Did anyone consider the plant variety? I know that Serrano's, Thai, Bolvian Rainbows take less room than Habs or SB's. SB's take less room than Habs. And you must consider normal weather, Jeff lives where its hot and dry. Slim to none chance of bacterial and fungal infections. If it's cool and humid, then you need greater spacing to get sunlight on your plants and on the ground. Most real good seed companies also have plant to plant and row to row spacing printed on the package. Byron