I often try to maximize space by intercropping; that is grow many different plants in basically the same space. The classic method of intercropping that many people find popular is the Three Sisters garden. Which can take up a lot of space.

But I also intercrop on a much smaller scale as well. That is I use and exploit horizontal, vertical and temporal space in a small space similar to a larger Three Sisters garden. And with other crops. For example, I will plant tall thin crops (garlic, onions, dill, etc) with lower more horizontal crops (lettuce, radish, etc). And for intercropping I also try to select varieties that will mature at about the same time. So harvest of each occurs also at about the same time period (i.e. the temporal space). The temporal component thus, to me, means that most of my intercropping differs from succession planting. I consider succession planting as similar to intercropping, except it has a more variable temporal period for the different crops for their growth and harvest (and thus is another topic, which I will deal with in another post).

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