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? ›
Create a list of plants, and note how much you eat per week – so if you eat 5lbs (about 2kg) of potatoes a week, that's 20lbs (9kg) a month and 240lbs (109kg) a year. You'll need to grow this amount at least, plus a little more to make up for any lost to disease, pests and other problems.
How do you calculate how many plants you 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.
How do I know how much to plant? ›
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.
What is the best plant food ratio for vegetables? ›
A common recommendation for vegetables is to apply 1 pound of a 10-10-10 fertilizer or 2 pounds of a 5-10-5 (or 5-10-10) fertilizer per 100 feet of row.
How much garden to be self-sufficient? ›
Gardens. The general rule of thumb when it comes to growing a garden is to have 100 square feet of gardening space (traditional row gardens) per person for fresh eating only. To preserve food and put it up for the non-growing season, you're looking at 200 square feet of gardening space per person.
How many tomatoes to plant per person? ›
The average recommendation is 5 tomato plants per person.
For those of us planning on growing enough tomatoes for a year, that means we'll be preserving them, and when you're preserving, paste tomatoes are the name of the game.
How to calculate garden size? ›
Multiply the length by the width to determine the square footage—or area—of a square or rectangle. Find the square footage by multiplying the length and width of the area in question. Make sure to keep your units the same (feet or inches).
What size vegetable garden for family of 4? ›
Generally speaking, 200 square feet of garden space per person will allow for a harvest that feeds everyone year-round. For an average family of four, plan for an 800 square-foot garden—a plot that's 20 feet by 40 feet in size should do the trick. If your family is larger (or smaller), scale up or down as needed.
How do I calculate how many seeds I need to plant? ›
Seeding Rate Calculation
There are two basic factors that must be determined in order to calculate a proper seeding rate. The first factor is determining the amount of desired seedling per square foot (density.) The second factor is the number of seed per pound of the species being planted.
One plant produces 45 percent cleaner air and a modest level of mental health in a three by three metre room. Two plants can produce up to 75% cleaner air and 50% better mental health. In a space this size, 5 plants will provide the most health and wellbeing benefits.
How much do plants need to grow? ›
Requirements for growth
Plants need air, light, warmth, water and nutrients to be healthy. If a plant doesn't have one of these requirements it could affect its growth or even die. For example, a plant that is kept in a dark place will grow tall and spindly in search of light and then become weak and die.
What is the best layout for a vegetable garden? ›
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.
How many cucumbers to plant per person? ›
As you're planning your garden, keep in mind that you'll need two or three cucumber plants per person if you'd like to eat fresh cucumbers straight from the garden or use them in salads or juicing recipes.
How many cucumbers per plant? ›
how many cucumbers can you harvest per plant? Depending on the variety, you can expect to harvest around 20 cucumbers per plant.
Do vegetables need to be planted in pairs? ›
Companion planting is an effective way to repel pests, attract beneficial pollinators, and stimulate healthy growth. But pairing certain vegetables together can also have adverse effects on the plants growing in your garden.
Is it cheaper to grow your own vegetables? ›
Growing your own food is a healthy way to save money and enjoy fresh produce at home. When done correctly, even the smallest backyard plot can produce copious amounts of fruits and vegetables and possibly even a significant saving to the grocery budget.
What size garden for a family of 4? ›
So, for an average family of four, plan for an 800 square-foot garden—a plot that is 20 feet by 40 feet in size. It can depend on what you plant, of course; some crops take up more room than others.
