Vegetable Garden Planner: Plants per Bed and Beds Needed
Enter your bed size, then the number of plants wanted, the in-row spacing and the row spacing for each crop (leave plants wanted at 0 to skip a crop). Default spacings are typical values; check your seed packet. Crops are assumed to share beds.
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Formula
- Plants along the bed = floor(bed length / in-row spacing)
- Rows in the bed = floor(bed width / row spacing)
- Plants per bed = plants along x rows
- Bed fraction for a crop = plants wanted / plants per bed
- Beds needed = round up (sum of the fractions of all crops)
- Total area = beds x length x width (1 ft = 12 in, 1 m = 100 cm)
Worked example
Bed 8 ft x 4 ft (96 in x 48 in), 32 sq ft.
- Tomatoes 24 in x 24 in: 4 x 2 = 8 per bed; 6 wanted = 0.75 bed
- Lettuce 8 in, rows 12 in: 12 x 4 = 48 per bed; 24 wanted = 0.5 bed
- Total 1.25 beds, rounded up to 2 beds, 64 sq ft
Spacings are typical values; follow your seed packet.
When to use it
Use it at the start of the season to turn a shopping list of plants into a number of beds. List up to four crops with the number of plants you want, the spacing within a row and the row spacing. The tool assumes crops can share beds, so crops with different needs for light or soil may still need separate beds.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the wanted number at 0 for a crop you meant to include.
- Entering the spacing in feet instead of inches, or in metres instead of centimetres.
- Forgetting paths. The area counts beds only, so add 30 to 50 percent for walkways.
- Using the same spacing for different varieties of one crop.
How it differs from nearby calculators
The plant spacing calculator counts plants in one bed with a square or triangular layout. The seed quantity calculator turns spacing into seeds and packets. This page mixes several crops and answers how many beds you need. The raised bed soil calculator then sizes the soil to fill them.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out how many plants fit in a bed?
Divide the bed length by the in-row spacing and the bed width by the row spacing, round each down, then multiply. A bed 8 ft x 4 ft (96 in x 48 in) with tomatoes at 24 in x 24 in holds 4 x 2 = 8 plants.
How many beds do I need for several crops?
Each crop takes a fraction of a bed: plants wanted divided by plants per bed. Add the fractions and round up. Tomatoes 6/8 = 0.75 plus lettuce 24/48 = 0.5 is 1.25, so 2 beds. This assumes you can mix crops in a bed.
Are the default spacings right for my plants?
They are typical values only. Spacing varies by variety, climate and growing method (square-foot, intensive or traditional rows). Use the figure on your seed packet or plant tag.
Does the planner allow for paths between beds?
No. The total area counts the beds only, not paths or borders. Add 30 to 50 percent if you want a rough overall plot size with walkways.
How many tomato plants fit in a 4x8 bed?
At a typical 24 by 24 inch spacing, an 8 ft by 4 ft bed holds 4 plants along the bed and 2 rows, so 8 plants. If you only want 4 tomatoes, they take half of one bed.
How many pepper plants fit in a 4x8 bed at 18 inch spacing?
Divide 96 inches by 18 and round down to get 5, and divide 48 inches by 18 and round down to get 2. That gives 5 x 2 = 10 plants per bed, so 4 peppers use 0.4 of a bed.
How many carrots fit in a 4x8 bed with 3 inch spacing and 12 inch rows?
Along the bed 96 / 3 = 32 plants, and across it 48 / 12 = 4 rows. That gives 32 x 4 = 128 carrots per bed, a typical-spacing figure; check your packet.