Plant Spacing & Yield Calculator
Set your bed size, assign crops to squares, and see how many plants fit plus the pounds and dollar value you can expect.
Your bed
12 / 32 sq ft used
sq ft
2 plants
24.0 lb
$72
sq ft
16 plants
8.0 lb
$36
sq ft
64 plants
9.6 lb
$19
Tomato (indeterminate)
Tomato (indeterminate)
Tomato (indeterminate)
Tomato (indeterminate)
Lettuce (leaf)
Lettuce (leaf)
Lettuce (leaf)
Lettuce (leaf)
Carrots
Carrots
Carrots
Carrots
Season totals
Estimated harvest
41.6
pounds
Grocery value
$127
Per sq ft
$10.60
Yields assume healthy plants, decent soil, and a full season. Trellising vining crops can double yield per square.
Best value per square
Basil$32.00/sq ft
Thyme$32.00/sq ft
Tomato (determinate)$24.00/sq ft
Parsley$24.00/sq ft
Mint$21.00/sq ft
Swiss chard$20.00/sq ft
Oregano$20.00/sq ft
Cucumber (trellised)$20.00/sq ft
Spacing reference
| Crop | Per sq ft | In-row | Row gap | Yield / plant | Days | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettuce (leaf) | 4 | 6" | 12" | 0.5 lb | 45 | Cut-and-come-again gives 2–3 harvests per plant. |
| Lettuce (head) | 1 | 10" | 12" | 1 lb | 65 | One head per square; needs room to fill out. |
| Spinach | 9 | 4" | 12" | 0.25 lb | 40 | Bolts in heat — plant in spring and fall. |
| Kale | 1 | 12" | 18" | 3 lb | 60 | Harvest lower leaves weekly for months. |
| Swiss chard | 2 | 8" | 18" | 2.5 lb | 55 | One planting can produce all season. |
| Arugula | 9 | 4" | 10" | 0.2 lb | 30 | Fastest green in the bed; succession every 2 weeks. |
| Mustard greens | 4 | 6" | 12" | 0.6 lb | 40 | Spicier in heat, mild in cool weather. |
| Bok choy | 4 | 6" | 12" | 0.7 lb | 50 | Baby types at 4/sq ft, full size at 1/sq ft. |
| Carrots | 16 | 3" | 12" | 0.15 lb | 70 | Thin ruthlessly or you get all tops, no roots. |
| Radishes | 16 | 3" | 8" | 0.06 lb | 28 | Great gap-filler between slower crops. |
| Beets | 9 | 4" | 12" | 0.3 lb | 60 | Each 'seed' is a cluster — thin to one seedling. |
| Turnips | 9 | 4" | 12" | 0.3 lb | 55 | Greens are edible too. |
| Potatoes | 1 | 12" | 30" | 3 lb | 90 | Needs 12+ inches of depth; hill as they grow. |
| Sweet potatoes | 1 | 12" | 36" | 3.5 lb | 110 | Vines sprawl well past the bed edge. |
| Parsnips | 9 | 4" | 18" | 0.4 lb | 120 | Sweeter after a frost. |
| Broccoli | 1 | 15" | 24" | 1.2 lb | 75 | Side shoots keep coming after the main head. |
| Cauliflower | 1 | 18" | 24" | 1.5 lb | 80 | One head only — no second harvest. |
| Cabbage | 1 | 15" | 24" | 3 lb | 85 | Give it a full square; crowding halves head size. |
| Brussels sprouts | 1 | 18" | 30" | 2 lb | 100 | Long season crop — occupies a square for months. |
| Kohlrabi | 4 | 6" | 12" | 0.5 lb | 55 | Harvest at tennis-ball size before it goes woody. |
| Tomato (indeterminate) | 1 per 2 sq ft | 24" | 36" | 12 lb | 80 | Needs 2 squares and a tall trellis or cage. |
| Tomato (determinate) | 1 | 18" | 30" | 8 lb | 70 | Bushy and compact; ripens in a concentrated window. |
| Bell pepper | 1 | 15" | 24" | 2.5 lb | 75 | Stake heavy fruiting plants. |
| Hot pepper | 1 | 12" | 24" | 1.5 lb | 80 | Small plants, high value per square. |
| Eggplant | 1 | 18" | 30" | 4 lb | 80 | Loves heat; stake once fruit sets. |
| Tomatillo | 1 per 2 sq ft | 24" | 36" | 6 lb | 80 | Plant at least two for pollination. |
| Okra | 1 | 12" | 30" | 2 lb | 60 | Pick every day or two at 3–4 inches. |
| Bush beans | 9 | 4" | 18" | 0.35 lb | 55 | Succession sow every 2–3 weeks. |
| Pole beans | 8 | 4" | 24" | 0.75 lb | 65 | Vertical — huge yield per square with a trellis. |
| Peas | 8 | 3" | 24" | 0.3 lb | 60 | Trellis and grow along the north edge. |
| Edamame | 4 | 6" | 24" | 0.5 lb | 85 | Whole plant harvests at once. |
| Onions (bulb) | 9 | 4" | 12" | 0.4 lb | 110 | Wider spacing = bigger bulbs. |
| Scallions | 16 | 2" | 8" | 0.05 lb | 60 | Regrows if you cut above the base. |
| Garlic | 9 | 4" | 12" | 0.25 lb | 240 | Fall planted, summer harvested — holds the square all winter. |
| Leeks | 9 | 4" | 12" | 0.5 lb | 120 | Hill soil around stems to blanch them white. |
| Shallots | 9 | 4" | 12" | 0.3 lb | 100 | Each bulb multiplies into a cluster. |
| Basil | 4 | 6" | 12" | 0.5 lb | 60 | Pinch tops constantly to prevent flowering. |
| Cilantro | 9 | 4" | 10" | 0.15 lb | 45 | Bolts fast in heat; resow every 3 weeks. |
| Parsley | 4 | 6" | 12" | 0.6 lb | 70 | Biennial — cut outer stems all season. |
| Dill | 4 | 6" | 12" | 0.3 lb | 55 | Attracts beneficial wasps and swallowtails. |
| Thyme | 4 | 8" | 12" | 0.4 lb | 90 | Perennial in most zones — give it a permanent corner. |
| Oregano | 1 | 12" | 18" | 1 lb | 90 | Spreads — contain it or it takes the bed. |
| Mint | 1 | 12" | 18" | 1.5 lb | 70 | Grow in a buried pot; it will invade the whole bed. |
| Cucumber (trellised) | 2 | 6" | 36" | 5 lb | 60 | 2 per square vertically, 1 per 2 squares sprawling. |
| Zucchini / summer squash | 1 per 4 sq ft | 24" | 36" | 12 lb | 55 | One plant fills 4 squares. Two plants feeds a street. |
| Winter squash | 1 per 4 sq ft | 24" | 48" | 15 lb | 100 | Let vines run outside the bed or trellis with slings. |
| Melon | 1 per 4 sq ft | 24" | 48" | 10 lb | 90 | Needs heat, space, and consistent water. |
| Pumpkin | 1 per 4 sq ft | 36" | 60" | 18 lb | 110 | Best grown outside a raised bed entirely. |
| Strawberries | 4 | 6" | 18" | 0.75 lb | 120 | Clip runners to keep energy in the fruit. |
| Asparagus | 1 | 12" | 18" | 0.5 lb | 730 | Permanent bed — no harvest until year 3. |
| Rhubarb | 1 per 4 sq ft | 36" | 48" | 3 lb | 365 | Leaves are toxic; stalks only. |