3,055. Planting Nine (or More) Species in the Same Row

Hilchos Kilayim 4:14

Let’s say that there’s a boundary a handbreadth wide (about 3”) that was planted with multiple species, as was discussed in halacha 4:12. If the height of the boundary is reduced, it remains valid since it was valid when it was planted.

Hilchos Kilayim 4:15

If someone wants to fill his garden with different species of vegetables without separating between them, he must divide the garden into rows of squares, even six handbreadths by six handbreadths (about 18”x18”). He then makes five circles per row – one for each corner and one in the middle. He may then plant a different vegetable in each circle, plus he may plant four species in the four corners, with the result that there are nine species per row, each visually distinct from the others. He need only leave empty the space between the circles. This must be left unplanted so that the circles will be visually distinct from the corners and from one another. If he doesn’t want to leave empty space unplanted, he may proceed as follows: If the circles are planted vertically, he can plant between them horizontally; if they’re planted horizontally, he can plant between them vertically. This will make them visually distinct from one another.