Block plantings use space efficiently, because only the area to be planted is fertilized and fortified with soil-enriching organic materials such as compost and composted manures. The well-nourished soil supports plantings made close enough together to form a leafy, moisture-conserving canopy over the soil.

Planting in intensively spaced blocks at ground level or in slightly raised beds suits modestly sized vegetables that are commonly grown in rows -- root and salad crops, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, onions and leeks for example.

When planting beds of annual flowers, I use a similar closely spaced block method as for many of the vegetables, also in generously fortified soil. The result is a full-bodied display of foliage and bloom.

Sowing annual flowers in rows is preferable to scattering the seed, because weeding and thinning is far easier when the emerging growth is arranged in rows. It's a nightmare trying to pick your way through a scattered hodgepodge of seedlings, especially if you're growing a flower mixture, or something new whose seedling growth is not familiar. As the planting grows and fills in, the rows are not at all discernible. There's no danger of a military lineup look.

PLANTING TECHNIQUE

When seeding a prepared block of soil, sow thinly to eliminate really tough thinning later. That's easiest to do if you hold a bit of seed in the palm of one hand and take out pinches between thumb and forefinger of the other hand. By gently moving finger against thumb as you move down a furrow, it's possible to dispense seeds with parsimonious accuracy.

After sowing, close the furrow by drawing soil back over the seeds with the blade of a hoe. Use the flat of the blade to tamp the furrow down so that seeds and soil are firmly connected.

To keep track of where I've planted, I usually drift a scant line of lime over each seeded row before carrying on with the next row. In the generously enriched soil of a bed prepared for block planting, rows can be placed a little closer together than is recommended. For example, instead of the usual 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in) distance between carrot rows, I'll reduce that to 20 or 25 cm (eight or 10 in).

Save space with other edibles by growing as much as you can vertically rather than sprawled over the ground. Grow cucumbers on wire fencing or netting, and keep in mind that pole and runner beans grown on fencing or bamboo teepees take up less space than blocks of bush beans.