As a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent, I answer hundreds of gardening question. This week, a gardener wanted to know how far apart to space her garden rows. The short answer is: it depends.
Row spacing in raised bed gardens is often closer than in traditional plowed gardens. For a raised bed garden, you probably don’t want boxes and/or rows wider than 5 feet, so you can easily reach into the garden and pull weeds or harvest vegetables without having to walk into the raised bed. Because raised bed gardens are usually maintained without machinery, rows can be closer.
For plowed garden plots, row spacing is often determined by the width of your rotary tiller. For most tillers, rows should be at least 36 inches wide. This way you can go back between the rows and lightly cultivate for weed control until the crop starts to fill in between the rows.
For most crops such as beans, corn, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, okra, peas and squash, 36-inch row spacing would be the minimum. Some gardeners prefer slightly wider rows for certain crops like okra because it’s just a pain, literally, to have to harvest without some headroom.
When using cages for tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, add a little extra space for convenience. For vine crops such as sweet potatoes, cucumbers, cantaloupe, watermelons and pumpkins, leave at least 60 to 72 inches between the rows. Rows spaced 72 inches are perfect for making two passes with most rotary tillers for weed control until the vines begin to run.
So what about planting crops even further apart? You can plant most crops at a greater distance with the exception of corn. Corn does best when planted in at least two rows within a few feet of each other for good pollination. Keep in mind that the wider your row spacing becomes, the more weeds you will have to deal with.
When spacing your rows, the goal is to maximize crop growth and yield while out-competing weeds. Closer spaced crops tend to shade out competing weeds once the crop leaves begin to form a canopy over the middle of the rows. You still need to control the weeds with tilling and hoeing early in the season. If you do a good job managing those weeds early on, then you should have fewer weeds as the season progresses.
For more information on row spacing, check out UGA Extension’s free publication on “Home Gardening” at http://t.uga.edu/ex.
Paul Pugliese is the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for the University of Georgia Extension office in Bartow County.
FAQs
For most tillers, rows should be at least 36 inches wide. This way you can go back between the rows and lightly cultivate for weed control until the crop starts to fill in between the rows. For most crops such as beans, corn, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, okra, peas and squash, 36-inch row spacing would be the minimum.
What is the purpose of rows in a garden? ›
The Pros: If your soil is too compact, clay-like, or drains poorly, a raised row will allow the plants to develop healthy, deep roots. The mounded soil, rich in nutrients, continually breaks down and enhances the entire gardening space. In areas where it rains a lot, raised rows will drain better.
How wide should your garden rows be? ›
Most experienced gardeners like to keep wide rows to no more than 3 feet wide to ensure that you can easily reach the center of the row from both sides. Keep at least 18 inches of space between the wide rows to provide access; 2 to 3 feet is even better.
What is the best row spacing for a garden? ›
- Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage: 2' - 3' row spacing.
- Tomatoes: 2' - 4' row spacing.
- Summer Squash: 3' - 5' row spacing.
- Winter Squash: 5' - 6' row spacing.
- Cucumbers: 5' - 6' row spacing.
Row spacing: how far apart the rows should be if you're planting a farm-style garden. Ignore this measurement if you're using an intensive system like square-foot gardening. Seed spacing: how far apart you should plant the seeds.
What is the best way to put rows in a garden? ›
Always plant the tallest vegetables to the northern side of the garden and the shorter growing vegetables to the southern side of the garden. That said, most recommendations agree that planting north-south is marginally better. The north-south orientation allows the sun to penetrate the garden by shining down the rows.
How do I organize my garden rows? ›
Design in Rows
Additionally, arrange the plants in such a way that the tallest ones are at the north end of the row, followed by medium-height veggies, and finally, the shortest ones at the south end. This arrangement maximizes sunlight exposure for all the plants.
Is it better to plant in rows or groups? ›
However, given the freedom of space, most gardeners choose rows. Wide rows and narrow rows alike allow for easier and more efficient growing and harvesting of vegetables.
Does a garden have to have rows? ›
Planting in rows can make sense on big pieces of land. But in a home vegetable garden, we're growing on a different scale. In a home veggie garden, we're limited by space. And that means growing some vegetables in blocks, instead of spread-out rows of plants.
What is the average width of a garden row? ›
The standard width for garden rows is generally between 18 and 36 inches.
The mound creates a small-scale raised bed for cultivating plants and seeds. It's especially good for root crops requiring loose soil and space below ground. For those with small gardens, it's a great way to optimize space.
What is the best layout for a vegetable garden? ›
As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.
Does row spacing matter? ›
Though there are exceptions, narrow row spacing generally leads to faster canopy closure, thus increasing weed suppression. Early crop canopy formation blocks sunlight, decreases weed seedling emergence, and suppresses the growth of emerged weed seedlings.
Do you have to make rows in a garden? ›
Planting in rows can make sense on big pieces of land. But in a home vegetable garden, we're growing on a different scale. In a home veggie garden, we're limited by space. And that means growing some vegetables in blocks, instead of spread-out rows of plants.
Does a garden need raised rows? ›
No matter what your situation or soil type, you must have these for a thriving and healthy garden. For us, I have found that using raised rows in a low to no-till situation along with a layering style of management is the most productive and efficient way to cultivate soil health and a thriving garden.
Is it better to plant in blocks or rows? ›
Block style garden layouts (also called close-row or wide-row plantings) increase yields fivefold compared to the traditional row-style garden layout, and fifteen-fold for the smaller kitchen garden vegetables. The compact design reduces weeding and is ideal for raised bed gardening.
