Calculate optimal seed spacing and total seeds needed for your garden
Proper seed spacing is crucial for healthy plant growth and maximum yields. Seeds planted too close together compete for nutrients, water, and sunlight, resulting in weak, stunted plants. Seeds planted too far apart waste valuable garden space and reduce overall productivity. Our calculator helps you determine the optimal spacing for your specific garden dimensions and plant types.
| Plant Type | Seed Spacing | Row Spacing | Planting Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrots | 2 inches | 12 inches | 1/4 inch |
| Lettuce | 6 inches | 12 inches | 1/4 inch |
| Radishes | 2 inches | 6 inches | 1/2 inch |
| Beans (Bush) | 3 inches | 18 inches | 1 inch |
| Peas | 2 inches | 18 inches | 1 inch |
| Spinach | 3 inches | 12 inches | 1/2 inch |
| Beets | 3 inches | 12 inches | 1/2 inch |
| Onions (from seed) | 4 inches | 12 inches | 1/4 inch |
| Corn | 12 inches | 30 inches | 1-2 inches |
| Sunflowers | 12 inches | 24 inches | 1 inch |
Consider the full-grown size of the plant, not just the seedling. Larger plants like corn and sunflowers need significantly more space than small crops like radishes and carrots.
Intensive gardening methods like square foot gardening allow closer spacing than traditional row planting. Raised beds can accommodate tighter spacing due to better soil quality.
In hot climates, slightly wider spacing improves air circulation and reduces disease. Cool-season crops can often be planted closer together than warm-season varieties.
Rich, fertile soil can support closer plant spacing because nutrients are abundant. Poor soil requires wider spacing to reduce competition for limited resources.
Plant seeds in straight rows with consistent spacing between plants and rows. This method is ideal for larger gardens and makes cultivation and harvesting easier. Allow enough row spacing for walking and maintenance.
Divide your garden into 1-foot squares and plant according to plant size: 16 small plants (like radishes), 9 medium plants (like beets), 4 large plants (like lettuce), or 1 extra-large plant (like cabbage) per square.
Create wide bands (2-4 feet) and scatter seeds across the entire width. This method works well for small crops like lettuce, spinach, and carrots, maximizing space utilization and reducing weeding.
Plant small amounts every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. This strategy works perfectly with fast-growing crops like lettuce, radishes, and beans, ensuring a steady supply throughout the season.
Garden Dimensions: 8 feet long × 4 feet wide (96 inches × 48 inches)
Seed Spacing: 2 inches between seeds
Row Spacing: 12 inches between rows
Calculation:
Result: You can plant 192 carrot seeds in your 8×4 ft raised bed, arranged in 4 rows with 48 seeds per row, achieving a density of 6 plants per square foot.