Mastering the 30 inch Bed: Our Crop Spacing Guide

Standardizing your spacing makes life so much easier in the middle of the season.

Success on a small-scale farm or backyard garden isn’t just about better soil, a good crew, and luck; it’s about maximizing your growing space. I’ve spent years creating and changing and updating and refining crop plans to find the sweet spot between value and plant health. I’m sharing my farm notes to share the exact crop spacing I use for our standard 30-inch permanent beds.

This guide is specifically curated for hand-scale market gardeners who prioritize quality and quantity over tractor-width rows. Whether you’re using a Jang seeder, a paperpotter, or transplanting by hand, these measurements are designed to help you hit your yield targets without over-crowding your crops. I’ve found that tight, standardized spacing not only boosts production but also eases the stress of crop planning and research time in the field! Who has the time to research in may? I keep this copy on me every time I seed. (It’s mostly a copy in my brain now- but you get it)

Below, you’ll find my spreadsheet covering the typical crops grown on veggie farms. If you are looking to streamline your intensive vegetable production and take the guesswork and stress out of your field prep, this data is for you. I hope it helps!