What spacing works best in raised garden beds?
Written by
Liu Xiaohui
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.When you plant zucchini in raised beds, spacing is critical to the amount of produce as well as health. When plants are crowded, they compete for light and nutrients and can suffer from disease. My clients who adhere to strict spacing practices have described harvesting 40% more squash than those who estimate their distances.
Bush Varieties
- 2-3 feet between plants
- 18" from bed edges
- Stagger rows for airflow
Vining Types
- 4 feet spacing with trellis
- Train vines daily
- Use nylon net supports
Square Foot Method
- 1 plant per 2x2' section
- Prune secondary vines
- Vertical growth only
Trellis systems change the way you garden zucchini. A client's zucchini vines in Vermont reached 15 feet in length, and he harvested 63 zucchini from four plants. It is also a good idea to use cloth slings to support the heavy squash. Each trellis should be spaced 4 feet apart, as vertically crowded plants would still overshadow lower leaves and produce mildew.
Prevent Soil Erosion
- Install metal edging
- Mulch with straw
- Plant marigold borders
Maximize Space
- Interplant with radishes
- Use triangular spacing
- Install drip lines early
Square foot gardening requires precision. I use nail polish on the bed frames to mark planting holes; this helps prevent accidental overcrowding. With bush types of vegetables, I space them 24" apart so the leaves are brushing against each other (in some cases with the leaves overlapping) and the resultant density acts as a living mulch keeping weeds at bay and allowing airflow. Measure twice, plant once.
Read the full article: When to Plant Zucchini: Perfect Timing for Big Harvests
