By: Marisa Reyes
Use this handy chart to figure out how many vegetables to plant in your garden so your whole family can enjoy the homegrown bounty. 
Figure out how many vegetables to plant
When I first started vegetable gardening, I would sow every single seed in the envelope and plant every seedling in the pack, take care of hundreds of my growing babies and struggle with letting any of them go. Oversowing and overplanting left me with more produce than I could handle and sometimes weird-looking, stunted crops that were growing too close together. There was no way everything that germinated would fit in my garden, but watching those little seeds sprout and turn into plants was a treat in itself.
Adjust to your vegetable garden needs
Every year of experience with a vegetable garden helps you decide what to do the following year, but if you’re not sure if you’re planting enough or too much of a particular crop, start with the helpful chart below. It’ll help you decide whether to start with seeds or plants, how many to put in, and whether (and how much) to thin. If you’re getting started with vegetable gardening, this will help you mix and match your favorite crops into the space you have. These suggestions are based on fresh eating for a single person or a family of four, for four or five meals. You may decide you want to eat more than that, but it’s a starting point. If you’d like to freeze, can or pickle, decide how many meals you’d like to eat throughout the year and adjust accordingly.
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How many vegetable to plant for a family
In general, multiply the number of plants per person by 3 or 4 for a family-sized planting. We’ve done the work for you in adjusting the numbers of these plants in the chart so at harvest you aren’t overwhelmed with too many delicious veggies. Keeping a garden journal from year to year will help you track which crops you had more or less than needed so you can better plan for future growing seasons.
| Vegetable crop | Plants per 1 person | Plants per 4 People | Plant spacing | Direct Sow Seeds | Transplant Seedlings | Comments |
|---|
| Asparagus | 5 to 10 | 25 plants | 12 to 18 in. | X | X | It takes 2 to 3 years before harvest but can last up to a decade |
| Beans | 10 to 15 | 40 to 45 | Thin seedlings to 2 to 3 in. | X | | Plant successive crops every two weeks for a continuous harvest; great for canning and pickling |
| Beets | 10 to 12 | 40 to 48 | Thin seedlings to 3 in. | X | | Beets store well; plant in spring and fall for two harvests each year |
| Broccoli | 1 to 2 | 4 to 6 | 15 in. | | X | Every time you cut a head, more smaller ones will form |
| Cabbage | 2 to 3 | 8 to 10 | Thin seedlings to 9 to 12 in. | X | X | Plant cabbage closer together for smaller heads |
| Carrots | 20 to 30 | 80 to 90 | Thin seedlings to 1 to 2 in. | X | | Long shelf life; plant in spring and fall for multiple harvests |
| Celery | 1 to 2 | 4 to 6 | 8 to 12 in. | | X | Stronger taste than store bought; celery stalks will regrow after being cut |
| Corn | 10 to 12 | 40 to 48 | 12 in. | X | | Plant in blocks for best pollination |
| Cucumbers | 1 to 2 | 3 to 4 | Thin seedlings to 12 to 24 in. | X | X | Plant 12 in. apart if using a trellis system and 24 in. apart if they’re rambling on the ground |
| Eggplant | 2 to 3 | 4 to 6 | 38 in. | | X | Each plant will produce about 8 to 20 well developed fruits depending on variety |
| Kale | 4 to 5 | 16 to 20 | 12 in. | X | | Sow seeds 3 in. apart and thin to 12 in. the seedlings can be enjoyed as microgreens! |
| Lettuce | 4 to 6 | 16 to 24 | Thin seedlings to 9 in. | X | X | Stagger sowing for one head per week per person |
| Melons | 1 to 2 | 2 to 4 | 24 in. | X | | Plant two seeds per hole in mounds 24 inches apart |
| Onions | 6 to 12 | 24 to 48 | 4 to 6 in. | | X | Buy sets (individual bulbs) or plants (in bundles) and plant two per person, per week |
| Peas | 15 to 20 | 60 to 80 | Thin seedlings to 2 in. | X | X | Grow peas on a trellis |
| Peppers | 1 to 3 | 1 to 12 | 12 to 24 in. | | X | Most hot peppers are prolific: one plant is enough for one or four people; for larger peppers, grow two to three plants per person |
| Potatoes | 4 to 6 | 12 to 24 | 12 in. | X | | Seed potatoes are tubers you plant in the ground; each plant will yield 1 lb. of potatoes |
| Radishes | 10 to 15 | 60 | 4 to 6 in. | X | | Enjoy radish seedlings as microgreens and are tasty on salads and sandwiches |
| Spinach | 4 to 8 | 16 to 32 | Thin seedlings to 3 to 6 in. | X | X | Plant in spring and fall for two harvests a year |
| Squash (Summer & Winter) | 1 to 2 | 2 to 4 | Thin seedlings to 18 to 36 in. | X | X | Plant summer squash 18 in. apart and larger plants of winter squash 36 in. apart |
| Tomatoes | 1 to 4 | 1 to 16 | 12 to 24 in. | | X | Cherries: Grow one per person; slicing: grow one to two per person; paste: grow three to four per person |
| Zucchini | 1 to 2 | 4 | 36 in. | X | | Flowers from zucchini plants are also edible, fry them up and give them a try for something new |
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FAQs
How many vegetable to plant for a family. In general, multiply the number of plants per person by 3 or 4 for a family-sized planting. We've done the work for you in adjusting the numbers of these plants in the chart so at harvest you aren't overwhelmed with too many delicious veggies.
How do I calculate how much food I need to grow? ›
The first step is to figure out how much of a specific food item your family eats during an average week. Multiply that out by 52, then calculate how much of each crop you need to grow to preserve that amount of food. This will be based on the average yield each of those plants produces.
How do you calculate how many plants you need? ›
How Many Plants Do I Need?
- For a square bed, multiply the length of the bed by its width to determine how many plants per square foot.
- For a circular planting bed, you can calculate how many plants per square foot is ideal by multiplying 3.14 by the distance from the center to the edge of the bed.
Common questions about planting enough food
In general, you'll need 150 to 200 square feet of garden space per person in order to feed everyone in your family year-round. So for the average family of four, a plot that is 600 to 800 square feet (20×30 to 20×40) should do the trick.
How much can you plant in a 10x10 garden? ›
A typical 10'x10' garden space you could grow the following: 3 indeterminate tomatoes or two tomatoes and 1 cucumber on a trellis. 4 eggplants. 5 peppers.
How many vegetable plants should I plant? ›
How many vegetable to plant for a family
| Vegetable crop | Plants per 1 person | Plants per 4 People |
|---|
| Peas | 15 to 20 | 60 to 80 |
| Peppers | 1 to 3 | 1 to 12 |
| Potatoes | 4 to 6 | 12 to 24 |
| Radishes | 10 to 15 | 60 |
18 more rowsMar 12, 2018
Formula to calculate growth rate
To calculate the growth rate, take the current value and subtract that from the previous value. Next, divide this difference by the previous value and multiply by 100 to get a percentage representation of the rate of growth.
How to calculate the number of plants? ›
A hectare is ten thousand rectangle metres in size in general. Divide ten thousand by the result of multiplying the plant spacing and row spacing among each other. plant populace= ten thousand ÷ among plant life spacing (m) × among rows spacing (m).
How do you calculate plant growth? ›
Ways to measure plant growth:
- An apparatus called the auxanometer can be used to measure plant growth.
- Measuring the height of the plant.
- Checking the size and number of the leaves.
- Evaluating the rate of growth with that of fresh plants.
- Comparing the rate of growth with dried plants.
To calculate plant population per acre:
- Determine the area of the field in acres.
- Multiply the area of the field by the number of plants grown per stand.
- Divide the result by the product of space between plants in acres and space between rows in acres.
Using the seeding rate calculation equation {(Seed/ac factor) / (seed/pound) = pound/ac} it is determined that the proper seeding rate is 2.0 PLS pounds/ acre. (871,200 seed/acre) / (427,365 seed/pound) = 2.039 or 2.0 PLS #/ac.
How many tomatoes should I plant? ›
So for the sake of mathematics, that's about three pounds of tomatoes per quart jar. In order to stock my pantry with the tomato products we eat regularly, I'll need to grow 252 pounds of tomatoes (Roma tomatoes are meatier). That means I'll need between 17-25 tomato plants in order to accommodate my family's needs.
How do you measure for planting? ›
Measure the plant height in centimeters (cm) from the base of the stem (at the soil surface) to the top of the canopy, or the highest part of the plant (for many plants, this will be the tip of the apical bud). You may lift and support the stem if needed, but you cannot lift or extend leaves.
How to plan a vegetable garden layout? ›
As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.
What is the most efficient garden layout? ›
Square foot gardening is an efficient and space-saving technique that involves dividing your garden into small, manageable squares. Each square is typically one foot by one foot and is planted with a specific number of plants depending on their size.
What is the row vegetable garden layout? ›
Rows Vegetable Garden Layout Plan
The other rule of thumb when using this layout plan is to organize your spacing so that your tallest growing vegetables are planted on the north side of your rows. Follow them with medium height vegetables, and then plant your shortest crop on the south side of the rows.
How do I calculate how much food I need? ›
How To Know How Much Food You Should Actually Eat
- Know your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) ...
- Estimate your additional caloric expenditure. ...
- Set your weight or body goals. ...
- Calculate your total daily caloric intake target. ...
- Spend your caloric currency wisely.
Fist = 1 cup
1 hand cupped is equivalent to a 1/2 cup serving. You can use this tool for measuring food items such as pastas, potatoes, nuts, and even ice cream. A Cupped Hand = 1/2 cup The Palm = 3 oz. The palm of your hand can be used to estimate protein intake.
How much food do you need to grow per person? ›
In “How To Grow More Vegetables”, intensive gardening guru, John Jeavons, says you'll need about 200 sq. ft. per person to grow enough vegetables and soft fruits for the growing season at intermediate yields.
How much food do I need to grow to be self-sufficient? ›
A good rule of thumb is that you need about 200 square feet per person for a self-sustaining garden. So if you're a family of four, figure you'll need about 800 square feet, or a space about 20x40 or 10x80.
