Garden Yield vs Family Size Calculator
Estimate total harvest weight, weeks of produce supply, and per-person yield from your garden area, crop selection, and experience level.
For calorie-crop planning (potatoes, corn), pair with the Harvest Yield Calculator.
Calculate your garden's food output
Select your crops, enter your available garden area, and see what you can realistically grow.
~340 lbs of tomatoes
From 400 sq ft, about 8.5 weeks of produce for 4 people.
How to use this calculator
Enter your household size, available garden area in square feet, and select the primary crop you're planning. Choose your experience level to apply a realistic yield adjustment. Beginners typically achieve 65–85% of textbook yields in their first few seasons. The result shows estimated total pounds, pounds per person, and how many weeks that represents based on typical per-person consumption.
Average yield per 100 sq ft by crop
- Tomatoes (indeterminate): 100–150 lbs per 100 sq ft, depending on variety and staking.
- Zucchini: 40–80 lbs per 100 sq ft, prolific producers, often more than families can use.
- Green beans (bush): 20–30 lbs per 100 sq ft per planting.
- Potatoes: 30–50 lbs per 100 sq ft, high caloric density per square foot.
- Sweet corn: 8–15 lbs per 100 sq ft, needs space and cross-pollination.
- Lettuce / leafy greens: 20–40 lbs per 100 sq ft with succession planting.
Tips for success
- Space per person: 100–200 sq ft per person is a common guideline for growing a meaningful supplement to your diet. 300–500 sq ft per person is needed for more serious food self-sufficiency.
- Highest-yield crops: Zucchini and leafy greens give the highest yield per square foot. Corn and potatoes need more space for the same caloric return.
- Succession planting: Staggered planting every 2–3 weeks extends your harvest window and prevents a single oversized glut.
- Vertical growing: Trellises for cucumbers, beans, and tomatoes can double your effective square footage in a small space.
- Soil and water: Compost and consistent watering are the two biggest levers for yield improvement, more than any seed variety.
These yields are for the primary growing season. Many crops can be grown twice per year in mild climates (spring and fall), which could double your output from the same area. Check your USDA hardiness zone and last/first frost dates to plan succession crops effectively.
FAQ
How much garden space do I need to feed a family of 4?
To provide meaningful vegetable supplementation (not full caloric self-sufficiency), plan for 100–200 sq ft per person, or 400–800 sq ft for a family of four. For more serious food production (covering 50%+ of vegetables year-round), you'd need 500–1,000 sq ft per person, more if you're growing calorie crops like potatoes and corn.
Which crops give the most food value per square foot?
Leafy greens and tomatoes give the highest weight per sq ft. Potatoes give the best caloric return per sq ft. High-value crops like cherry tomatoes, peppers, and beans give the best grocery-dollar savings per sq ft. Low-efficiency crops include pumpkins, watermelons, and sweet corn, these need large areas for relatively modest yields.
Can I grow enough to preserve and store food for winter?
Yes, with the right crops and enough space. Tomatoes, green beans, and pickles are among the most popular home canning crops. A family of four typically needs 50–100 lbs of tomatoes for a year's worth of canned sauce, that requires roughly 50 sq ft of intensive growing. Freezing is more space-efficient than canning for most vegetables.
How does raised bed gardening compare to in-ground?
Raised beds typically outperform in-ground gardens by 1.5–2x because of better drainage, warmer soil temperatures, and the ability to optimize soil composition. If using raised beds, you can often apply a 1.5x multiplier to these yield estimates, but adjust for your actual soil quality and bed depth.