Growing in Containers - What size and Why

Q. Other than being able to figure up the nutrient amounts for Grow-Boxes, is there a reason why they are only 18 inches wide?

A. Dr. Mittleider experimented with many different sizes and configurations over the years, and he settled on two widths as being the best. Eighteen inch-wide beds allow two rows of most plants, with a single PVC watering pipe down the middle of the box or bed able to accurately and thoroughly water both rows of plants.

Narrower boxes don't give enough room between the two rows of plants and there is crowding. And wider boxes don't get watered as efficiently, and the space is wasted.

A 4'-wide box allows 4 rows of plants, with almost 2' in the center for light and air. Planting is near both edges and 12" in from the outside rows. Once again, this allows for very efficient watering with two drilled PVC pipes down the center of the two sets of rows.

A box that is wider than 4' begins to waste space, and is more difficult to work the middle of the box. A narrower box does not provide enough light in the center, and fewer plants can be grown.

Four-foot-wide boxes give the highest productivity in a given space, because the "aisle" between the two sets of rows is only 2', rather than the 3 1/2' of the regular aisles.