Definition of “Square Inch Gardening”
Q. I have a question about your gardening because we have an even smaller space and eat only raw/living foods. I have a family of 5 and we eat a LOT of veggies and fruits so I wondered if you could explain or direct me to a link to the "square inch gardening".
I've heard of square foot but not inch.
A. "Square inch gardening" is a term we coined to describe our method of growing many plants packed closely together, emulating how plants grow in nature. So if you have a small space for gardening, growing plants more closely together than recommended by seed packets may be beneficial. We sow our seeds very close together; in nature seeds don't measure distances in inches as is recommended on backs of seed packages. Spacing plants closer together acts like a "living mulch" - preventing evaporation from the soil and saving watering costs. We also plant multiple-layers. For instance, bigger vegetables like broccoli or peppers are planted with a carpet of greens - lettuce, arugula, etc., underneath. With this type of technique the green carpet acts like a living mulch, preventing weeds and keeping the soil moist.
This method of growing requires one to experiment since each garden's growing conditions are different. But you'll be rewarded with increased yields!
4 Comments: "Definition of “Square Inch Gardening”" »
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Thanks for this post. My partner and I have went back and forth on this subject for the last 2-3 years. I think we may have planted too closely in the past, and this year we spaced them a little further apart, though not as far as the seed packets suggest. Wish me luck!