One of the most commonly asked questions among new gardeners is “how much to plant” of a particular plant in order to have a good harvest. How many bush beans should I plant if I want to put up green beans for the winter? How many tomato plants will give me enough to make tomato sauce and salsa?

We have the answers for you! Over the years we have experimented with how we grow things, how much we have grown at a time and have taken notes to improve our craft. The information listed below is a suggestion and by no means perfect for everyone or every situation.

Simply take this and mold it to work for you.

How much to plant:

Here are crop yield estimates, plants-per-person suggestions, and crop spacing requirements to help you estimate your garden space requirements and growing requirements. Use these estimates with your own experience.

Vegetable Crop Yields, Plants per Person, and Crop Spacing:

Amaranth – Grow 1 to 3 plants per person. Yields an abundance of great leafy greens. Space plants 6 to 8 inches apart.

Artichoke – Grow 1 to 2 plants per person. Yield 12 buds per plant after the first year. Space plants 4 to 6 feet apart.

Arugula – Grow 5 plants per person. Space plants 6 inches apart.

Asparagus – Grow 30 to 50 roots for a household of 2 to 4 people. Yield 3 to 4 pounds of spears per 10-foot row. Space plants 12 inches apart.

Basil – Grow 3 to 4 plants per person. Yields continually throughout season. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart in rows. Inter-crop with tomatoes for super flavorful tomatoes.

Bean, Dried – Grow 4 to 8 plants per person. Yield in pounds varies per variety. Space plants 1 to 3 inches apart in rows 2 to 3 feet apart.

Bean, Fava – Grow 4 to 8 plants per person. Space plants 4 to 5 inches apart in rows 18 to 30 inches apart.

Bean, Garbanzo, Chickpea – Grow 4 to 8 plants per person. Yield 4 to 6 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 3 to 6 inches apart in rows 24 to 30 inches apart.

Bean, Lima – Grow 4 to 8 per person. Yield 4 to 6 pounds per 10-foot row. Space bush lima beans 3 to 6 inches apart in rows 24 to 30 inches apart; increase distance for pole limas.

Beans, Snap – Grow 4 to 8 plants total of each variety or several varieties per person. Yield 3 to 5 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 1 to 3 inches apart in rows 2 to 3 feet apart.

Beans, Soy – Grow 4 to 8 plants per person. Yield 4 to 6 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 2 inches apart in rows 2 to 3 feet apart.

Beets – Grow 5 to 10 mature plants per person. Yield 8 to 10 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 3 inches apart for roots–1 inch apart for greens.

Bok Choy – Grow 6 to 8 heads per person. Space plants 4 inches apart in rows 18 to 24 inches apart (non-dwarf varieties).

Broccoli – Grow 2 to 4 plants per person. Yield 4 to 6 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart.

Brussels sprouts – Grow 1 to 2 plants per person. Yield 3 to 5 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.

Cabbage – Grow 4 to 8 plants per person. Yield 10 to 25 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 24 to 30 inches apart.

Carrots – Grow 30 plants per person. Yield 7 to 10 pounds per 10-foot row. Thin plants to 1½ to 2 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart.

Cauliflower – Grow 1 to 2 plants per person. Yield 8 to 10 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart.

Celery – Grow 5 plants per person. Yield 6 to 8 stalks per plant. Space plants 6 inches apart in rows 2 feet apart.

Chayote – Grow 1 vine for 1 to 4 people. Set vining plants 10 feet apart and train to a sturdy trellis or wire support.

Chicory – Grow 1 to 2 plants per person. Space plants 6 to 12 inches apart in rows 2 to 3 feet apart.

Chinese Cabbage – Grow 6 to 8 heads per person. Space plants 4 inches apart in rows 24 to 30 inches apart.

Cilantro – Grow 1 to 3 plants per person. Space plants 8 to 12 inches apart.

Collards – Grow 2 to 3 plants per person. Yield 4 to 8 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 15 to 18 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart.

Corn – Grow 12 to 20 plants per person. Yield 1 to 2 ears per plants, 10 to 12 ears per 10-foot row. Space plant 4 to 6 inches apart in rows 2 to 3 feet apart.

Cowpeas – Grow 4 to 8 plants per person. Yield in pounds varies per variety. Space plants 2 to 4 inches apart in rows 2 to 3 feet apart.

Cucumber – Grow 6 plants per person. Grow 3 to 4 plants per quart for pickling. Yield 8 to 10 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 1 to 3 feet apart in rows 3 to 6 feet apart.

Dill – Grow 1 to 2 plants per person. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart.

Eggplant – Grow 1 to 2 plants per person. Yield 8 fruits per Italian oval varieties; yield 10 to 15 fruits per Asian varieties. Space plants 24 to 30 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart.

Egyptian Spinach – Grow 1 to 3 plants per person. Does exceptionally well in hot, arid climates. Yields an abundance of great leafy greens. Space plants 6 to 8 inches apart.

Endive and Escarole – Grow 2 to 3 plants per person. Yield 3 to 6 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 6 to 12 inches apart in rows 2 to 3 feet apart.

Fennel – Grow 2 to 4 plants per person. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart.

Garlic – Grow 12 to 16 plants per person. Yield 10 to 30 bulbs per 10-foot row. Space cloves 3 to 6 inches apart in rows 15 inches apart.

Ground Cherry – Grow 1 to 2 plants per person. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in rows at least 24 inches apart.

Horseradish – Grow 1 plant per person. Space plants 30 to 36 inches apart.

Jicama – Grow 1 to 2 plants per person. Yield 1 to 6 pound tuber per plant. Space plants 8 to 12 inches apart.

Kale – Grow 4 to 5 plants per person. Yield 4 to 8 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 12 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart.

Kohlrabi – Grow 4 to 5 plants per person. Yield 4 to 8 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 4 to 6 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart.

Leeks – Grow 12 to 15 plants per person. Yield 4 to 6 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 2 to 4 inches apart in rows 6 to 10 inches apart.

Lettuce – Grow 6 to 10 plants per person; plant succession crops with each harvest. Yield 4 to 10 pounds per 10-foot row. Space looseleaf lettuce 4 inches apart and all other types 12 inches apart in rows 16 to 24 inches apart.

Longevity Spinach – Grow 1 to 3 plants per person. Yields an abundance of great leafy greens. Space plants 6 to 8 inches apart.

Malabar Spinach – Grow 1 to 3 plants per person. Does exceptionally well in hot, arid climates. Yields an abundance of great leafy greens. Space plants 6 to 8 inches apart.

Melon – Grow 2 to plants per person. Yield 2 to 3 melons per vine. Space plants 3 to 4 feet apart in rows 3 feet wide.

Mustard – Grow 6 to 10 plants per person. Yield 3 to 6 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plant 6 to 12 inches apart in rows 15 to 30 inches apart.

New Zealand Spinach – Grow 1 to 3 plants per person. Does exceptionally well in hot, arid climates. Yields an abundance of great leafy greens. Space plants 6 to 8 inches apart.

Okinawan Spinach – Grow 1 to 3 plants per person. Yields an abundance of great leafy greens. Space plants 6 to 8 inches apart.

Okra – Grow 6 plants per person. Yield 5 to 10 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart in rows 2½ to 4 feet apart.

Onion, Bulb – Yield 7 to 10 pounds of bulbs per 10-foot row. Space onion sets or transplants 4 to 5 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart.

Orach – Grow 1 to 3 plants per person. Yields an abundance of great leafy greens. Space plants 6 to 8 inches apart.

Oregano – Grow 2 to 3 plants per family. Yields continually throughout season. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart in rows.

Pak Choi – Grow 6 to 8 heads per person. Space plants 4 inches apart in rows 18 to 24 inches apart (non-dwarf varieties).

Parsley – Grow 3 to 4 plants per person. Yields continually throughout season. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart in rows.

Parsnip – Grow 10 plants per person. Yield 10 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 3 to 4 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart.

Peas – Grow 30 plants per person. Yield 2 to 6 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 2 to 4 inches apart in rows2 feet apart for bush peas, 5 feet apart for vining peas.

Pepino Melon – Grow 1 to 2 plants per person. Space plants 12 to 16 inches apart.

Pepper – Grow 2 to 3 plants per person. Yield 5 to 18 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in rows 28 to 36 inches apart.

Perpetual Spinach – Grow 3 to 5 plants per person. Yield 8 to 12 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 10 inches apart in rows 18 to 24 inches apart.

Potato – Grow 1 plant to yield 5 to 10 potatoes. Yield 10 to 20 pounds per 10-foot row. Space seed potatoes 10 to 14 inches apart in trenches 24 to 34 inches apart.

Pumpkin – Grow 1 to 2 plants per person. Yield 10 to 20 pounds per 10-foot row. Space bush pumpkins 24 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. Set 2 to 3 vining pumpkins on hills spaced 6 to 8 feet apart.

Radicchio – Grow 5 to 6 plants per person. Space plants 6 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart.

Radish – Grow 15 plants per person. Yield 2 to 5 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 1 inch apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart.

Rhubarb – Grow 2 to 3 plants per person. Yield 1 to 5 pounds per plant. Set plants 3 to 6 feet apart.

Rutabaga – Grow 5 to 10 plants per person. Yield 8 to 30 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 4 to 6 inches apart in rows 15 to 36 inches apart.

Sage – Grow 1 to 2 plants per family. Yields continually throughout season. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart in rows.

Salsify – Grow 10 plants per person. Space plants 3 to 4 inches apart in rows 20 to 30 inches apart.

Scallions – Yield 1½ pounds per 10-foot row. Spaces onion sets or plants 2 inches apart for scallions or green onions.

Shallot – Yield 2 to 12 cloves per plant. Space plants 5 to 8 inches apart in rows 2 to 4 feet apart.

Sorrel – Grow 3 plants per person. Space plants 12 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart.

Spinach – Grow 15 plants per person. Yield 4 to 7 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 3 to 4 inches apart in rows 1 to 2 feet apart.

Squash, Summer – Grow 1 to 2 plants per person. Yield 10 to 80 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 2 to 4 feet apart in rows 5 feet apart.

Squash, Winter – Grow 1 plant per person. Space plants feet apart.

Strawberry – Grow 8 to 10 plants per person. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart.

Sunchokes – Grow 5 to 10 plants per person. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 36 to 40 inches apart.

Sunflower – Grow 1 plant per person. Yield 1 to 2½ pounds of seed per flower. Space plants 8 to 12 inches apart in rows 30to 36 inches apart.

Sweet Potato – Grow 5 plants per person. Yield 8 to 12 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 12 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart.

Swiss Chard – Grow 2 to 3 plants per person. Yield 8 to 12 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 12 inches apart in rows 18 to 30 inches apart.

Thyme – Grow 1 to 3 plants per family. Yields continually throughout season. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart in rows.

Tomatillo – Grow 1 to 2 plants per person. Yield 1 to 2 pounds per plant. Space plants 10 inches apart in rows 2 feet apart.

Tomato, Cherry – Grow 1 to 4 plants per person. Space plants 3 feet apart in rows 35 to 45 inches apart.

Tomato, Cooking – Grow 3 to 6 plants of each variety; this will yield 8 to 10 quarts. Space plants 42 inches apart in rows 40 to 50 inches apart.

Tomato, Slicing – Grow 1 to 4 plants per person. Space plants 42 inches apart in rows 40 to 50 inches apart.

Turnip – Grow 5 to 10 plants per person. Yield 8 to 12 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 5 to 8 inches apart in rows in rows 15 to 24 inches apart.

Water Spinach – Grow 1 to 3 plants per person. Yields an abundance of great leafy greens. Space plants 6 to 8 inches apart.

Watermelon – Grow 2 plants per person. Yield 8 to 40 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 4 feet apart in rows 4 feet wide and 8 feet apart.

We certainly hope that our growing guideline of how much to plant will help you in your garden planning. Remember that these are just suggestions that have worked for us in the past for traditional row gardening. Check back in the near future for a square foot gardening spacing guideline.

Also, check out our article on How to Grow Carrots or Perennials to Grow in your Garden!

Be sure to Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!