how much of each vegetable to plant?

14 years ago

I live in Boyne City Michigan, which is in the upper part of the lower peninsula.

If I wanted to have enough vegetables to eat for myself, as well as have leftovers to freeze and preserve with fruits and vegetables, would I just use the guidelines of how much you would plant for a family of four? If I were to follow these guidelines would I be planting too much?

Also can somebody please tell me how many of each vegetable I would need to plant? Please specify this in quantity per vegetable not by weight. I've tried to look up something on the internet with how much to plant; I've managed to find various pdfs about it, and unfortunately they all tell you just how much to plant by weight. This confuses me and I don't understand it at all.

This it what I'd be growing:

*sugar baby watermelons

*cantaloupe

*honeydew

*buttercup squash

*butternut squash

*lettuce (bibb and romaine)

*spinach

*kale

*collards

*cabbage

*broccoli

*bok choy

*tomatoes-roma, grape, cherry

*pumpkin

*zucchini

*yellow squash

*bell peppers-sweet (green and red)

*snap peas

*turnips

*golden beet

*parsnips

*various beans (black, pinto, kidney, navy, lima, garbanzo, green)

*cauliflower

I'd also like to know what the quantity of herbs I would need for one person would be that I'd need to grow. I would just use them fresh, so I wouldn't really have to worry about growing them for future use.

Please note I wouldn't be growing all of this at once, and this is for FUTURE reference.

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Comments (13)

riley17
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I think it depends on how much of the stuff you like to eat. Plus, plant a few extra because sometimes you have casualties and you're glad you planted a little extra. Especially beans, it takes a lot of dry beans to make a couple meals. I can only tell you about the stuff I have experience with, its not much but here goes. For herbs one plant of oregano works for my family as well as one sage bush and one thyme plant, but we plant about twenty or thirty basil plants for pesto and fresh use. You might want to plant three or four of parsley though. I would maybe plant two or three zucchini, unless you really love them because you will have zucchini out your ears if you grow too many. I think with three plants youd have enough to eat and preserve. Pumpkins maybe you want to plant a few more and limit each vine to one fruit per plant, same for watermelons and cantaloupes. Not sure about honeydew, never grown it before. Squashes I've never grown either. I would go with maybe 20 cabbages, we make a lot of coleslaw, halupkies and sauerkraut. For tomatoes, 27 plants worked really good for us last year. My family of two had enough for the winter for salsa, tomato sauce, and paste.
Good luck,
Holly
digdirt2
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I thought you were doing container gardening? You had mentioned in several other posts that you were using only 3 Earthboxes and a few other containers, correct?

If so then I'm sorry but there is no way you could grow all of these things no matter how long your season is. And in your zone it is a fairly short garden season. Foe example: 1 EB will only hold 2 tomato plants and will be used for them all season, another will hold lettuce and some spinach early and then you could plant 1 or 2 squash plants in it. The 3rd one could be used for 2 pepper plants but that would be all. Anything else would have to go in whatever other containers you have.

But yes, if you have a garden rather than just a few containers then you could cut the "family of 4" guidelines in half and have plenty to freeze and preserve.

Dave
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anney
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
kawaiineko_gardener

If you have lots of friends to share your vegetables with, you could certainly plant enough for a family of four and still have plenty to eat and store for the winter. But if you don't, you wouldn't need that much!

I haven't seen any information that lists how much you should grow for a family of four by weight, but maybe the chart below will be helpful. It lists number of plants or hills, or the length of the row you'd need to plant at regular spacing, etc. It doesn't include all the vegetables on your list, but it's a start.

Here's another chart.

Here is a link that might be useful: How many vegetables to plant per person
stevesd
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
good grief! Thats quite a list. Do you live on a farm? You are one ambitious gardener. I'd start planting right away 'cause as slow as I am It would take me until fall to get all that stuff in the ground. I'm really only joking with you, and I certainly don't want to discourage you in any way but,ah, have you ever gardened before? I just think it would be more pleasurable for you if you thought about what you could comfortably take care of without losing your love of the hobby. The way I do it, but I'm a lazy gardener, is I raise something every year that I know will be very rewarding, both in yield and in flavor. Most years that is tomatoes. Then I grow something else that I've grown before with some success, This year that will be green beans and english peas. These so far are really easy for me and almost garantee something thats interesting to grow and won't attract all the pests in creation to the table. Then I branch out to things I haven't grown before or have had somewhat limited success with. I'm not saying you can't feed a family of four with a garden. I just don't want you to garden this year and be so frustrated when its over that you'll never pick up a shovel again. Have some fun with what you are doing..life is short....steve
glib
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Watermelon? Melon? in Boyne City? You will have trouble ripening string beans. The greens will mostly make it. We cook down and freeze excess greens through the growing season, and they are nice if you mix bitter with non bitter.
You could build a root cellar and preserve the rutabagas and cabbage through most of the winter. Parsnips can sit in the ground. You can do a lot but it needs a little experience and trial and error.
heather38
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I have a family of 4, two 5 year olds and 2 adults.
Last year I had fun in a very small space trying stuff, this year, I wanted to be almost self sufficient in a few veg, Toms, Carrots, Parsnips and Brussel Sprouts, plus have enough of things in season, to see us through the Spring, Summer and Fall, I have just over doubled my space this year.
I decided this is a tall order given my space approx 200 Sq ft, but given what I learned last year playing around and experimenting and reading this board avidly, I feel I can maybe come close to what I want, as in tomatoes, I can use the north end for them, but before they go in I can grow spinach, turnip, leaf lettuce, some small carrot varieties, beats that type of thing, I also will use hanging baskets for tumbling toms,
Carrots, I have 7 varieties with different maturity dates, from 55 to 125 days if I plant them all say 1 Sq foot of each, that is 7 weeks worth of Carrots and then a few weeks later I repeat the process, but I will be constantly emptying and filling plots and can plant other stuff.
the point is, I realised that being self sufficient was an impossible dream but I can almost do it if I looked at what I and my family actually eat, rather than what I have been seduced by :-) so I started collecting store receipts and recording what I was throwing on the compost heap I realised that Carrots 2Ib very week which is about 10-12 of the monster carrots that stores sell, mine will not be that big so I am aiming for 16 a week and the 55 day one which will be small 32, after this year I will adjust accordingly.
Shelling Peas we get through a 1Ib a week and I read that you need 150 plants to yield 20Ibs so clearly out for me but we can have a small planting for garden treats, spring and fall.
I am the only one who eats toms...until last year, now my Husband at 43 decided he quite like the beefsteaks I grow, on a burger and loved the Salsa I made (thanks Annie, look on the harvest forum, der da da der lish)
Parsnip...oh! parsnips... I hate these as a veg until 6 years ago, I just got a craving for them when pregnant and its never gone, and they are so much better home grown, they have a long growing season, but, I only use 3 a week and some weeks 1 composted and in a square foot I can grow 9 so that is 3 weeks worth.
so that is my advice look at what you eat on average and plant accordingly, and include fun stuff as well for interest, mine are cantaloupe, and pumpkin they can wonder onto the grass, as well as things which are a luxury to you, mine are Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Potatoes and Runner Beans, yes potatoes, I like them small and boiled skin on with mint in the water and then covered in butter, I haven't seem them for sale here like that.
lantanascape
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Kawaiineko, I've gone through your list and gave you some comments based on my experience growing in intensive raised beds for two people. 2009 was my first year of serious food preservation, so I have a ways to go, but there is always more to learn!

It sounds like you might have trouble ripening melons. You might take a look at a small melon like Minnesota Midge or Jenny Lind. I think two of each would be enough for one person. Not sure how well they would freeze, but melons would not generally be for preservation. You would probably just get a couple at the very end of your season, I'm guessing.

Buttercup squash - I'd probably go for a couple of the smaller varieties of winter squash and grow one of each, if you like winter squash, of course. So maybe 3 plants total.

Lettuce - this is again not something that will be preserved, and I'd suggest succession planting small amounts of it, either by broadcasting a mesclun mix in 2x4' area at a time, or planting 6-10 lettuce plants every couple weeks.

Spinach, kale: These will both freeze well, and are also good fresh. I find that half a dozen kale plants is plenty, as you can harvest leaves and they will grow back. I have terrible luck with spinach, but I'd guess that a 4x4' block of it would give you lots for the freezer.

Collards - don't grow them, but probably similar to kale. Less versatile in the kitchen, so you might want less.

Cabbage - I'd do about 4-6 heads in the spring, and maybe a dozen in the fall. I used only 2 medium-sized red cabbage heads for 6 pints of saurkraut, so it goes a long way.

Broccoli - freezes quite well, and always great to have around. I'd grow about a dozen plants to be sure to have plenty for freezing.

Bok choy - a couple plants should be enough, although I suppose you could use it for kim chee. Succession plant it similar to lettuce if you do a lot of Asian cooking.

Tomatoes - one cherry tomato is enough! They tend to be crazy productive and produce all summer. For other tomatoes, I usually set my #'s based on the varieties I want, and end up with too much quantity. I had 13 total last year and gave away quite a few, at lots of fresh 'maters, and put up about half of the sauce, diced tomato and salsa that we'll use before next season. For the two of us, I'd say 1 cherry, 4 varietals for fresh eating, and 8 sauce/canning tomatoes would be about right. Keep in mind that our season is longer, so I'm able to hoard lots of tomatoes in the freezer for canning later on.

Pumpkin - 2 vines should be enough for some nice Jack O' Lanterns. I plant to grow 2 pie pumpkins next year to keep our dogs in canned pumpkin during the winter. Otherwise, we don't use it for cooking.

Zucchini and yellow squash - one of each is usually more than enough. It can be frozen or dried for later use in soups or stirfry (not sure that dried would work for stirfry).

Bell Peppers - I am not sure if you'll have a long enough season for red peppers? You might need to set up a low tunnel to extend your season. For the two of us, I plan to increase my pepper growing to have more for freezing. Probably 12 plants so we can have fajitas in the winter. Be sure to look for early varieties.

Sugar snap peas - these can be used as snow or snap peas. I usually do a 12' row, and get enough for fresh eating, and a gallon bag for the freezer. It wouldn't hurt to have a couple gallon bags of these in the freezer if you have the room, though.

Turnips, beets, parsips: The root vegetables are pretty space-efficient. Time your planting so they will be ready to harvest around your first freeze. I think a 2x4' patch of each would be enough, unless you really want to rely on them in your diet for winter.
kawaiineko_gardener
Original Author
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thank you to all who have posted for their for the input, suggestions, and advice regarding my questions.

I never said I was planting all of this this season.
I said specifically in the initial post of this thread that I don't plan to plant all of this at once, as well as the reason I'm asking is for FUTURE reference. This means I don't plan to do so now; this won't be happening for quite awhile.

As far as what I plan grow this year....

*romaine lettuce
*golden beet
*spinach
*snap peas
*turnip
Once the weather becomes warm enough, I plan to plant these things:

*bush green beans
*cucumbers
*sugar bush watermelon

*butterbush, which is a compact bush variety of butternut squash

*zucchini
*kabocha (a japanese variety of pumpkin)
*maybe okra, but I'm not sure

*tomatoes- a roma variety, and a cherry variety; the cherry is a dwarf determinate type and the roma is a determinate, bush type
once the weather becomes warm enough this is what I'll be doing for warm weather crops......

Also with melons, I don't plan to do a huge variety, I plan to do a bush type that is 10-12 lbs. called sugar bush; it's essentially a sugar baby watermelon with a more compact growth habit.

If I can plant stuff earlier with cool weather veggies I will. People don't need to keep reminding me incessantly that the growing season here is short. It's what I loathe about living in Northern Michigan and I hate the stupid small town I live in; it's dull-as-dirt.

I apologize if I come off as rude, but Im already
Well aware that there is a very short growing season where I live; half of the year itÂs snowing which
I also despise. If I had my druthers IÂd move to southern Michigan, but unfortunately thatÂs not
Feasible for me at this point-and-time. I'm really frustrated with gardening because I can't even do it the way I'd like to because I'm on a stupid shoestring budget.

So I have to do container gardening because it's the only thing that's feasible for me; I don't have the space
to do gardening how I'd like to, nor do I have financial resources either. No I don't want anybody to take pity on me, I'm just explaining what the reality of the situation is for me.
stevesd
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Yes, I know the feeling. I mentioned in another post, I was gonna put some peas in the ground today but it rained and the day is so windy and cold, i'm not going out there. When I learn to be patient, I will surely share it with everybody here, as I know its tough on all of us waiting for the spring. I live in southern california, but the place I have to garden in is on the north side of the house, and down at a lower level, so it really doesn't get enough sun in the winter. I know Ill be glad when the sun gets high and the days get longer. Have fun with your plans. steve
myfamilysfarm
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I understand your frustration with the short season, I live in Indiana and don't have as short as season as you do. If I could advise you on cheap gardening, I would start looking for 5 gallon buckets. It doesn't matter if there are holes in them, because you would need to put draining holes anyway. 1 bucket for each tomato/pepper/eggplant. Start them early and with the buckets, you can bring the plants inside if need be. You can grow alot of things in these buckets, and if you're lucky you might find them either cheap or free.

On melons, you will need to start the plants inside, and keep with a very short season melon. Even here, it's hard to get ripe melons if they're not short season.

Also, check with landscape companies for used LARGE flower/tree pots. the bigger the better.

Kabocha will need to be start inside also. Same with the butternut.

Okra doesn't do well for me unless it is a very hot summer, plus I have to start it inside.

If you don't care about the size of your cucumbers, you might try 'pickles'. They usually have a shorter maturity and you can still get a individual size cuke out of them.

Good luck and happy gardening. also this fall start looking for seeds from this year's sales. Most seeds will still germinate a few years later. I don't have luck with onion seeds, I use sets.

For anyone's info--melons freeze well, just chunk them and freeze. When taking out of freezer, don't thaw completely. Eat when still partially frozen. Great freezer-pop icicles.
lantanascape
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
We are only trying to save you added frustration. I am in Zone 6 with warm summers, and even keeping my melon seedlings under plastic until almost June, I did not have ripe melons of the short-season varieties I mentioned until late August. It would be difficult to ripen 12# watermelons in this Zone. If you are limited on money and space, I think you would get a lot more satisfaction out of either growing the very small melons, or a different veggie in that pot.
digdirt2
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
We are only trying to save you added frustration.

Strongly agree. It is clear from many of your posts that you are already trying to deal with a great deal of gardening frustration and trying to learn about a great many things all at the same time. So to reduce that frustration and make it more pleasant - not to mention a less expensive activity - why not concentrate on making your container gardening this year as successful as possible? That's a much more productive activity then trying to learn all about things you can't do now anyway.

That experience - your containers - and what you learn from it will be a very good indicator of what is possible to do and what and how much more you will need in the future. Hands on experience is the very best teacher there is.

Gardening can be an expensive process if you let it so in the meantime, while snow is on the ground, you might want to check out Frugal Gardening as it is a great source of information on how to effectively garden using what you may already have and how to save $$$ while doing it.

Dave
heather38
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Second and third landanascape and digdirt, , but I agree I got your intentions from your first post as I am sure every one else did, but they where writing in the now not the future, the reason they did this is because they are experienced and are doing the now, that you and me hope for, and they are only pointing out in your future the problems you will face, I hope that by doing what I said I can for "my family" supply a lot a veg, but every family is different, I started really small, from 26 when I brought my first home, 8 runner beans, couple of toms and every so often strawberries, and continued that for a long while, fast forward to 38 started with a couple of containers, which where around the house, by the fall I had low poly tunnels, you are like me a forward planner, I need to ruminate a problem a while, before I commit, not every one is like that, in fact many people are think then doers, immediately, and that is why a lot of people give up on stuff, they expect wonders, me I am a thinker, reader, trier, I don't expect the moon on a stick, but I do hope to learn, and you will learn, by goodness you will learn, reading this site, I would also recommend frugal gardening, that's how I found this site, and remember when you read posts with all the differing opinions, "there is more than 1 way to skin a cat" that's why a forum is better than a book, as a book tell you how they did it, might not fit with you :-) good luck, enjoy, PS. I got angry and upset last night(home sick) and posted a piece of home, even though I know it's not playing the game :-) I am hoping the good people here will forgive :-) we all have our moments, and your plans for your future are worth your fact finding investment.

how much of each vegetable to plant?

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how much of each vegetable to plant?

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