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? ›
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 food do you have to grow to be self-sufficient? ›
For the average family of four, you can expect to grow a year's worth of food on three to five acres.
How many vegetables per person to plant? ›
How many vegetable to plant for a family
| Vegetable crop | Plants per 1 person | Plant spacing |
|---|
| Potatoes | 4 to 6 | 12 in. |
| Radishes | 10 to 15 | 4 to 6 in. |
| Spinach | 4 to 8 | Thin seedlings to 3 to 6 in. |
| Squash (Summer & Winter) | 1 to 2 | Thin seedlings to 18 to 36 in. |
18 more rowsMar 12, 2018
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.
How many vegetable plants per square foot? ›
Plant Your Favorite Veggies
If you're building more than one raised square-foot garden bed, leave enough space between them to roll a wheelbarrow. The formula for planting is simple: one extra-large plant per 1x1-foot square; four large plants per square; nine medium plants per square; and 16 small plants per square.
How do I calculate how many seeds I need to plant? ›
Take the total number of inches available for the crop and divide by the in- row crop spacing. For instance, 120 in. divided by 1 in. per pea seed equals 120 pea seeds.
How many plants is enough? ›
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.
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 many tomatoes per plant? ›
That means a conservative estimate for the total number of tomatoes harvested during the season would be over 400 tomatoes, or roughly 100 tomatoes per plant. If you grow tomatoes the way I do, it's safe to bet on getting at least 100 tomatoes off your plants within four to five weeks during your peak season.
How many potatoes to plant? ›
You can plant between 5 and 7 potato seeds in a 20-gallon bag. Each seed can yield you from 3 to 6 potatoes depending on how many eyes it has to sprout from.
What vegetables are worth growing? ›
10 Vegetables That Provide the Best Payback
- Tomatoes. These aren't the easiest to grow, but if you can nurse tomato plants through issues such as blight, septoria leaf spot, and groundhog attacks, the payoff is huge. ...
- Peppers. ...
- Cucumbers. ...
- Asparagus. ...
- Onions, Leeks, Shallots, Garlic. ...
- Lettuce. ...
- Squash. ...
- Rhubarb.
For a family of four, the Morning Chores calculator recommends a garden 40-feet-by-20-feet. “That would allow you to grow an adequate amount of vegetables to feed that family of four,” Lindley said.
How much should I grow to feed a family of 4? ›
For a non-vegetarian individual, however, we'd estimate that you need about 200 square feet of garden space to allow for a harvest that feeds everyone year-round. 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.
Is it cheaper to grow your own food or buy it? ›
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 is the formula for the food cost calculator? ›
The formula for calculating food cost percentage is: Total food cost percentage = (total cost of goods sold / total revenue) x 100. Before you can use this formula, you need to gather some information about your restaurant. Start by taking an inventory count with the costs for each item.
