Garnett, and Jersey varieties.
Order in September untreated, number 2 size, for the following
summer in 40-pound boxes, to ensure availability. Joe Alvernaz, P.O.
Box 474, Livingston, CA 95334, is a good source, although not
organic. Ask for prices and include a stamped, self-addressed
envelope.

39 Burpee’s Triple Treat variety with hull-less seeds. No shelling of
nutritious and tasty seeds!

40 Burpee’s Sparkler variety: red top with white bottom half. Good-
looking.

41 Burpee’s New Hampshire Midget variety.

42 Native Seeds/SEARCH.

43 Vermont Bean Seed Co.

44 Fedco Seeds.

45 R. H. Shumway Seed.

46 J. L. Hudson, Seedsman.

47 If overwintering.

48 In some tropical regions.

49 Six inches deep in areas with cooler nights.

50 Some calorie values determined from USDA website.

51 Including for fodder.

52 Longer harvest period is for sequential harvesting of separate stalks
on each plant as stalks become mature.

53 As high as 43 weeks in some other countries.

54 Polish Jenn and German Porcelin hardneck varieties: 15/30/60.