First, some terminology: The area that plants are seeded is called a bed. The narrow spaces between rows within a planting bed are called partitions. The wide space between any two of the beds are called intervals or aisles.

Coastalfields begins planting seed crops in early March. We start with a well-tilled bed.

Wider Rows are Better

Through scientific experiments, we have determined that beds between 36" and 84" have the best benefits of tillage, with a very high return for beds between 48" and 72" feet wide. You should conduct trials for your own land, even if it is likely that you will only confirm our more than 10 years of research: by undertaking trials, you will learn much more than just how wide to make your beds.

Then, we plant 3-4 crops per bed. We decide which crops based on their nutrient requirements. While well-tilled, irrigated soil provides enough minerals (including water) for the plant, some consideration must be made for sunlight and air: when the plants are full-grown, we don't want them crowding each other so much that they starve each other of light and air. Air, like the soil minerals, is there in plenty, so it comes down to light.

Light is effected by the height of the plants. In Colorado and in other places where the heat of the day is great, the goal is to reduce the light on the plants. In cooler climates, the goal is to improve the light penetration to the plants. All plants do better with partial shade and so we not only plant larger plants (such as favas and broccolis) with the smaller plants (such as lettuce, peas and spinach), but allow weeds to grow up tall among the crops. Weeds are so important to crops!

We plant our favas 4"-8" apart (average = 6") in rows that are 8"-16" apart (average = 12"), our spinaches and peas we plant 1"-3" apart (average = 2") in rows that are 4"-6" apart (average = 4"). We plant our broccolis 8"-16" apart (average = 12") in rows that are 18"-30" (average = 24") apart.

Wider Aisles are Better

You will notice that we leave in between rows enough space for one whole plant: if we expect the broccolis to grow up to be about a foot in diameter, we leave about a foot between rows. This is done mostly to help the weeds grow: the more widely plants are spaced, the greater the biodiversity in your field. The more biodiversity in your field, the greater your yield! If you doubt the ability of weeds to improve your yield, undertake trials and you will see that wider rows are better.

We plan our aisles to be between 24" and 72" wide. Again, wider is better: we till our aisles regularly...sometimes even more than once per week! Tillage improves not only the ability of plants to eat, but improves the food that they will be eating! Having 72" well-tilled aisles surrounding only a double row of crops in a 12" bed is not excessive. That said, it is necessary to calculate the return to cost and the point at which you receive the maximum return to costs (including but not limited to labor, water, land, all calories, time, money and materials/equipment). We recommend you undertake your own trials so that you can observe and learn from them, confirming for yourself that wider aisles are better.

Planting Into Ripening Beds

When these crops are done, we will till up the soil again before replanting, making sure to not kill any keystone individuals or species (refer to our documents on good tillage or contact us for more information). However, there are some times (especially when land is scarce) that you may need to plant into your previous crop before that crop is done. What do you do?

You can, because your good tillage has brought your soil to be as soft as potting soil, simply poke in the seeds where they should be planted with a dibble or hand trowel. While mechanized farms (those that rely upon seed drills) are at a disadvantage and cannot undertake this practice of planting into a ripening bed, if a farm can afford to mechanize, they can usually afford the inefficiency of land use: the cost of not tilling up the bed before planting reduces the fertility of the field and presents its own costs. Undertake your own cost/benefit analysis to learn at what point you should consider tilling up before planting, or simply planting into an untilled bed while the previous crops ripen.

When we plant into the unripened bed, we sometimes must make room for the sprouting plants. Sprouts (especially in the Colorado summer) appreciate the partial or full shade conditions that exist under your current crop. However, as they begin to mature, you may want to clear a little bit of room. This may be done by hand, trimming back weeds and planted crops one branch at a time. The seedlings don't need much light, so go easy on the thinning! Remember, try not to kill any plant as you thin!

Do Not Make Rows Wide Enough To Till

Tillage should be done in aisles between beds, not between rows. It is no use to have aisles if every row is wide enough to till between. Beds are as necessary as aisles (for weeds, etc.). Therefore do not make your rows wide enough to till between: otherwise, you'll be compelled to till in the bed and ruin what benefit the bed gives to the crops.

In example, if shoveling is the principle means of tillage, and the shovel may easily be applied to any width greater than 18 inches, the distance between rows should not exceed 18 inches.

Soil is Prepared Best by Good Tillage and Management

With good tillage and management, you can start planting even in early March: the ground is warmer and softer, more ready to fruit for you. You can have a long, productive season.