On Thursday, on the way back from the library, in a space along side a house with only a courtyard there was a space of dirt that was, perhaps, 12 inches wide and at most 60 inches long, I saw several tall, health corn plants growing proudly through the shaded streets to reach the sun. Corn! Imagine that! Surely next year there is somewhere in my yard that I, too, can have corn.
It makes me proud to know that even in a tiny space that things CAN and DO grow. This growing season is teaching me that even if you don't have the space to plant individual plants 36-48 inches away from one another that they will still grow. One might have to use extra care and diligence to tend the plants and reach past some plants to get to another but it can be done.
Some more seasoned gardeners might insist that the plant can't reach its full potential all squished together with its mates but I think it's worth a try. In nature, seeds don't always space themselves out the 'proper recommended amount of space.' In the garden of a woman that is much more urban than suburban or rural they don't seem to mind.
What do you think?
