Seedling & Plant Spacing Calculator
Calculate number of plants needed by spacing and bed size. Rows, grid, and offset patterns. Free calculator.
Plant Spacing Basics
Proper spacing prevents competition for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Tomatoes: 24-36 inches apart. Peppers: 18-24 inches. Lettuce: 6-12 inches. Carrots: 2-3 inches. Squash/cucumbers: 36-48 inches. The seed packet spacing recommendations are minimums — giving plants more room generally produces larger, healthier harvests.
Square Foot Gardening Method
Instead of row planting, divide beds into 1-foot squares and plant a set number per square: 1 tomato, 4 lettuce heads, 9 beans, 16 radishes. This method uses space 5x more efficiently than traditional row gardening while producing the same yield. Ideal for small raised beds and urban gardens where every square foot matters.
Square Foot Gardening produces the same yield per plant as row gardening but uses 80% less space, 90% less water, and virtually eliminates weeding. Correct spacing is the key to making it work.
