Common plants per square foot
These are planning starting points for intensive raised-bed layouts. Seed packets and local growing guidance should take priority, especially in humid climates where airflow matters.
| Crop | Typical spacing | Planner density |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | 18–24 in | 1 per sq ft with support |
| Pepper | 12–18 in | 1 per sq ft |
| Broccoli | 18 in | 1 per sq ft |
| Head lettuce | 6 in | 4 per sq ft |
| Swiss chard | 6–8 in | 4 per sq ft |
| Spinach | 4 in | 9 per sq ft |
| Onion | 4 in | 9 per sq ft |
| Beet | 4 in | 9 per sq ft |
| Carrot | 3 in | 16 per sq ft |
| Radish | 3 in | 16 per sq ft |
| Cucumber, trellised | 6–12 in | 2 per sq ft |
| Peas, trellised | 2–3 in | 8 per sq ft |
Why spacing is not a single fixed number
Plant size changes by variety. A compact patio tomato and a vigorous indeterminate tomato cannot be treated identically. Climate also matters: close spacing may work in a dry, breezy location but encourage disease where leaves remain wet.
Rows versus block spacing
Traditional instructions often list distance within rows and distance between rows. Intensive raised-bed planting uses similar spacing in both directions because the bed is not walked on. This creates a block or grid rather than long access rows.
How the visual planner counts plants
Each square represents approximately one square foot. Selecting carrots places sixteen visual positions in the cell; selecting lettuce places four. The total is updated across the complete bed.