Overcrowded plants cannot grow rapidly or reach a good size. Thin small root crops, salad crops, and those grown for greens early at the second or third true leaf stage. Thin root crops, such as beets or carrots, so the plants are 2 inches apart in the row. Thin radishes so plants are 1 inch apart and head lettuce to 12 inches apart.
The table below lists the standard spacing for each crop. However, different spacings may be required in your garden.
General planting requirements (distance in inches)
| Vegetables | Between plants in rows | Between rows (no beds) |
|---|---|---|
| artichoke | 48 | 60 |
| beans, snap | 30 | 45-55 |
| beets | 18 | 32 |
| broccoli | 36 | 32 |
| cabbage | 24 | 36 |
| cantaloupes and other melons | 12 | 72 |
| carrots | 2 | 24 |
| cauliflower | 24 | 36 |
| celery | 5 | 24 |
| chayote | 72 | Use trellis (no row spacing) |
| corn, sweet | 12 | 36 |
| cucumbers | 24 | 48 |
| eggplant | 18 | 36 |
| garlic | 3 | 18 |
| kale | 18-24 | 24-30 |
| kohlrabi | 3 | 24 |
| lettuce | 24 | 32 |
| okra | 18 | 36 |
| onions, bulb | 3 | 18 |
| onions, green | 1-2 | 6-12 |
| parsley | 8 | 24 |
| parsnips | 3 | 24 |
| peppers | 24 | 36 |
| potatoes, sweet | 12 | 36 |
| potatoes, white | 12 | 30 |
| pumpkins | 48 | 72 |
| rhubarb | 36 | 48 |
| spinach | 3 | 18 |
| squash, summer | 24 | 48 |
| squash, winter | 24-48 | 72 |
| tomatoes | 18-36 | 36-60 |
| watermelons | 24-60 | 60-72 |
Source: California Master Gardener Handbook, Table 13.2, Adapted from Vegetable Gardening Illustrated 1994.