Planting Straight Rows in the Vegetable Garden
Benefits of Planting in Rows
The best method when growing vegetables in the garden is by planting in rows. Row planting is when plants are grown in single rows that allow for more space and easier cultivating in the vegetable garden. Depending on how much room plants need for growing the rows can be adjusted between the plants and in each walkway alongside the row. It is more effective for transplanting, direct seeding, drip irrigation, and for the use of garden tools. With drip tape, we prefer this irrigation method over hand-watering because it conserves water, saves time, and allows for the plants to get all the nutrients they need directly to their roots. We also save space by planting along the row side-by-side because more plants can be planted in the garden area. Along with planting in rows, we break our garden up into subplots to make the garden area more manageable and for better crop rotation. Crop rotation is used to eliminate planting crops in the same area year after year which can drain your soil nutrients. Another reason we do this technique is to decrease pest and soil-borne diseases from damaging our plants in the garden. If you plant certain crops in the same area year after year the soil-borne diseases will start to damage that crop the longer they stay in the area. Crop rotation is important to improve the overall success of the vegetable production and soil structures in the vegetable garden.
Planting Straight Rows
On this week's episode, Travis explains the importance of planting straight rows in the vegetable garden area. We plant in straight rows because it is more effective and manageable in the garden. When planting side-by-side and parallel to one another we have more space to grow more plants. Another reason for having straight rows is it allows the garden to look nice and we can effectively use garden tools like the Wheel Hoe to cultivate in between the plants. There are a couple of techniques that you can use when trying to get that nice straight row for planting in the garden area. The first trick is by using a string and two stakes. So we place a stake on each end of the row and run the string between the stakes and tie it off. The strings sit about a foot above the soil or sometimes six inches and that indicates the straight row. Once you have the string ran along the row you can take a hand hoe and make a furrow to mark that row. Another way is if you have a Double Wheel Hoe you can run the string between the handles and use that as a guide to making a straight row as you work down along the row. However, this string technique can be time-consuming because you have to move that string for every row that you are wanting to make straight. The technique that Travis prefers to use is for planting straight rows is by taking a little hand hoe and scratching out a mark in the soil where he wants the beginning of the row to be. Then, he places a stake at the end of the row to drive towards. The trick to this technique is you never want to look down you always need to keep your eyes on what you are driving towards at the end of the row. Following this technique correctly will ensure that you get straight rows every time in the vegetable garden. Whether you use the string or drive towards a stake technique, planting straight rows in the garden are important to keep the garden nice, clean, and overall manageable for every growing season.