How many seeds/plants is enough

[daisygrubber]

Hi everyone (first timer veg grower this year)

I have searched I promise, but the function isn't working and google just gives me too much information without a good answer

What I want to know is , as a family of 5 adults how much should I plant to give me enough to make it worth while.

For example I have 3 pepper plants how much will that produce. I have 7 tomato plants mainly smaller types. 12 strawbery plants.

I'm about to plant out sweetcorn, runners, parsnips, radish etc I just don't know how much will give me a decent crop.

Is there a simple way to work it out.? Should I plant a whole packet of seeds

I just don't want to plant to little it will only last a week but I don't want to plant too much that I could feed the whole street and I live on a long street.

Thanks for any advice.

[chengjing]

There is no simply way to work it out, I guess you will learn from your experience. Here is what I do.

Well, I have 2 timbering Toms in the conservatory with loads of little tomatoes on. That is enough for lunch boxes for 2. I also grow another dozen different varieties at lotty for making sauce, freezer etc. I guess if you have 7 tomatoes that should be plentiful.

I only grow chilli peppers, the more the better; they can be tried out for winter months. I did try sweet peppers before but it did not produce a lot.

I got about 20 main crop strawberries; they easily produce 1 lb every day during june and July when weather is good but then it is over. I also got some ever bearing varieties which don't produce a lot but you can always pick some through out summer and autumn. You probably could increase your strawberry stock.

My sweet corns only produce 1 to 2 cobs each plant, not a lot for from a packet of seeds. Also if I plant too late they won't ripe in my area. So I usually plant all lot in May.

For runners I usually plant 4 plants at time, a few sowing from May, that is enough for my and hubby, in-laws and plenty for freezer.

For radish and lettuce and other greens, always a row at time (about 15 small radishes or 5 big ones, 5 lettuces), then again a couple weeks later to have secession of harvest. Again that is more than enough for 2. So depends on size of your packets, some seeds can go long way.

Hope this will give you some ideas.

[daisygrubber]

Thank you that's a great start. I wonder whether its worth getting another packet of corn (it is lovely chargrilled on the barbie)

I was wondering whether to pop out and get some more strawberries I think I might. After reading this site and others I have more room than I thought so I may treat myself to a few more variety of our most used veg.

Thank you so much

Happy growing

[Potstubsdustbins]

I do 16 plants of runners over the last 20 years they have averaged just over 100 pounds of prepared beans per season.

Toms I have 4 Tumblers in hanging baskets and 6 Sungold in the GH, this gives 3 of us plenty to eat fresh and loads more for sauces and freezing.

Radish I do successional sowings every 2/3 weeks of just over 30 seeds per pot again this gives more than enough for 3 people.

Colin

[endymion]

These sites are a bit more general, but they suggest how much you might need of each veg.

What to grow for a family of four

How Much to Plant Per Person in the Vegetable Garden

How much veg to plant

[chris]

I got an average of two cobs per corn plant last year, some better than others.. This year I've got two packets on the go, as honestly, until youv'e tasted your own grown corn you've never tasted proper corn

The stuff you buy from the shops is bland, and watery in comparison. Tasteless.

Toms, I had 4 plants last year, didn't really get much (mainly green sausage).

This year, I've 16 - mainly cherry types (golden sunrise, red cherry, sungold), and then 3 money makers for doing sauces with.

5 Aubergine plants (we use a lot of them) - I daren't even tell you how many courgettes (over 20!) - you'd be shocked (Planning on slightly cooking, slicing, then freezing), we use a lot of courgette too. 1 marrow plant, never had a marrow before - plan is for chutney.

Potatoes, I had I think 12 sacks (planter sacks) on the go last year, and still have some in storage - not growing any this year mind (was too late - my stock of seed ones rotted). I'd guess there's enough for 1 meal of 3 people, from a mix of salad, second earlies, and then 2 sacks of main crops (maris piper).

4 PSB plants did us well last year (I munched quite a lot of it raw before it even got cooked). 4 Brussel sprout plants gave us some xmas stock, but they were small so had to be topped up).

I think I had 8 or so kale plants, that got munched to death by CWB caterpillars, so will look after them a bit better this year - we had a few meals from them though.

Radish/Salad, as above are sown every 2 weeks. (cut and come again/mixed salad, and "proper" lettuce types)

Beans, I had about 12 plants last year (french bean - blue lake) and they produce loads of beans.. This year i've over 150 bean plants - hoping to have half of them for drying,t he rest of green beans. I still have probably 50 or so other beans that I've not planted yet.. Going to chit/sow them in a weeks time. I've a majority of climbers for the allotment and garden this year, but am also trying out 20 or so dwarf plants in the borders at home.

Peas - I've 81 plants (3 module trays of 30 - 9 rotted), going to sow probably about same again in a weeks time (keep forgetting!).

Squash wise, I've about 50 of them growing this year, but about 15 aren't looking that great (started to harden off yesterday, it got REALLY windy, then belted down with rain, then harsh sunshine, so I've a mix of windburn, scortch and knocked over plants!). We do use a lot of squash, so if I get a decent harvest we'll store as many as possible, give some away and hopefully not have to buy any this year.

Aiming to be partially self sufficent in veg this year, if it works out, then next year i'm going for 100% self sufficent in veg.. if that works, then I'll try for more fruit as well.

I've 2 gooseberry bushes (one eaten by my chickens), 1 on the plot laden with fruit, 2 rhubarb crowns (though I guess that's a vegetable anyway), a row of autumn raspberries, same as summer ones and a few currant bushes. Oh and a few cheapo fruit trees that aren't doing anything this year. I've bought an extra "patio" apple tree and that has a lot of fruit on it already, so may have a weeks worth of apples to look forward to!

Can't think of anything else off the top of my head. At least that was 10mins less work done toay

[chris]

[we're a family of 2 adults, 1 toddler, and 1 on the way]

[daisygrubber]

wow thank you so much for all the time and effort people.

I am definitely going to double up on the corn and see how it goes. I guess it will be trial and error. i will plant what I have and get a couple of extras in grow bags of a few bits and pieces and then will be in a much better to judge then.

I have been looking round the garden and once the chickens are in place I will still have lots of space and can utilise the 2 flat roofs we have which my son can accesss from the landing window lol.

This year is really experimental but I have to start somewhere.

Thank you again I really do appreciate your advice.

x

[chris]

An edible / growing roof sounds cool

[daisygrubber]

An edible / growing roof sounds cool

I think so to

[Gemmalaveen]

I daren't even tell you how many courgettes (over 20!)

Wow.. that is impressive! I assume you are preserving some of them as pickles/chutneys... or else you must really eat loads of courgettes

I have five courgettes for 2 of us (and two veg loving dogs) and all my veg growing friends think I am growing way too much.

[Two_Sheds]

I guess it will be trial and error. ...This year is really experimental but I have to start somewhere.

Yes, it always is trial & error - every year !
Seriously, get this year under your belt and you'll have much more idea how much and what to grow. I'm vegetarian, so tend to eat everything (bar chard) that the lotty produces. I base our meals around what is being picked, not on what we fancy: tonight it was stir fried broad beans, onions & chard, with sweetcorn from the freezer and chutney from last year's glut

[ugley_matt]

Chris, How much outlay have you made on all that planting this year?

Are you aiming to get seeds from this year and sow them last year?