Is it better to plant your vegetable garden in rows or small patches?

It depends on what you are growing. Most things will need to grow in rows even if you divide your garden into patches. They will need varying space between them to provide room for root growth to maintain its good health and productivity. I have never had really large gardens so I do tend to shorten the space between plants by a smidge and have not had problems and have very abundant harvests. There is no problem with having one patch for peppers, one for green beans, tomatoes, etc. but put them in rows within the patch. Makes for much easier care and harvesting.

squre foot gardening vs. traditional rows. Square foot or small patches are generally planted in blocks....when you harves a veg you plant a new seed. you may or may not depending on local see the 2nd planting come to maturity. its good when space is limited.

traditional planting is rows may get you a bigger crop....better for preserving food i.e. Frezzing or canning.

I like rows because then I can use straw mulch inbetween the plants and I have more room to weed, or reap the crops. To me it seems that in patches causes them to become overcrowded which means less crops

Raised gardens are really great. Row planting is the most efficient for farms, but not for home gardens IMHO.

Depends on the crop. I do not have the luxury of space in my full sun yard so I plant things wherever I have room.

I would say rows, so we can walk between them, to properly water them., tho this is your area, so do as you please. The reason, is usually to make it easier for each area to get to, to care for the crop of vegibles. Best wishes, J.

Just leave yourself enough room to pick, in each area, Once, they get producing food, this may all run in every direction, then it may be a real problem to get to a precise area. Good luck, J.