Vegetable Seed Calculator

General rule: plant 2-3 seeds per hole, then thin to strongest seedling. Large seeds (beans, squash, cucumber): 2 seeds per hill, thin to 1. Medium seeds (tomatoes, peppers): 1-2 seeds per spot. Small seeds (lettuce, carrots): scatter thinly, then thin. Seeds are inexpensive - better to oversow and thin than underplant. Thin seedlings to proper spacing once true leaves develop. Thinned seedlings can often be transplanted if roots intact.

Succession planting = staggered plantings every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Seeds mature at different times: quick crops (radish, lettuce): 4 weeks. Medium (beans, carrots): 8-10 weeks. Long crops (tomatoes): entire season. For continuous harvest: plant every 2-3 weeks until 8-10 weeks before first frost. Calculate: Total days to harvest + 50% overlap = days between plantings. Example: 60-day tomatoes = plant every 3 weeks until mid-August ( Zone 6 first frost). This prevents gluts and extends harvest.

Two methods: Row spacing (traditional) vs intensive (square foot gardening). Traditional: rows 18-36" apart, plants in row per species spacing. Square foot: divide garden into 1×1 ft squares, plants per sq ft based on spacing. Example: carrots 3" apart = 16 per sq ft. Square foot produces 2-4x more per area. Either method works - square foot is easier for small gardens, rows better for mechanization. In-row spacing follows packet instructions. Always thin to final spacing.

Calculate: (Total plants needed) ÷ (Seeds per packet) = packets needed. Always round UP. Add 20% extra for: poor germination, thinning loss, reseeding gaps. Example: 100 tomato plants from 30-seed packet = 4 packets minimum. Seeds are cheap ($2-5/packet), failures are frustrating. Unopened packets last 1-3 years cold/dry storage. Better to have extras than run short mid-season. Check packet for: seed count, days to harvest, planting depth, germination %, last planting date.