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Planting/Gardening Help?

Hi everyone! I'm going to plant heirloom canteloupe, heirloom tomatoes, and sugar snap peas. And I'm not sure how far apart they should be spaced when I put the seeds into the ground. I know it says on the package but I have a hard time reading that for some reason... But anyways my question is How far apart do each of the 3 types of seeds need to be planted? And another thing, my garden is basicly just gonna be a wooden box filled with soil and also need to know how tall it should be for the roots to grow sufficiently? Sorry if this sounds all stupid and jumbled up. I'm not really familiar with this stuff. Oh Im sorry I live on the central coast of California

Public Comments

1. You don't say where you live. The sugar snap peas can be planted now, or about 6 weeks before your last frost date. You can plant them a mere 2 inches apart. They'll need something to climb. Canteloupe should be planted in the ground after danger of frost is past (check your hardiness zone, or with your neighbors to know when your last frost date is). Plant it six seed to a "hill" (a mounded pile of earth about 18" across and several inches high), thin to the strongest three seedlings, and leave plenty of space fot eh canteloupe vines to sprawl. They can go 8-10 feet or more. The tomatoes are usually started inside 6-8 weeks before they are planted out after your last frost date, because unless you live in a climate with a really mild winter, planting the seed directly in the ground might not give you enough time for a decent harvest in your area. Tomato starts are normally planted out with 2 1/2 feet between plants. They may look small at first, but they'll grow. They also will need to be caged or staked to keep them upright and the vines and fruit off the ground. --------------- If you're growing in containers, one tomato plant per container, and the larger the better. 18" across and 24" deep would be a good minimum for tomatoes. peas can be grown in a relatively shallow container, even 6 inches deep. Canteloupes I would go with bigger, like the tomatoes,. and have room for the vines to sprawl.
2. Tomatoes need LOTS of room, so that may be all you can grow, depending on the area of your box (which better not have a bottom on it if you want anything to grow). A single indeterminate tomato plant can fill a 4x4 bed almost completely. Not adviseable. Canteloupes can actually be grown upwards since they are a vine, but you need to give them adequate support. I strongly recommend doing this if you have limited space. http://media.commercialappeal.com/media/img/photos/2009/11/26/27garden_t607.jpeg Sugar snap peas are a cool season crop, so it may be too late for those at this point. The definitely don't grow at the same times tomatoes do. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snap_pea
3. Tomatoes and pea are fine, but I'm having a hard time imagining cantaloupe doing very well. Cantaloupe roots will grow deeper and spread wider than I think you'd want in a box. If you're really sure you want to do this though you will need a box that is at least 24" deep for the cantaloupe. The vines can spread about twelve feet, when it's fully grown, so you'll need a strong "ladder" for it to climb. The "ladder" should stick out of the dirt or better yet, be attached to the sides and should be 6 feet tall. A box that is 24"tall x 48"wide x 48" would probably work for one cantaloupe plant if you wrap the vines a bit as it grows and put the plant in the center. Peas will be fine in a box if you give it something to climb on. I guess what I would do is make a box 12"High x 36"Long x 12"Wide with a lattice or posts 5 feet tall for 3-5 pea plants. Pea plants should be about 10" apart and 6" from each side. A box that is 18" high x 18"Wide x 5"Long would fit 3-4 tomato plants. I'd put them 12" apart and 9" from each side. Also, if you want to plant "toms", you may want to buy starter plants instead of planting seeds or you might not get any since they take so long to grow. It sure sounds like a lot of work. Be sure to put a hole in the bottom of each box so water can drain out and not rot the roots. I'd put a couple hole under the cantaloupe. Make sure also that wherever you put the boxes gets at least 8 hours of direct sunlight and water it every 2 days without rain. Water it in the early morning or after dust though or the sun can burn the leaves. Well good luck.