You can get more plants out of your vegetable plot - and reduce pest damage at the same time - by interplanting a mixture of vegetables in a wide row. Choose plants that can be sown in the same season and, for the fun of it, follow a theme. A salad row, for example, might consist of radishes, cress, red and green leaf lettuces, chicory, dill and parsley.
First, prepare a row at least 3ft/1m wide. Combine all the seeds in a small jar (a jam jar is ideal). Then punch a dozen or more holes in the lid and screw it on. Using the jar as a shaker, sprinkle seeds sparsely over the whole row. Scratch the surface lightly with a rake to cover the seeds, then water gently.
Thinning will be the only real chore and needs to be an on-going process. Widen the intervals between plants only as they actually need the room, since the less soil you leave bare, the less chance there is for weeds to invade. A thick blanket of foliage also shades the soil, acting much as a mulch would.
Be imaginative and choose other themes: a spaghetti sauce row, with tomato and onion seedlings, basil and garlic; or a soup row, with kale, carrots, leeks, turnips, beets and potatoes.
