The Early Hardy Vegetable Garden The following information on the early hardy vegetable garden comes from Five Acres and Independence by M. G. Kains. Five Acres and Independence is also available to purchase in print. The Early Hardy Vegetable Garden *Lettuce plants may alternate with these plants if set on the same day. The lettuce will have matured before the other plants need the space. +The “unit distance” between plants is a personal choice—12 or 15 inches, as a rule, though 10 may answer in some cases. Click here to purchase Five Acres and Independence in paperback Return to Five Acres and Independence Table of Contents