How Much Space is Needed to Grow Vegetables?

Even a small garden can produce vegetables.

The family vegetable patch often occupied as much as 1/4 acre of land. A plot 24 by 42 feet will provide all the canned and fresh produce two people will need for a year, according to North Carolina State University. Today, most families have limited space but many still want a vegetable garden. Even a small plot can yield big results with careful planning.

Types

Vegetables vary in the amount of space they take, depending on the variety. Carrots, beets and greens take up very little space and can even be tucked in a flower garden. Pumpkins and squash are sprawling plants, needing at least 6 feet per plant. Tomatoes, beans, peppers and broccoli typically need between 12 and 24 inches for each plant.

Time Frame

Creative gardeners find more space in the garden through succession plantings and inter planting. Cool season crops, such as lettuce, carrots, onions, peas and radishes, are grown early in the season. Warm season crops, including peppers, corn, beans and tomatoes, are inter planted among the cool-season crops, which will be harvested by mid-summer, allowing room for the larger, slow-growing plants.

Solutions

Additionally, gardeners may find additional room for gardening through the use of vertical space (training plants to climb up on a trellis or support). Planting seeds in a block pattern rather than traditional rows allows more plants to be grown in a smaller space. Gardeners may also plant vegetables in containers on a sunny patio.

References

• Ohio State University Extension: Master Gardener Vegetables
• North Carolina State University Extension: Home Vegetable Gardening