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side by side comparison of spacing methods

14 years ago

I was looking at several vegetable garden plans in several old books and other sources.

I was was wondering if any one has done a side by side comparison of old garden published plans using different spacing methods but same number of plants to see how each would look under several different spacing methods.

If so would you mind posting you resulting diagrams and/ or production estimate calculations.

I thought it would be good idea since I plan on doing this with several plans I found using 4 spacing methods.

the 4 plans I found where from sources published in 1940's,1950's, 1970's and 1980's.

when finish the them i plan on posting them for all to see since what better way to help those still planning there 2012 season.

Comments (4)

  • 14 years ago

    I use "Organic Garden Magazine" library on spacing & "Square
    Foot Garden".
    Would love to see your plans.

  • 14 years ago

    My spacing depends on a huge number of variables - starting with how I plant. I have two mechanical seeders that I use in the garden, an Earthway with multiple seed plates and a 4-row pinpoint seeder, which can be adjusted for seed size and spacing. I also do a lot of hand seeding, and transplanting. Some crops I seed and allow to grow in a higher than recommended spacing because I am trying to achieve a certain trait that dense planting encourages. Many of my "normal" spacings are based on Jon Jeavons' recommendations, which presume optimal fertility and tilth, and a triangular spacing pattern to optimize the use of surface area, but it is often tweaked from his recommendations because I may have several successions in the same bed, or 3 different crops growing together, that benefit from being a bit further apart than what is commonly recommended.

    In general, I plant in ways that avoid the need for thinning as much as possible, I plant 1 seed per spacing unit, and 1 seed per cell for transplants. This makes it much easier to track germination rates, reduces seed cost dramatically, and eliminates a chore that I fund tedious and wasteful. New gardeners are particularly prone to planting things too close - when I'm helping with a new garden, I'll often use fast growing crops to infill while longer maturity crops grow into the space they'll eventually need - any seed that matures in 25 to 70 days might be a place-saving crop for something that will fill a space later in the season - broccoli, squash, or cucumbers being good examples of what might benefit from a little company early in the growth cycle.

    Typically I find spacing recommendations on seed packets are for row crops in average soil, whereas books will take into account wide bed or raised bed planting, and some consideration is given to optimizing yield or reducing weed pressure by adjusting to the particular soil conditions encountered. I'll look forward to seeing your results.

  • 14 years ago

    I think you both misunderstood my post.

    what i was asking is have you take a premade plan from a book for example then converted it from row planting, to wide row, square foot spacing or biodynamic spacing.

  • 14 years ago

    I understand your post. But as I don't have a reply I am waiting until YOU hear back because it interests me too.