Plant Spacing checks, please

We're thinking of trying some veggies we've never done before, but they aren't in our vintage SFG book.

Rather than guess based on the closest cousin, could someone suggest spacing/squares for:
-Melons (cantaloupe)
-Leeks
-Asparagus
-Celery

Thanks!!

Sunsanvil wrote:We're thinking of trying some veggies we've never done before, but they aren't in our vintage SFG book.

Rather than guess based on the closest cousin, could someone suggest spacing/squares for:
-Melons (cantaloupe)
-Leeks
-Asparagus
-Celery

Thanks!!

In the first edition SFG book I have, Mr Bartholomew advised muskmelons at one per square foot. Further advice was to make a planter 1 foot wide and 4 foot long and trellis the plants vertically. I read somewhere to use legs cut off old pantyhose as a sling to support the melons. I'm trying cantaloupe myself this way this year. The website mysquarefootgarden.net advises 2 SF per plant for cantaloupe.

The website mysquarefootgarden.net has advice on the other plants. Celery at 1 plant per SF, leeks at 12 plants per SF and advises asparagus in its on bed and planted 18 inches deep for proper growth and propagation. Hadn't thought of asparagus but am now considering it.  I imagine a 4 by 4 box would be quite a productive patch!

Thanks so much.

Yes my book has the muskmelon entry, but I didn't know what that was or if cantaloupe was in the same family.

12 Leaks in a square?!? Wow. Sounds like that would make for a bountiful square.

Sunsanvil wrote:Thanks so much.

Yes my book has the muskmelon entry, but I didn't know what that was or if cantaloupe was in the same family.

12 Leaks in a square?!? Wow. Sounds like that would make for a bountiful square.

I think at 12 leaks per square they would be small. As someone else mentioned some of them could be harvested early and then allow the remaining plants to mature. I'm doing leeks at 4 per square this year which is the correct spacing according to the seed packet. Maybe other varieties of leeks allow closer spacing.

Sunsanvil wrote:

12 Leaks in a square?!? Wow. Sounds like that would make for a bountiful square.

12 leeks a square foot is too many. I do about 6 per square foot. and that is really close.

camprn wrote:

Sunsanvil wrote:

12 Leaks in a square?!? Wow. Sounds like that would make for a bountiful square.

12 leeks a square foot is too many. I do about 6 per square foot. and that is really close.

I thought I was wrong once but I was mistaken! I humbly stand corrected! A revisit to the website I was quoting said 9 leeks to a square foot!  I did my onions at the same spacing, 9 per SF and it seems a tad crowded too.

Sunsanvil wrote:We're thinking of trying some veggies we've never done before, but they aren't in our vintage SFG book.

Rather than guess based on the closest cousin, could someone suggest spacing/squares for:
-Melons (cantaloupe)
-Leeks
-Asparagus
-Celery

Thanks!!

Sunsanvil,
(Disclaimer: Some may want to avert their eyes as what I'm about to say could be perceived as perfidiousness to the SFG community!)

If you can get your hands on a copy of (you've been warned) John Jeavons How to Grow More Vegetables he includes the "Master Charts". They cover nearly every plant you could want to grow. Fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, veg, herbs and grain crops, you name it! The charts are a bit hard to read at first but are also chock a block full of information from how many seeds to a pound through germination and nutritional info such as how much of each crop the average person consumes or should consume.  Every plant has a spacing guide in the chart as well!

My 8th edition copy has some good plans for a greenhouse/bed cover and a soil sifter as well.

OK you can all look back again!

Hey!

I put all my melons 1/SF and trellis.  I have done muskmelons, watermelons and a mini honeydew type.  I have never grown any of the other things. 

The melons are really easy to train up the trellis.  The only one I didn't trellis was the watermelon.  But you could, I just didnT know how big they would get!  They weren't t big. 

I try to use hotties that are short season/for the North.  Melons, cukes, etc.

I'm trying melons up here this year. One year when my youngest was 10 or so we put a small garden in the Air Force base community garden. He just HAD to have a watermelon plant. One melon survived, we had a particularly wet cool spring. He nursed that melon and it was small but looked perfect.  When he just couldn't stand it anymore he went to harvest it. Turned it over and a field mouse or turtle or something had burrowed a hole about the size of a golf ball through the rind and cleaned it out slick as a whistle! Poor lil' feller was heartbroken. We have a good laugh now when we eat watermelon.

I started mine indoors. Last year we transplanted zukes n cukes so I'm interested to see if the melons and winter squash transplant OK.

Scorpio Rising wrote:

I try to use hotties that are short season/for the North.  Melons, cukes, etc.

What varieties are short season/for the North? I didn't realize there was such a thing. I have a terrible time with cukes, melons, squash, etc. Maybe that's why.

Early versions that have worked for me:  

Cukes:  Beit Alpha.  Really great last year. These are a game changer.   This year added Summer Dance.  I start them in peat pots inside but not really under lights.  Just the pad to get them up.

Melons:  AMAZING Sakatas Sweet (kinda like a mini honeydew with edible rind--delish and prolific) Did it on trellis, they are small.  Black tail Mountain watermelons, sweet, small, lots of seeds however.  Minnesota Midget muskmeon, again, just the BEST!!!  And new this year trying a true Charentais musk melon.  Will see.

I also start my squash at the same time, peat pots as well, as they do not like their roots messed with!  Doing patty pans, Delicata, and one that I cannot recall...lazy...

Sunflowers and nasturtiums will go in regular pots.  Otherwise the animals think I am just feeding the with seeds....they go out when about 6" tall.

Peppers:  King of the North, Big Red, Early Jalapeño, Sweet banana.

Scorpio Rising wrote:Early versions that have worked for me:  

Cukes:  Beit Alpha.  Really great last year. These are a game changer.   This year added Summer Dance.  I start them in peat pots inside but not really under lights.  Just the pad to get them up.

Melons:  AMAZING Sakatas Sweet (kinda like a mini honeydew with edible rind--delish and prolific) Did it on trellis, they are small.  Black tail Mountain watermelons, sweet, small, lots of seeds however.  Minnesota Midget muskmeon, again, just the BEST!!!  And new this year trying a true Charentais musk melon.  Will see.

I also start my squash at the same time, peat pots as well, as they do not like their roots messed with!  Doing patty pans, Delicata, and one that I cannot recall...lazy...

Sunflowers and nasturtiums will go in regular pots.  Otherwise the animals think I am just feeding the with seeds....they go out when about 6" tall.

Peppers:  King of the North, Big Red, Early Jalapeño, Sweet banana.

SR ... do you trellis the Sakatas? I'm looking forward to trying the seeds you sent to me.

Sunsanvil wrote:Thanks so much.

12 Leaks in a square?!? Wow. Sounds like that would make for a bountiful square.

Know those black plastic buckets your florist receives flowers in? There is a guy on YouTube in England or Scotland or around there who lines those buckets with plastic bags then grows a dozen or so leeks, potatoes, carrots, etc. in them. Look for his videos.

Hi AtlantaTerry! We haven't met... I'm AtlantaMarie, your regional host. So glad to meet you.

I grew up in Doraville off of Oakcliff.... Spent lots of time in Chamblee.