How much land do you need to feed a family? In general, you’ll need 150 to 200 square feet of garden space per person in order to feed everyone in your family year-round. So for the average family of four, a plot that is 600 to 800 square feet (20×30 to 20×40) should do the trick.
How many tomatoes do I need for a family of 4?
The average recommendation is 5 tomato plants per person.
I grow 18 tomato plants for our family of four and am able to can close to 40 jars of salsa, 10 quarts of stewed tomatoes, and 25 jars of tomato sauce.
Can you grow 3 tomato plants together?
“Tomatoes require plenty of room to grow well,” write the UC ANR advisors. They recommend spacing tomato plants two feet or more apart.
How many tomatoes can you get from 1 plant?
For simplicity’s sake, I’ll say that you can expect to enjoy between 20 and 30 tomatoes from a strong and healthy indeterminate tomato plant that’s a larger variety.
How many tomato plants should I buy?
Planting a vegetable garden for a family
| Crop (number of plants per ft. of row) | Number of plants per person |
|---|---|
| Radish (thin to 12 plants/ft. of row) | 10-15 plants |
| Spinach (Thin to 6 plants/ft. of row) | 30-60 plants |
| Squash (1 plant/6 ft. of row) | 1-2 plants |
| Tomato (1 plant/2 ft. of row) | 2-4 plants |
How many tomato plants can I put in a 5 gallon bucket?
Whether you grow a determinate or indeterminate cultivar, plant one tomato per 5-gallon bucket for best results.
How long can a tomato plant produce fruit?
Once fruit has set, these plants continue to produce until the first frost. Indeterminate plants produce more — and often larger — tomatoes than determinate varieties, but fruit production is spread out over a two- to three-month period.
What can you not plant next to tomatoes?
Companion Plants To Avoid Growing Near Tomatoes
- Brassicas. Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi can stunt the growth of your tomato plant because they out-compete them for the same nutrients.
- Corn.
- Fennel.
- Dill.
- Potatoes.
- Eggplant.
- Walnuts.
Can peppers and tomatoes be planted together?
The reality is that because the two have similar growth requirements, they can in fact be grown quite successfully together. Diseases common to both tomato and pepper include Verticillium wilt and bacterial spot.
What grows well next to tomatoes?
Companion Plants to Grow With Tomatoes
- Basil. Basil and tomatoes are soulmates on and off the plate.
- Parsley.
- Garlic.
- Borage and squash.
- French marigolds and nasturtiums.
- Asparagus.
- Chives.
How many times will a tomato plant bear fruit?
So, do tomato plants bear fruit more than once? Indeterminate varieties of tomato plants can bear fruit more than once, producing fruit until frost. Determinate tomato varieties usually only produce one tomato harvest in a season.
Which tomato plants produce the most tomatoes?
The easiest tomato to grow is cherry tomatoes. These plants are typically smaller than other plants because of the fruits’ size, but they’re highly prolific.
Can you have too many tomatoes on one plant?
So, I did some research and created this post to answer that question. You can grow multiple tomato plants in one pot but I would not recommend doing that. The plants will compete with each other for nutrients and moisture. The overcrowding will cause a lack of sunlight and stunted growth.
How many tomato plants are self sufficient?
One or two plants will meet your needs if you want enough tomatoes to eat fresh. Add up what you need; then add an extra tomato plant for every four or five you need so that you have insurance against insect damage or underperformance due to drought, an early fall frost, or your own learning curve.
How big should a garden be for a family of 4?
800 square-foot
Generally speaking, 200 square feet of garden space per person will allow for a harvest that feeds everyone year-round. For an average family of four, plan for an 800 square-foot garden—a plot that’s 20 feet by 40 feet in size should do the trick.
Can a single tomato plant produce fruit?
Tomatoes are self-pollinating, as flowers are equipped with both male and female parts. One tomato plant is capable of producing a crop of fruit on its own, without the need of planting another one.
How deep should a planter be for tomatoes?
Growing Tomatoes in Containers
Make certain the pot is deep enough to accommodate the plant’s root system. A standard 12-inch (30 cm.) deep pot with the same diameter is suitable for most plants. Anything from bushel baskets and half barrels to 5-gallon (18.9 L) buckets can be used to grow tomato plants.
How deep do containers need to be for tomatoes?
12” deep
How deep do containers need to be for tomatoes? Containers need to be at least 12” deep for tomatoes. But deeper pots will give them more space to flourish, and can help them produce more fruit.
Should you pinch flowers off tomato plants?
Pluck off all blossoms and any fruit for at least a month after transplanting, until the plant is at least two feet tall so it’s forced to direct its energies toward establishing a strong root system.
What fertilizer do tomatoes need?
Some growers prefer to use a high-phosphorus fertilizer, indicated by a larger middle number. You can also keep things simple with a fertilizer especially formulated for tomatoes – usually with a ratio like 3-4-6 or 4-7-10. Most importantly, don’t over-fertilize. Too little fertilizer is always better than too much.
Is coffee grounds good for tomato plants?
Coffee grounds contain around 2% nitrogen as well as varying amounts of phosphorus and potassium which are all very important for the growth of tomato plants. By mixing some coffee grounds into the soil below your tomato plants you’re introducing these nutrients that the plants need to thrive.