Chart for Small Space Gardeners

For those who must grow their vegetables in small spaces this chart gives the approximate number of plants a square foot of container space will accommodate. Containers should be at least eight inches deep for medium sized and small vegetables but a foot to 18 inches deep for vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants or corn. In the case of corn a 4-foot-square space is desirable to provide good cross pollination.

Measurements do not have to be exact and circular containers work as well as square or rectangular ones.

Approximate number of plants per Vegetable square foot:

1 Thin at 1-inch diameter for "greens" and let remainder grow.

2 Thin every other one when "fingerlings" and let others grow.

3 Train on trellis.

4 Can thin to eat and let others grow into cooking onions. D Thin small ones to eat and let others grow.

It's not easy to figure exactly how profitable your gardening enterprise will be but one thing is certain, it's good for your waistline and your general well-being. Few things around the home give as much satisfaction as well as a bit of a boost to the budget as your garden. Studies show that for the time you spend in the garden, you get a net return of $3 to $5 per hour. One State university cites figures to show that the average home garden in its State will be worth $165. The average gardener will spend around $35 on his garden, which means he will be getting around 75 cents "profit" for every $1 he spends. And he eats better to boot.

Location: The closer to the kitchen you can locate your garden plot, the better. It's mighty handy to be able to take a few steps outside and snip off a handful of herbs or lettuce.

It makes little difference which way the rows run, although running them lengthwise of the garden makes cultivation easier. If rows run east and west, plant your large crops on the north side of the garden so that they will not shade the small crops. Keep in mind that crops should get at least six hours of sunlight daily. Try not to locate the garden near trees, buildings, ridges or anything that will block out the sun.

While certain flowers have been bred to grow in shade, vegetables are sun worshipers and do not do well near trees, both because of the shade and the competition from tree roots. A hardwood tree 1 1/2 feet in diameter at shoulder height gives off as much as 125 tons of water in a single season, robbing plants not only of sun but also of water for nearby soil.

If you must garden in semi-shade, try increasing the light intensity by installing aluminum sheets or other reflectors to accent the sun's rays, as small space gardeners often do.

Steer clear of black walnut trees. Gardens should not be planted within 30 feet of trees in the black walnut family since they produce a toxic substance called juglone through the roots. Many vegetables such as tomatoes, corn, peppers and others will become stunted, wilted or even die, when their roots come in contact with walnut roots.

Soil Texture: Sometimes a soil is heavy clay, but don't let this discourage you from planting a garden. There are ways of making it more friable (workable). Here is a simple test for soil fitness: Grab a handful of moist earth and squeeze it tightly for ten seconds. If the soil breaks in several places when dropped from a 3-foot height, it's workable. Soil that forms a mudball that will not break into pieces when the test is applied is apt to be too difficult to work in its present state.

Another way to tell if your soil has good "tilth" or working quality is to feel it with your fingers. If the soil has a nice "loamy" texture, it's great for plants. Loam (called "loom" by old timers) is simply a well balanced mixture of large, medium and small particles of sand, silt and clay.