Exactly How Much To Plant for a Family of 4 — Key Takeaways
A family of four needs 100–200 sq ft of garden space per person (a 20×20 to 20×40 plot) to grow the majority of seasonal produce, and succession planting — staggering crops like beans, carrots, and lettuce every 2–3 weeks — is what converts a single glut into continuous harvests.
Key takeaways
Planting corn in rows kills pollination — always plant in a square block
Planting corn in rows kills pollination — always plant in a square block
- Pollen falls from the tassel down onto silks; a block formation ensures cross-pollination and 2 ears per stalk.
- Mixing varieties in the same block causes cross-pollination problems — stagger different varieties separately.
Broccoli keeps producing side shoots after the main head is cut — don't pull
Broccoli keeps producing side shoots after the main head is cut — don't pull
- Leaving the plant in ground after first harvest extends your yield window significantly.
- Works only in cool seasons; plan one spring planting and one late-summer planting.
Plant 7 lettuce heads per week, not 50 at once, for a steady nightly salad
Plant 7 lettuce heads per week, not 50 at once, for a steady nightly salad
- Lettuce matures in ~4-5 weeks; weekly successions mean you harvest 7/week right when you need them.
- Mature heads hold in the garden 1-2 weeks, giving buffer without bolting pressure.
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In this video
- 1mIntroduction and garden planning framework
- 1mPotatoes: planting and yield
- 4mTomatoes: types, varieties, and quantities
- 7mCabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower
- 9mSummer and winter squash
- 11mKale, collards, and chard
- 12mBeans and peas: legumes for protein
- 14mCorn: planting blocks and yield
- 16mLettuce and salad greens
- 17mPeppers: sweet, hot, and super hot
- 19mCarrots: germination and succession planting
- 20mCucumbers and closing recommendations
“one little chunk of seed potato is going to give you on average about 3 to six lbs per plant”
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