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Re: SqFt Planting Spaces

>Firstly,  I've always wondered about the planting spaces given in
>'conventional' gardening books.  Why do they often give non-square
>planting spaces eg,  Parsnips,  6-9in apart,  rows 15in apart?  I
>don't think that Parsnips produce roots twice as wide in one
>direction than the other :).

I think that such directions are given in order to allow space to walk
between rows. In square foot gardening this consideration is moot.

>Secondly,  although I'm speaking from a position of ignorance,  I
>have trouble in believing some of the Sqft spacings.  Onions for
>example at 16/sqft,  the same as for radishes.  I can understand the
>radish spacing,  but how big would the onions grow?  Obviously not
>more than 3 inches wide.  My 'conventional' gardening book suggests 6
>x 12 inches,  or a mere 2 per sqft.  Can I expect good results
>planting at 8 times this rate?
>
>Then again garlic,  if garlic is to planted at 4 or 9/sgft why not
>onions?  I would hope to be able to grow larger onions than garlic.
>
>Same with leeks,  if I plant them 4in apart will they grow to full
>size?  This is 9 times closer together than my 'conventional'
>gardening book.

Experience and common sense guide the spacing. Some onions are naturally
bigger than others. The three inch spacing is for small onions (and there
are indeed seed packets that recommend 3"); some varieties can easily
require 6". I personally don't feel bound by the spaces given in the book.
For example, i like to plant broccoli 16", which is closer to the
conventional spacing than the standard square foot spacing. (You can get 16"
by dividing a block by 3 instead of 4.)

In general, SFG spacing is closer than conventional spacing. This decreases
the yield per plant, but increases the yield for a given area. SFG is
intended to be an intensive method.

If you still feel uncomfortable with the spacing, you can always go with the
dimensions stated on the seed packet. No one will punish you. :-)

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