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.
