Planting Tips

Garden Mats make it easy to lay out and plant your garden. Use these tips to make your vegetables as healthy and productive as possible. The Mats are designed to be flexible so you can mix and match what you plant in all of the patterns, but we’ve noted below the optimal mat for each crop.  Vegetables are in alphabetical order.

Artichoke

artichoke growing in garden mats weed barrier Use Mat #7 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Arugula

arugula Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Asparagus

asparagus We're working on it! In 2014 we plan to experiment with a mat with a 12" or 14" hole. But it takes 3 years before asparagus matures so we won't know for a while.
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Basil

basil Use Mat #5 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Beans, bush, lima, wax

green beans Use Mat #3 . Prepare your soil with compost, manure and whatever else you normally use. Rake a flat surface for your mat. Pin your mat down per the instructions on the packaging sleeve. Plant 1 seed per hole.

Beans, pole

pole beans Use Mat #7 . Use a post hole digger and dig a hole 12” to 18” deep. Put a 7’ to 8’ pole in the hole and fill in with dirt. Plant 8 – 10 seeds around the pole in a 6” circle.

Beets

beets Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Bok Choy

bok choy Use Mat #7 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Broccoli

broccoli thriving in garden mats Use Mat #5 . This mat has 3 rows of 4” holes, laid out in a grid pattern, 12” on center. Plant one seedling per hole.

Brussels Sprouts

brussels sprouts Use Mat #8 . This mat has 1 row of 6” holes, 24” on center. Plant one seedling per hole.
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Cabbage

cabbage Use Mat #7 . This mat has 1 row of 6” holes, 24” on center. Plant one seedling per hole.

Cardoon

cardoon Use Mat #7 . Plant two seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Carrots

Use Mat# 2 . Put 3-5 seeds per hole and once the plants come up, thin to 2-3 plants per hole.

Cauliflower

cauliflower Use Mat #7 . This mat has 1 row of 6” holes, 24” on center. Plant one seedling per hole.

Celeriac

celeriac Use Mat #2 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Celery

celery Use Mat #2 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Chayote

chayote Use Mat #7 . Plant two seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Chickpeas, garbanzo beans

chickpeas Use Mat #4 . Plant two seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Chicory

chicory Use Mat #5 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Chinese Cabbage

napa cabbage Use Mat #7 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Chives

chives Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Cilantro (coriander)

Use Mat #2 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Collards

collards Use Mat #5 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Corn

corn Use Mat #5 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Cress

cress Use Mat #2 . Plant two seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Cucumbers

cucumber Use Mat #8 . Plant 3-5 seeds per hole, and once the plants come up thin to 2-3 plants per hole.
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Dill

dill Use Mat #1 or Mat #2 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.
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Eggplant

eggplant Use Mat #5 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Endive

endive Use Mat #6 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.
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Fennel

fennel Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.
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Garlic

garlic Use Mat #9 . Plant one clove per hole. It is best to plant garlic in the fall to harvest the following year.
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Horseradish

Use Mat #7 . Plant four to six seeds per hole and thin to 3 to 4 plants per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.
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Jerusalem Artichokes, sunchokes

jersusalem artichokes, sunchokes Use Mat #5 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.
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Kale

kale Use Mat #5 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Kohlrabi

kohlrabi Use Mat #2 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.
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Leeks

leeks Use Mat #2 . Plant three to four seeds per hole and thin to two plants per hole. Or plant two starter plant per hole.

Lemongrass

lemongrass Use Mat #7 . Plant four to six seeds per hole and thin to 3 to 4 plants per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Lettuce

lettuce Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.
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Marjoram

marjoram Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Melons, watermelons, musk, honeydew, etc.

melons Use Mat #8 . Plant 3-5 seeds per hole, and once the plants come up thin to 2-3 plants per hole.

Mustard

mustard greens Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.
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Napa Cabbage

napa cabbage Use Mat #7 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Nasturtium

Use Mat #2 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one or two plants per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.
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Okra

okra Use Mat #5 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Onions, bulb

onions Use Mat #2 . Plant one onion set per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Onions, green (scallions)

scallions Use Mat #2 . Plant six to eight seeds per hole. Thin to four to six plants.

Oregano

oregano Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.
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Parsley

parsley Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Parsnips

parsnips Use Mat #2 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Peas, black-eyed

black eyed peas Use Mat #4 . Plant two seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Peas, snow, snap, & shell

snow peas Use Mat #3 . Drive a metal stake in the last hole at both ends of each row. Next, stretch 4’ high chicken wire in between the stakes from end to end over each row. If necessary, add one or two more stakes in the middle, depending on the length of the mat you are using, and how heavy-duty your stakes are. You don't want the fencing to droop in the middle. Once the fencing is in place, you're ready to plant. Put in one or two seeds per hole, about 1 to 1 ½ inches deep.

Peppers, bell, chili, etc.

yellow peppers growing in garden mats weed barrier Use Mat #4 or Mat #6 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole. Peppers like to be close enough to each other to rub leaves.

Potatoes

potatoes Use Mat #5 . Till your soil very deep with compost and some manure. Get down a good eight inches or so. This mat has 3 rows of 4” holes, laid out in a grid pattern, 12” on center. Just put a seed potato – callused, of course – in each hole to a depth of about 5 or 6 inches.

Pumpkins

pumpkins Use Mat #8 . Plant 3-5 seeds per hole, and once the plants come up thin to 2-3 plants per hole.
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Radicchio

Use Mat #2 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one or two plants per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Radishes

radishes Use Mat# 2 . Put 3-5 seeds per hole and once the plants come up, thin to 2-3 plants per hole.

Rosemary

rosemary Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Rutabaga

rutabaga Use Mat #2 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.
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Sage

sage Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Scallions (green onions)

scallions Use Mat #2 . Plant six to eight seeds per hole. Thin to four to six plants.

Shallots

shallots Use Mat #2 . Plant one bulb per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Sorrel

sorrel Use Mat #5 . Plant two seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Soybeans, edamame

Use Mat #3 . Plant one seed per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Spinach

Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Squash, summer (including zucchini)

yellow summer squash Use Mat #8 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Squash, winter

winter squash Use Mat #8 . Plant 3-5 seeds per hole, and once the plants come up thin to 2-3 plants per hole.

Sweet Potatoes, yams

Use Mat #5 . Till your soil very deep with compost and some manure. Get down a good eight inches or so. This mat has 3 rows of 4” holes, laid out in a grid pattern, 12” on center. Just put a seed potato – callused, of course – in each hole to a depth of about 5 or six inches.

Swiss chard

swiss chard Use Mat #5 . This mat has 3 rows of 4” holes, laid out in a grid pattern, 12” on center. Plant one plant per hole.
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Tarragon

tarragon Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Thyme

Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Tobacco

tobacco Use Mat #7 . Plant two seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Tomatillo

tomatillo Use Mat #7 . Plant two seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.

Tomatoes

tomatoes Use Mat #7 . This mat has two rows of 8” holes that are 24” apart. The 8” holes are large enough for a round or ladder tomato cage or stake. Plant one seedling per hole.

Turnips

turnips Use Mat #2 . Plant two or three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.
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Zucchini (summer squash)

zucchini Use Mat #8 . Plant two to three seeds per hole and thin to one plant per hole. Or plant one starter plant per hole.
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