Vegie Growing Guide

Need to know how many plants are needed to feed your family? This handy guide will give you an idea of numbers and expected yield.

For a family of four

TABLE NOTES:
$$ indicates outstanding yield for space occupied.
Seeds indicates to direct sow into garden bed.
Seedlings indicates to raise seeds in punnets (or purchase seedlings) then transplant into garden.
Plant quantity indicates to plant this amount over successive sowings to spread harvest over longer period.

Adapted from Gardening Australia magazine September 2008

Plant	What to plant to feed a family of 4	Time to Harvest	Yield	When to plant (Melbourne)	Comments
Asian greens, bok choy, mizuna, tatsoi, Chinese cabbage	Seeds 1 to 2m row	Fast maturing, 3-6 weeks	0.5 to 1.5kg per plant	Late summer to mid-winter	Faster maturing and more heat tolerant than hearting cabbages Harvest progressively, removing outer leaves
Beans, dwarf & climbing $$	Seeds 3-5m row for dwarf 2-3m row for climbing	8-10 weeks for dwarf 10-12 weeks for climbing	100 to 500g per plant	Mid-spring to mid-summer	Space saver. Plant on tripod of stakes. Successively sow seeds over 6 weeks. Harvest daily.
Beetroot	Seeds best 2-3m row, every 4-6 weeks	10-12 weeks	3kg per metre 300-400g per plant	Spring to early autumn	Thin seedlings to 7-10cm apart Pull up alternate plants to spread harvest. Baby beets save space.
Broad Beans	Seeds 5-6m row	7-18 weeks	360g per plant	Autumn to mid-winter	Pod setting improves as weather warms. Useful for soil improvement
Broccoli $$ Cabbage $$ Cauliflower	Seedlings, successive plantings 9-12 plants, every 4-6 weeks	12-16 weeks (broccoli) 8-16 weeks (cabbage) 14-26 weeks (cauliflower)	250g-750g per plant 1.5-3.5kg per plant for cabbage	Late summer to autumn	Summer Green is a heat tolerant broccoli. Leave side shoots on broccoli to develop after harvesting main crop.
Capsicum	Seeds or seedlings, 4-6 plants	10-16 weeks	1 to 4kg per plant	Mid to late spring	Start seedlings indoors and transplant into garden after frosts
Carrot	Seeds, 4-6m row, every 4-5 weeks	12-16 weeks	200g per plant, 2 to 3kg per metre	Spring to late summer	Sow successive crops every 4-5 weeks, Thin seedlings after 4 weeks
Cucumber Eggplant	Seeds or seedlings, 4-6 plants	8-12 weeks	5 to 30kg per plant	Late spring to early summer	Cucumbers can be grown up trellis to save space. Eggplants may need support.
Lettuce	Seeds or seedlings, 9-12 plants, every 3-4 weeks	2-3 weeks for non-hearting, 8 weeks for hearting	100-500g per plant	Varieties are available to plant year-round	Mixed punnets offer variety. Grows readily from seed. Allow one or two plants to self-seed.
Potato	Tubers or seed potatoes Plant 4 sq metres over 2 months, 3-4 plants /sq m	16-20 weeks	10 potatoes per plant	Winter to mid-spring	Sow several varieties for extended harvest. Need room but will grow well in tall pots or stack. Harvest 30 days after flowering.
Pumpkin	Seeds, 3-6 plants	16-20 weeks, less for mini varieties	3-30kg per plant	Late spring to early summer	Requires room, so try mini types. Raise early plants in punnets – need 4-5 months of warmth
Radish	Seeds, 0.5-1m row	3-6 weeks	20+ per metre	All seasons except winter	Sow successive crops every 2 weeks. Sow several varieties. Thin for larger harvest.
Red Onion	Seed or seedlings, 4m row	24-32 weeks	30-120g per plant	Autumn to early spring	Keep weed free for best results.
Silverbeet	Seeds, rows 30cm apart, 9-12 plants	8-12 weeks	2kg per metre in summer	Late winter to early autumn	Pick outside leaves first. Harvest over long period.
Snow Peas, Sugar snap peas	Seeds, 1m row	6 weeks	1-5kg per metre	Winter to spring	Space saver. Dwarf and climbing types. Grow on tripods.
Spinach	Seeds, 30-40cm apart, 12-15 plants	8-10 weeks	2kg per metre	Autumn to mid-winter	Quick growing. Cut and come again harvest. Can be harvested as baby leaves.
Spring Onions	Seeds or seedlings 0.5 to 1m row	8-12 weeks	1kg per metre	All year	Keep weed free. Harvest early by thinning.
Sweetcorn	Seeds, 20-24 plants	12-16 weeks	2-3 cobs per plant	Mid-spring to early summer	Plant in blocks of short rows to increase pollination and yield.
Tomato $$	Seeds or seedlings, 12-15 plants	12-20 weeks	4-20kg per plant, depending on variety	Spring	Raise seedlings indoors for a headstart & plant out after frosts have finished. Mini varieties best in small spaces or pots.
Zucchini	Seeds or seedlings, 3-6 plants	8-14 weeks	6-24 per plant	Late spring to early summer	Edible flowers. Pick frequently. Harvest when small for continuous cropping. Bush and spreading varieties.

TABLE NOTES:
$$ indicates outstanding yield for space occupied.
Seeds indicates to direct sow into garden bed.
Seedlings indicates to raise seeds in punnets (or purchase seedlings) then transplant into garden. Plant quantity indicates to plant this amount over successive sowings to spread harvest over longer period.

GENERAL NOTES:
Cool season vegies such as broad beans, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, onions, spinach, peas and turnips grow when temperature is 10-20^oC.
Warm season vegies, such as beans, eggplant, capsicum, eggplant, potato, sweetcorn, sweet potato, tomato and cucurbits (cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin) grow when temperature is 20^oC or higher. Variety can be increased without compromising space by growing dwarf forms such as mini-pumpkin and baby beetroot.
Soil needs to be replenished each harvest with plenty of compost for all beds and feeding manures for heavier feeders.