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Most first gardens are planted by guesswork: far too many zucchini, not enough tomatoes. Enter your household size and whether you want to preserve food, and we’ll suggest how much of each common crop to plant and roughly how much space it takes.
Planting guide per person
| Crop | Fresh eating | Fresh + preserving |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | 3–5 plants | 5–10 plants |
| Peppers | 3–5 plants | 5–10 plants |
| Zucchini / summer squash | 1–2 plants | 2–4 plants |
| Bush beans | 10–15 ft of row | 15–30 ft of row |
| Lettuce | 5–10 ft, sown in succession | — |
| Potatoes | 10–20 ft of row | 20–40 ft of row |
Ranges reflect typical extension-service garden planning guides; yields vary with climate and season length.
FAQ
How big a garden feeds a family of four?
For fresh eating through the season, many households start with 300–600 sq ft of beds; preserving for winter can double that.
What’s the best way to start small?
Two or three 4 × 8 ft raised beds of high-value crops — tomatoes, peppers, herbs, salad greens — give the most return for beginners.
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