Seed Spacing & Yield Calculator
Select a vegetable and enter your bed dimensions to see how many plants fit, estimated yield, seed depth, and optimal spacing.
Succession plant every 2 weeks
Spacing Results for 🥬 Lettuce
Row Spacing Diagram
Cross-section view · 4 rows across 4ft bed
Spacing Visualization (4ft x 8ft bed)
64 plants total · 6" apart in rows · 12" between rows
Common questions
Proper spacing ensures each plant gets enough sunlight, water, nutrients, and air circulation. Overcrowding leads to competition for resources, increased disease pressure from poor airflow, and smaller yields. Under-spacing wastes valuable garden space. Following recommended spacing gives you the highest yield per square foot while keeping plants healthy.
How This Calculator Works
Plant spacing is calculated using recommended distances from university agricultural extension guides. The calculator divides your bed dimensions by each vegetable's in-row spacing and row spacing to determine how many plants fit. Yield estimates are conservative averages. Actual harvest depends on soil quality, watering consistency, sunlight, and variety selection. For example, a single tomato plant can produce 10-25 lbs in ideal conditions, but we estimate 10 lbs to account for typical home garden results.
Spacing Tips for Higher Yields
- Square-foot gardening uses tighter spacing than traditional row planting. If you're using intensive methods, you can often reduce row spacing by 20-30% with adequate soil fertility.
- Vertical trellising for tomatoes, cucumbers, and pole beans lets you use the standard in-row spacing while reducing row spacing, fitting more plants per bed.
- Interplant quick-maturing crops (radishes, lettuce) between slow-growing ones (tomatoes, peppers) to maximize space during the early season.
- Use the fertilizer calculator to make sure your soil can support the plant density you're targeting. Tight spacing demands richer soil.
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Data last updated: March 2026