It's at the southside of the house, plus our house is short so it doesn't shade it at all. it gets full sun. Im looking to plant Summer veggies there (or at least thats the plan). Mainly Tomatoes/Eggplant/Maybe a cucumber in a V trellis perhaps. Plus some root crops (IE carrots/beets). I just didn't know how wide I should make it. I'd probably prefer to get 2 long rows as opposed to 4 smaller ones (just in case I want to grow bigger things.

I figure 2 feet of space between rows is enough I would hope? (I also need to leave room for me to walk behind the garden near the fence so it may need to be even smaller)

I'm not sure what you mean by 2 feet between rows. The width of the bed doesn't have any bearing on the distance between rows. Rows are temporary and flexible according to the crop. You could have one zucchini plant but four rows of carrots in the same width bed. If you make a 4 foot wide bed the entire length of the fence you can grow all sorts and sizes of plants in it. You don't even have to have rows. You could have a block of something such as beets or carrots alongside a single big tomato. Or have I misunderstood your question?

BTW if the bed is 3 - 4 feet wide you do not need a path behind the bed - you can reach it all from the front.

I guess I was just thinking having 2 set rows is better, but I guess you are right I can just block off sections and make the rows as big as I need. I figure i'll have a 4 foot wide bed which like you said should be enough. (Since I can always have "more blocks" if I want more bigger plants for instance).

My garden is 30% steep slope, every bed there is just 2-3 feet wide. I found that narrow beds fit best for small crop, like herbs, root vegetables, lettuce - those I plant in rows perpendicular to the long side of the bed. It is much easy to weed this way - you just put your hand or tool between rows, and reach opposite side of the bed.

Also large plants, like tomatoes, can be planted on 2-3 feet wide bed. I have all different beds due to my crazy landscaping, so my planting schedule goes like this, depending on the crop rotation:

4' wide bed - two rows of tomatoes, 2 rows of eggplants, 2 rows of zucchinis planted in zigzag, 2 rows of pepper(wasting some space), 2 rows of large cabbage, carrots, onions, garlic - in short rows, as many rows as it fits to the length of the bed

3' wide bed - one row of tomatoes, 1 row of zucchinis,2 rows of eggplants planted in zigzag with bigger distance, 2 rows of cabbage planted in zigzag, 2 rows of peppers, one row of pole bean + one row of bush bean, carrots, onions, garlic in short rows, as many rows as it fits to the length of the bed

2' wide bed - 1 row of tomatoes, one row of eggplants, two rows of peppers planted in zigzag, one row of cabbage, carrots, onions, garlic in short rows, as many rows as it fits to the length of the bed

1.5' wide bed - 1 row of tomatoes(if there is a space around that bed), 1 row of peppers, one row of cabbage, one row of eggplants

When you say "row spacing" I assume you mean walking paths? Row planting and walking paths works in great big plot gardens but the goal, any time space is limited, is to not waste growing space on walking paths, to avoid needing paths, and to avoid walking on the garden. So you make the bed size narrow enough that you can either reach it all from outside the bed. 4' wide with open access all around the outside of it. (Like Floral said above) if possible. OR

If not possible because of a fence or house you go long and only 3' wide beds against the house or against the fence allows you to reach everything in the gardens without ever stepping in them. Then you space the plants as the plant needs and rows go out the window all together. Don't let walking paths dictate the size of the beds.

dave

Thanks! That gives me a good reference guide. Im going to have 1 long bed, so ill just have to section it off as I get into larger veggies.

If you decide in the future to add another bed, I suggest a wide enough path so you could get a wheelbarrow through.