How to Grow More Vegetables

Sustainable Vegetable Garden.)
It should be noted that:

• You may not reach maximum yields in the first year.
  Also, 1 plant grown alone will probably not produce
  as large a yield as 1 plant grown among several plants
  under mini-climate conditions.^1


• Seeds grown out of season will take longer to
  germinate and/or may decompose before they do
  germinate unless grown under special mini-greenhouse
  or shade netting conditions.


• Closer spacing may be needed during the winter to
  make up for slower plant growth during this period
  and to create a balanced winter mini-climate. (Try
  three-quarters or one-half the usual spacing with
  lettuce in the winter.) Closer spacing can also promote
  faster, balanced growth by more rapidly creating a
  mini-climate. Thin any extra plants to make room for
  larger plants. (Baby carrots and beets are a delicacy.)


• You may need wider spacings in the humid tropics
  during the wetter months.

Note: Microbial life-forms thrive and greatly increase in activity when the nighttime

air temperature reaches a minimum of 60°F. The next time you go out in the

morning early in the season and notice that your garden has grown a foot overnight

and is a darker, lush green, check the previous night’s temperature. You may be

surprised!

Other Key Air Temperatures

32°F: Nitrogen release begins in the soil.