Plant Spacing

Plant spacing is an essential part to planning your garden for the upcoming season.  There are some tips and secrets you might not know and are worth a try.

Most vegetable plants have requirements and recommendations for spacing right on the package.  For many of you, just like me, I can bet are trying to maximize space to fit more into your garden.  Here are my tips and secrets.

For larger plant types such as tomato and pepper plants, I space each plant 1 foot apart and rows 2 feet apart.  After 3 rows, I leave a space large enough for me to walk down making it easy to reach all the plants for harvest.   This essetially makes a block of three rows.  Try to keep varieties together so you don't get confused.  This method works well for me and provides maximum space and pollination.  Some people say every plant can self pollinate which is true but I find with the plants closer together, they produce more.  Just remember to not plant too close or competition will occur.

For small bush plants such as beans and peas (bush or pole), spacing is quite different.  I space my beans and peas 3 inches apart and keep the weeds down as much as possible.  For some reason, beans and peas attract the most weeds in my garden.  I plant the rows 1 foot apart so i can stradle a row to pick.  Here you don't need to leave a larger space since you can walk over the plants without damaging them.

For head crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, I recommend lots of space.  These crops require alot more nutrients for large growth.  Stick to the recommended spacing on the package.

For root crops such and radishes, onions, and carrots, spacing is much like the beans.  These can be planted in rows and then thinned to 2 inches between each plant.  For carrots, you must have at least 12 inches of deeply loosened soil for them to grow straight and large.  For radishes, you must stay on top of them.  Most only require 24-30 days to harvest and can become spongy and pithy fast.

These are the basic crops for a beginners garden and my tips and secrets for such crops.  I plant all these in my garden every year with these methods and have great success.

Snow Storm

I feel really bad for all of you in the mid Atlantic states who are recieving all that snow.  I live on the coast of lake Ontario and we just have the cold, no snow.  It really makes you anxious for warm weather and to start your garden.  I'm itching as well. Check out this blog for some pictures and info about the storm.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/gotta-garden

Seedlings

Seedlings are very delicate.  They need ample light, plenty of water, and some TLC.  You must be careful though.  Too much water will turn the seedlings yellow and begin to show root rot.

Here are some good tips on lighting amounts and when to water your seedlings.

Lighting:  The bottom line is seedlings need light.  It is recommended that seedlings recieve around 16 hours of light and 8 hours of complete darkness (they need to rest just as you and I do).  To do this, I put mine on a timer which turns the lights on and off providing the right amount of light at the right time.  Florecent lights work just as well as those expensive grow lights!  I place my light right over the surface of the soil and move the lights up as the plants grow up.  This helps them grow straight toward the light and promotes strong stem growth.

Watering:  A good test for watering is the pinky test.  Stick your pinky about a half inch into the soil.  If the soil is wet then hold off watering for a day.  If the soil is dry then I would give the seedlings a good drink of clean water.  The reason for this test is to be sure you dont drown your seedlings.  Even though they need plenty of water, they can recieve too much.  You must monitor them closely and be sure to watch for any signs of wilt or rot.  Seedlings will turn yellow from too much water and will begin to wilt and flop over if too little.  Root rot is a common issue with too much water.  Just follow the pinky test and you will be fine.

Any questions on this just e-mail me and I will be glad to help you out!