May, 1917 
WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE 
135 
Planning the Garden. 
By J. P. Hepler, College of Agri- 
culture, University of Wis- 
consin. 
The greatest returns can be ob- 
tained from the garden only when 
the garden is definitely planned. 
The difference in times required 
for maturity and of space needed 
by different vegetables, the sea- 
son at which they grow best, and 
the greatest utilization of the 
garden area practically necessi- 
tate a garden plan. 
— 
Three Classes of Garden Crops. 
In garden planning, the first 
thing to recognize is that garden 
crops may be grouped into three 
j general classes : permanent crops 
(those which occupy the alloted 
i, area during the entire season ; 
semi-permanent crops (those 
I which are planted rather late and 
after planting occupy the area so 
long as to usually preclude the 
growing of other crops after they 
are removed) ; and short season 
crops (those which occupy the 
land for a comparatively short pe- 
; riod). In the first group we have 
i late beets, late carrots, parsnips, 
|| salsify, chard, parsley, early to- 
i matoes and onions grown from 
I seed. The second group are sweet 
j corn, late tomatoes, late cabbage, 
I celery, eggplant, peppers, late 
beans, and the vine crops. The 
third group contains lettuce, spin- 
ach, early beans, peas, radishes, 
I turnips, onions from sets, and 
i early cabbage. 
In making the plan for the city 
i garden, the permanent and semi- 
permanent crops should be given 
first attention. The short season 
i crops are easily provided for 
1 either as succession crops or as 
companion crops. Succession crop- 
ping is following one crop with 
another on the same area. Early 
radishes or lettuce followed by 
late cabbage or celery is an ex- 
ample of succession cropping. 
Companion cropping is growing a 
short season crop between the 
rows of those which are perma- 
nent or semi-permanent. Early 
carrots or early beets between 
corn or late tomatoes furnishes 
an illustration of companion crop- 
ping. The most successful gar- 
dener is the one who, through 
well-planned succession and com- 
panion cropping, makes his gar- 
In the city garden, the distan- 
ces between rows should be kept 
at the minimum and still allow 
for proper development of the 
plants and ease of tillage opera- 
tions. The following table will 
be of assistance in determining 
the distances to be used. Atten- 
tion is called to the fact that 
where companion cropping is 
done, the distance between the 
rows of permanent or semi-perma- 
nent crops remains the same, the 
companion crops merely being 
placed between the rows. 
Crop 
Method of 
planting 
Time of 
first 
Distances between 
rows 
Distance 
in row 
Time crop occupies 
ground 
planting 
Min. 
Max. 
(Inches) 
Beet 
Drills 
May 1 
12 
24 
3 
10 weeks to end of season. 
Carrot 
Drills 
May 1 
12 
24 
2 
10 weeks to end of season. 
Parsnip 
Drills 
May 1 
12 
24 
3 
All season. 
Radish 
Drills 
Apr. 20 
6 
15 
1 
4-7 weeks. 
Salsify 
Drills 
May 1 
12 
34 
2 
All season 
Turnip 
Drills 
Apr. 20 
9 
15 
3 
6-8 weeks 
Rutabaga 
Drills 
May 15 
IX 
24 
6 
10 weeks to end of season 
Onion 
Drills 
Apr. 20 
12 
18 
3 
8-12 weeds. 
Early Cabbage.... 
Hills 
May 1 
18 
24 
14-18 
10-12 weeks. 
Late Cabbage 
Hills 
June 20 
24 
36 
18-20 
End of season. 
Chard 
Hills 
May 1 
18 
24 
8-12 
All season. 
Celery 
Hills 
May 15 
July 1 
18 
36 
6 
12-15 weeks. 
Lettuce 
Both 
Apr. 20 
12 
24 
8 
6-8 weeks. 
Endive 
Hills 
July 15 
12 
24 
6 
6-8 weeks. 
Spinach , 
Drills 
A pr. 20 
12 
24 
1-2 
5-8 weeks. 
Parsley 
Both 
May 1 
12 
24 
2-6 
All season. 
Pea 
Drills 
Apr. 20 
18 
30 
2-3 
7-10 weeks. 
Rean 
Both 
May 20 
18 
30 
3-4 
7-10 weeks. 
Eggplant 
Dills 
June 5 
24 
30 
18 
All season. 
Pepper 
Hills 
June 5 
24 
30 
18 
All season. 
Tomato 
Hills 
June 1 
24 
30 
24-48 
All season. 
Cucumber 
Hills 
June 1 
43 
72 
48-60 
All season. 
Muskmelon 
H ills 
June 1 
48 
72 
48-60 
All season. 
Squash 
Hills 
May 23 
48 
96 
48-95 
All season. 
Sweet Corn 
Hills 
May 15 
24 
36 
8-12 
10-12 weeks. 
Winter Radish 
Drills 
Aug. 1 
12 
24 
3-4 
To end of season. 
Chinese Cabbage. 
Hills 
Aug. 1 
16 
24 
12 
To end of season. 
den produce the maximum of 
which it is capable. 
Companion Cropping. 
In planning for companion and 
succession cropping, it is essen- 
tial that the season at which the 
crop grows best and the time re- 
quired for it to mature be given 
consideration. If this is not done 
there will be overlapping of 
crops and unsatisfactory results. 
Potatoes Require Much Room. 
Potato “seed” is prepared by 
cutting potatoes into irregular 
shaped pieces so that each piece 
has two or three eyes, preferably 
three. These are planted at 
least 12 inches apart in the row 
and the rows 24 to 30 inches 
apart. When whole potatoes are 
used, small ones, these are planted 
at least two feet apart. At this 
rate the average “back lotter” 
cannot afford to grow potatoes. 
