What are recommended plant spacings?

Ray Scheel(z8b/SS31 E. TX)January 1, 2013

In the following list, all spacings are according to Mel in SFG (chapter 18) unless otherwise indicated (Mel left a few out!)

Basil	1/sqft (Note: WAY too small for some of us in warmer climates! Try 1/4 sqft, or plant 1/sqft and trim that sucker like crazy!)
Beans: bush (French)	9/sqft
Beans: pole (Runner)	8/sqft on pole or trellis
Beets	16/sqft
Broccoli	1/sqft
Brussels Sprouts	1/sqft
Cabbage	1/sqft
Carrots	16/sqft
Cauliflower	1/sqft
Celery	4/sqft (6")
Chard(Swiss)	4/sqft
Corn	1/sqft - must plant in blocks of at least 4ft x 4ft to get an attractive kernel set
Cucumbers	2/sqft in a row of 4 sqft (6" apart along middle of trellissed sqft row)
Daffodils	36/sqft
Eggplant	1/sqft (Note: those of us in hot climates find this MUCH too small for eggplant!)
Garlic	4/sqft (6") Some say 9/sqft (4")
Leeks	9/sqft (see special technique in 2/96 OG)
Lettuce	4/sqft
Marjoram	4/sqft (according to sqft reader Kevin M. Wilson)
Muskmelons	1/sqft (grow in row of 4 squares, on trellis)
Okra	1-2/sqft
Onions	16/sqft
Oregano	1-4/sqft
Parsley	4/sqft
Peas	8/sqft some varieties on trellis, some varieties are bush
Peppers	1/sqft
Potatoes	1/sqft
Radishes	16/sqft
Savory	1/sqft
Scallions	36/sqft (2")
Spinach	9/sqft
Squash	Summer: vine-type 3/4sqft (see special grid); bush-type 1/3sqft Winter: 1/2sqft (see special grid)
Thyme	4/sqft
Tomatoes	bush-type: 4/4sqft (see special grid); vine-type 1/sqft (in row of 4 on trellis)
Watermelon	bush-type 1/sqft; vine-type 1/2sqft - both kinds along trellis
Zucchini	1/sqft

primary source for table: squarefootgardening. org .uk/sqftspacings. htm, 6/2003.

Asparagus and strawberries have dedicated cultivation practices outside the scope of this guide

This is very helpful information from Mel's website on converting standard seed spacings to sqft spacing:"Depending on the mature size of the plant, grow 1, 4, 9, or 16 equally spaced plants per square foot. If the seed packet recommends plant spacing be 12 inches apart, plant one plant per square foot. If 6 inch spacing; 4 per square foot. If 4 inch spacing; 9 per square foot. If 3 inch spacing; 16 per square foot."