Kilaayim - Chapter 3

There are certain species of plants which will divide into separate forms because of the difference in the place [where they grow] and the differences in the manner in which the earth is cultivated until they appear as two species. Nevertheless, since they are one species, they are not considered as kilayim with each other.

And there are species of plants that resemble each other and whose form is close to being the same. Nevertheless, because they are two species, it is forbidden [to grow] them together.

What is implied? Lettuce with wavy lettuce,1 endives and wild endives, leek and wild leek, coriander and mountain coriander, mustard and Egyptian mustard, Egyptian squash and squash of ashes,2 are not considered as kilayim with each other. Similarly, wheat and undomesticated wheat, barley and oats, rye and spelt, beans and white peas, fabaceae and leguminosaea,3 white beans with azuki beans, zucchini and cucumbers, cabbage and cauliflower, beets and sorrel are not kilayim with each other. But radishes and Israeli radishes,4 mustard and bitter cabbage, Greek squash and Egyptian squash, or and squash of ashes, although they resemble each other are kilayim with each other.

Similarly, with regard to trees, there are species which resemble each other with regard to their leaves or their fruit, but since they are separate species, they are kilayim. What is implied? Apples and crabapples, peaches and almonds, prunes and Arabian jujube, although they resemble each other are kilayim with each other. But apricots and white plums and quince and lavallei are not kilayim with each other.

Similarly, there are other plants and trees which [our Sages] did not classify as kilayim although they are inherently two different species, because the leaves of one resemble the leaves of the other or the fruit of one resembles the fruit of the other very closely to the extent that they appear as different shades of the same species. [The rationale is that] with regard to kilayim we follow the appearance alone.5

What is implied? Turnips and radishes are not kilayim with each other because their fruits are similar.6 Turnips and Israeli radishes are not kilayim with each other, because their leaves resemble each other. But radishes and Israeli radishes are kilayim even though their fruits resembles each other and their leaves resemble each other, because the taste of the fruits are drastically different from each other.

How much is it necessary to separate between two species of plants so that they will not be considered as kilayim [when planting them in the same field]? So that [the two species] will look distinct from each other. If, however, they appear as if they were sown together, this is forbidden.7

There are many different measures given with regard to the distance required to make this distinction. Everything depends on the size of the field that is being sown and the proliferation of leaves [the plants have] and the extent to which their branches spread out.

What is implied? If a person had sown a species of grain in his field and he sought to sow another species of grain in another field at its side, he must make a separation the size of the area in which one can sow a quarter of a kav between the two. This is approximately8 ten and one fifth cubits by ten and one fifth cubits. [This applies] whether [the space left empty ceases] in the midst [of these fields] or [continues along their entire] side.9 If there is less than this space between them, sowing [these crops] are forbidden, but he is not liable for lashes unless they are six handbreadths [or less] close to each other.10

If his field was sown with vegetables and he desired to sow another species of vegetables - even squash11 - in another field at its side, he must make a separation of a square six handbreadths by six handbreadths between the two whether [the space left empty ceases] in the midst [of these fields] or [continues along their entire] side. If there is less than this space between them, sowing [these crops] are forbidden, but he is not liable for lashes unless they are within a handbreadth of each other.12

If there was grain sown in one of two fields and vegetables or squash sown in the other, one must make a separation the size of the area in which one can sow a quarter of a kav between the two.13

When does the need to make a distinction of the size mentioned above apply? Between two fields.14 If, however, he had sowed vegetables in his field and he desires to sow a row of another species of vegetables at their side,15 it is sufficient for him to leave a trench six handbreadths long16 with its width the same as its depth17 between the row and the field.

When a field is sown with grain and a person desires to sow a row of vegetables - even squash whose leaves are long and become tangled - in its midst, he must leave a distance of six handbreadths between them.18 If the leaves of the squash became extended and entered into [the portion where] the grain [was sown] and became entangled with it, he should uproot enough of the grain in front of the squash so that the leaves will not become tangled.19 Needless to say, if he sowed one row of one species and another row of another species, it is sufficient for there to be one trench between them, as will be explained.20

If he made an appropriate separation between the two species, but one of the species became draped upon the other one - whether the grain became draped upon other grain, a vegetable upon another vegetable, a vegetable upon grain, or grain upon a vegetable - everything is permitted, for he made a separation of the appropriate measure. [There is one] exception, Greek squash, because it becomes extended very far. Therefore if it becomes draped upon [another species], one should uproot the species in front of it,21 as explained [in the previous halachah].

If between two species there were [any of the following] - a cistern,22 a plowed field left fallow, a stone fence, a path,23 a wooden fence that is ten handbreadths high, a trench that is ten handbreadths deep and four handbreadths wide, a tree whose branches hang to the earth,24 or a rock that is ten handbreadths high and four [handbreadths] wide - it is permissible to place the one species on one side of [the divider] and the other species on the other side [of the divider]. Since one of the above is separating between them, they appear distinct from each other.

When is it necessary for there to be such a separation or a divider? When one is sowing [the two species] in his own field. If, however, one person sowed wheat in his field, his colleague is permitted to sow barley in a bordering [field], as [implied by] Leviticus 19:19]: "Do not sow mixed species in your field." The prohibition applies only to sowing mixed species in one's own field. For the Torah does not say: "Mixed species shall not be sown on the earth."25

Moreover, even if one planted barley in his own field next to wheat and extended the barley until it was adjacent to the field of his colleague which was planted with barley, it is permitted. [The rationale is that] the barley in his own field appears to be the end of his colleague's field.26

If his field was planted with wheat and a colleague's field adjoining it was planted with wheat, he is permitted to sow one row of flax at the side of his wheat adjoining his colleague's field.27 [The rationale is that] an observer knows that it is not the common practice to sow only one row of flax and this person is merely testing his field to see if it is fit to plant flax or not. Thus he is sowing the seed with the intent of destroying it.28 Therefore,29 it is forbidden to sow another species30 between these two fields31 that are planted with one species until he makes a distinction [between the two species] within his own property.

White:
A corner of o field sown with one type of produce

Black:
The block of a different field sown with another lype of produce

This diagram is adapted from the diagram drawn by the Rambam in his Commentary to the Mishnah (Kilayim 2:7).

Similarly, if a corner [of a portion] of one's field [sown] with one species touches a block [of the field sown] with another species, it is permitted, because they appear separate from each other.35 Needless to say, if the corner [of a portion of one's field sown] with one species touches a corner [of the field sown] with another species, it is permitted without setting them apart or making a distinction as we explained,36 because it appears that it is the end of one field that touched the end of another field.