Planning My Garden - Spacing

Jjean59 2/28/2023, 2:14 pm

I don't have seed packets in front of me yet, but I'm just trying to get a ball park idea about what I want to grow so I can make a grid. I've googled several: Better Boy Tomatoes, Parley, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Dill, Basel, Lemon Balm on Bonnie Plants website, and it's giving me larger than 12" spacing on these so I'm unsure how many I can plant per square foot.

What I've taken from the book:
XXL - 1 plant/sq with 12" spacing
XL - 2 plants/sq with 8" spacing
L - 4 plants/sq with 6" spacing
M - 9 plants/sq with 4" spacing
S - 16 plants/sq with 3" spacing

**sanderson** 2/28/2023, 3:45 pm

The back of the book has spacing for many popular veggies and herbs. Better Boy is an indeterminate and can be grown in 1 sq ft next to the north trellis. But, that only works if it is pruned to a single stem. Allow 2 if you are a beginner.

Lemon balm is a mint and can become invasive. Some folks plants oregano and other mints in separate pots.

Jjean59 2/28/2023, 4:30 pm

Thank you, I'll have to check the back of the book...this is why I prefer real books, but the Kindle is convenient and my library doesn't take up any space. Very Happy

**sanderson** 2/28/2023, 10:27 pm

If you can take a photo of the "At A Glace" (pp. 256-7) and Appendix 1 (pp 258-9), and print them, you can have a general guide.

Seed packets will mention 'thin to" distances. That is also a good general guide, with the exception that SFG sometimes plants closer. Ex: thin to 6" = 4/sq ft.

Soose 2/28/2023, 10:42 pm

sanderson wrote:If you can take a photo of the "At A Glace" (pp. 256-7) and Appendix 1 (pp 258-9), and print them, you can have a general guide.

Seed packets will mention 'thin to" distances. That is also a good general guide, with the exception that SFG sometimes plants closer. Ex: thin to 6" = 4/sq ft.

@Sanderson, there seems to always be at least one type of veg that I want to plant that doesn't have spacing mention in the books. I guess Mel just did not plant them when he was up North, which is understandable. I really like the format of the original book's pages on veggies, and I trust the info there. Has anyone ever created similar references for some of the other veg people might plant? If anyone would know, I expect you would!

**sanderson** 3/1/2023, 3:07 am

Soose, For plants not specifically mentioned in the ANSFG book series, just ask. Use the Search Box. Or, look for a very similar size plant with similar growing pattern. For example, if it mentions parsley, it would be the same for cilantro. Or, look to the "thin to" information on the seed packet. Mel lived in the San Diego area his last years.

**sanderson** 3/1/2023, 3:20 am

Jean, I copied this from the Certified Instructor site. I thought you might like it.

"Follow our spacing guide for success in your Square Foot Gardening planting period!

For EXTRA LARGE veggies (broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes) = 1 plant per square foot

For LARGE veggies (leek, lettuce, swiss chard) = 4 plants per square foot

For MEDIUM veggies (beans, beets, peas) = 9 plants per square foot

For SMALL veggies (carrots, radishes, green onions) = 16 plants per square foot
Check out our Square Foot Gardening Essentials playlist for more planting tips:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVi1MQ1Hohx5iWsN3zk99SokYHC3fBjgp

Jjean59 3/1/2023, 5:10 pm

Fantastic! I love YouTube, its so helpful!

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