You have designed your garden, built your garden, and now it is time to plant your crops.
Using a tape measure you will need to map out your garden rows allowing for a minimum of 20 inches between rows which will prevent root entanglement and light deficiency for either plant. Taller crops will need more space between rows up to 2 and a half feet. It is advisable to plant root plants (such as onions, radishes, carrots, or lettuce) next to taller plants with deep root growth because the taller plants will not interfere with root growth and it will provide much-needed shade for the shorter root plants.
One trick for improving your crop yield for smaller, weaker plants is to mix seeds of plants that have a strong seed growth period like spinach with a slow developing seed like carrots. Mix the seeds together extremely well and plant the seeds 1/2 inch in the ground and cover. Within a couple of weeks the spinach crop will begin to push through the soil and as it grows will be able to get thinned out and harvested. As the spinach crop matures and is used up it will make room for carrot crop to break through the soil faster than it could have on its own.
Using similar techniques will allow for faster and sustained development of plants. If your garden runs East to West it is advisable to plant taller crops on the north side of the garden in order to provide shade to the rest of the garden.
Once you have planted your seeds you will need to provide regular care to those plants including regular watering, pest prevention, and structural support.
In Part 4 we will cover the ways to care for your crops and natural ways to prevent pests and ways to provide support to vine and taller plants.
