Define family tastes
It is important to select edible plants that will be eaten. Tastes can change from one year to the next, so a quick survey of family members, especially children, avoids wasting time growing edible plants that no one will want.
If we decide to expand the family circle, providing relatives, friends, non-profit organizations, etc., we consult them in order to get the most out of the cultures.
Determine the number of people you want to feed
This information is essential since it impacts both the dimensions of the vegetable garden and the time that will need to be devoted to it. We can include people who live under the same roof and also parents, friends, etc., or offer part of the harvest to the most deprived helping organizations in our society.
Decide on the type of vegetable garden
This can be solely dedicated to harvesting fresh vegetables, or can be used to stock up on supplies for the winter:
- A fresh vegetable garden meets needs during the summer, as all types of vegetables are ready;
- A conservation vegetable garden allows you to eat vegetables all year round by consuming fresh vegetables in summer and using various preservation methods: freezing, drying, canning in jars, etc.
You can opt for a hybrid formula where certain varieties of vegetables will be grown for a summer harvest while others will be consumed as soon as they ripen or preserved.
Evaluate the number of plants
Using all this data, we try to evaluate the quantities, in weight and number of plants. For fruiting vegetables, it is difficult to give their number per species, because each variety can produce a different number of units. Using the table above, we can calculate the number of plants needed.
Yield per plant
Vegetable | Weight |
Aubergine | 1,8 kg |
Swiss chard | 1,2 kg |
Beet | 250 g |
Broccoli | 1 kg |
Carrot | 125 g |
Groundcherry | 400 g |
Cauliflower | 1 kg |
Kale | 1 kg |
cabbage | 1 kg |
Cucumber | 4 kg |
summer squash | 4 kg |
winter squash | 7 kg |
Zucchini | 3 kg |
Spinach | 90 g |
Climbing bean | 550 g |
Dwarf bean | 450 g |
Melon | 2 kg |
Turnip | 40 g |
Onion | 500 g |
Parsnip | 250 g |
pimento | 200 g |
Leek | 250 g |
Because | 400 kg |
Pepper | 700 g |
Potato | 800 g |
Tomato | 2,5 kg |
Source: The urban vegetable garden, easy and natural by Éditions MultiMondes.
This little planning task allows you to properly order your seeds from Jardins de l'écoumène. In fact, on our website we indicate the number of seeds per sachet. For example, if we want to obtain 30 kilograms of Amish Italian tomato, a single sachet of 35 seeds is sufficient: 12 plants at 2,5 kg per plant. We will then sow about half of the packet.
Save money
If you lack space, you can also choose to save money by growing the vegetables that cost the most and buying those that cost the least. This information takes into account both the yield per square meter harvested and the average market price.
From the largest to the smallest economies: cucumber, cauliflower, broccoli, potato, carrot, beetroot, peas, tomato, pepper, leek, lettuce, radish, zucchini, onion and beans.
A guide… to adapt
To help with decision-making, the tables below indicate the number of plants to grow, on average, for a fresh vegetable garden or a conservation vegetable garden. It is not, of course, a question of using this information as is. For example, if we really like eggplants in the family, we can increase the number of plants and if we like leeks less we can then reduce the quantities grown. Hence the importance of clearly defining the family's tastes.
Quantity of vegetables for 4 people
Vegetable | Fresh vegetable garden | Conservation vegetable garden |
Ail | 30 bulbs | 50 bulbs |
Aubergine | 3 floors | 5 floors |
Swiss chard | 5 floors | 10 floors |
Beet | 30 floors | 65 floors |
Broccoli | 3 floors | 6 floors |
Carrot | 40 floors | 150 floors |
Cabbage | 6 floors | 12 floors |
Cauliflower | 5 floors | 7 floors |
Cucumber | 3 floors | |
Zucchini | 3 floors | 6 floors |
Dwarf bean | 30 pockets | 60 pockets |
Leaf lettuce | 70 floors | - |
head lettuce | 15 floors | - |
Turnip | 15 floors | 30 floors |
Onion | 10 floors | 30 floors |
Leek | 10 floors | 30 floors |
Because | 15 pockets | 30 pockets |
Pepper | 4 floors | 10 floors |
pimento | 5 floors | 10 floors |
Potato | 8 floors | 14 floors |
Radish | 100 floors | - |
Medium and large tomato | 8 floors | 12 floors |
Tomato in sauce | - | 20 floors |
Cherry tomato | 3 floors | - |
Quantity of fine herbs for 4 people
Fines | Fresh garden | Conservation garden |
Basil | 3 floors | 12 floors |
Chervil | 3 floors | 5 floors |
Chives | 2 floors | 5 floors |
Coriander | 3 floors | 6 floors |
Common laurel | 1 floor | 1 floor |
Oregano | 2 floors | 4 floors |
Persil | 3 floors | 5 floors |
Rosemary | 1 floor | 1 floor |
Savory | 1 floor | 1 floor |
Sage | 1 floor | 1 floor |
Thyme | 2 floors | 3 floors |
Evaluate the time you have
From sowing to harvest, to succeed in the vegetable garden, you have to devote time to it. It is therefore important to carefully estimate the hours that you can, not necessarily those that you want, dedicate to it. It is also necessary to take into account the time required for the various operations, the time to devote to the vegetable garden not being equal throughout the season. It is often higher at the start of the season, when it is necessary to prepare the soil, sow, plant, etc., and at the end of the season, for harvests and closing of the vegetable garden. We distinguish :
- Plants requiring little time: tomatoes, Swiss chard, kale, lettuce and mixed greens, beans, onions, zucchini and squash, radishes, and the vast majority of fine herbs;
- Plants requiring a little more time: cucumber, garlic, ground cherry, carrot, beetroot, spinach, pea, bell pepper and chilli, leek and cabbage and potato;
- Vegetables requiring more availability and generally more knowledge: asparagus, eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, celeriac, corn, melon and turnip.
If you lack space, you can choose to grow the plants that are most contaminated by pesticides: spinach, kale, peppers, celery and tomatoes. Please note that these are imported products. According to a report from the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, of the 7 foods produced in Quebec and tested in 2019, all comply with standards.
For more information on growing all of these plants, see the sections vegetable seeds et grass seeds on our website.