Maximizing Plant bed area.

[kgetpeppers]

Hello THP, I have graciously been graced by the tree cutting gods and my neighbors cut down both of their TOWERING 100 foot trees that shaded 80% of my backyard..
 
That being said, I was granted a corner of the family yard to do my own thing and have 2 beds planned. 8' by 4' long each with a 1-2 foot space between the beds allowing for harvest. 
 
With regards to plant spacing etc as im mostly a container grower. How many can I get in the plots while maintaining good growth?
 
 
Thanks
Kurt 

 

[compmodder26]

Check out JoynersHotPeppers pic of his raised bed last year: http://thehotpepper.com/topic/46563-square-foot-gardeningpeppers-plants/#entry981073
 
He planted 1 plant per square foot and as you can see, had phenomenal results.
 
I'm going to be doing a checkerboard pattern for my community garden plot this year:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7098206/2014%20Pepper%20Grow/Community%20Plot.pdf

 

[Terravexti]

Four really big plant in each plot. Or eight not as big plants in each plot.

 

[juanitos]

I'm going to be doing a checkerboard pattern for my community garden plot this year:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7098206/2014%20Pepper%20Grow/Community%20Plot.pdf

yeah i would do the checkerway if i had those. Maybe put two on the ends since there will be some room to grow out.
 
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then you can just run a dripline in a circle around the bed one hour a day or something and you're good to go..

 

[kgetpeppers]

yeah i would do the checkerway if i had those. Maybe put two on the ends since there will be some room to grow out.
 
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then you can just run a dripline in a circle around the bed one hour a day or something and you're good to go..

Yeah then I could fit around 16 plants in each bed with decent space between. Planting only 8 seems like a waste.

 

[kgetpeppers]

Squeezing in 16 plants will be interesting. hopefully still get some poddage

 

[PepperWhisperer]

2' between rows is more than needed. Reduce the outside and inter-row spacing to 1' and you can add another row!
 
Old: 2(edge) + 2(grow) + 2(walkway) + 2(grow) + 2(edge) = 10'
 
New: 1(edge) + 2(grow) + 1(walkway) + 2(grow) + 1(walkway) + 2(grow) + 1(edge) = 10'
 
In late summer your walkways will be pretty overgrown, but you will have more pepper so...YAY!

 

[kgetpeppers]

2' between rows is more than needed. Reduce the outside and inter-row spacing to 1' and you can add another row!
 
Old: 2(edge) + 2(grow) + 2(walkway) + 2(grow) + 2(edge) = 10'
 
New: 1(edge) + 2(grow) + 1(walkway) + 2(grow) + 1(walkway) + 2(grow) + 1(edge) = 10'
 
In late summer your walkways will be pretty overgrown, but you will have more pepper so...YAY!

Great idea man.  Thanks!!!!