Drawing a garden plan on paper has several advantages. It saves money because excess seeds and transplants are not purchased. A plan ensures continuous harvest when the gardener pencils in the crops that will follow the first planting.

Using reference materials, gardeners can plant the exact amount of seeds or transplants needed for a desired, per-person harvest.

Use graph paper or indicate exactly how to space plants in terms of feet and inches. This promotes neatness and manageability. Garden plans kept from year to year serve as a valuable record from which to learn. A garden plan helps with proper CROP ROTATION to control disease.

The perennial crops of rhubarb and asparagus should be placed so they will not be disturbed.

How each gardener chooses to space plants in the vegetable garden is affected mostly by how much space is available. The tendency of gardeners with small plots is to squeeze too many plants into the space. The result is that nothing does well. On the other hand, some people with large plots normally waste space. The goal is to match the spacing plan to the plot size.