Family Garden

Planning Guide

YOU CAN GROW A YEAR’S WORTH OF FOOD FOR YOUR FAMILY—LET’S GET STARTED!
This family garden planning guide will show you how to grow healthy, organic fruits,
vegetables, and herbs all year ‘round. The following worksheets will help you determine
what your family’s produce needs are, how much you should plant, and how to plan your
garden space accordingly.

No matter your climate, conditions, and space, you can grow crops that will help reduce
your grocery budget and have wholesome and chemical-free food, improving you and
your family’s overall well-being.

Ready to grow? Start here.

HOW TO USE THESE WORKSHEETS

These sheets will help you accomplish one of the often most overlooked but critical steps
to a successful growing season and harvest—planning.

First, you’ll determine your food needs for a year by identifying the produce your family
eats and enjoys during a typical month. After all, what’s the point of having a garden if it’s
full of foods your family doesn’t like and won’t eat?

Next, you’ll need to do some research to determine which of the foods your family eats
will grow in the climate where you live. To search online for your gardening zone infor-
mation, type your zip code, city, and state with the words average first and last frost date
and gardening zone. It’s also wise to ask an experienced gardener in your area if possible.

Finally, you will take the information you gathered about your family’s food needs and
what grows well in your area to determine what and how much to plant. This will give you
an easy-to-follow plan for your garden and provide enough yield to feed your family for
a year. There is also a graph paper page provided, so you can sketch out how your garden
area will look.

Here’s to a great growing year for you and your family!

P L A N

P L A N
FOODFOOD
NEEDS FOR AFOR
NEEDS YEAR WORKSHEET
A YEAR WORKSHEET
G A R D E N

G A R D E N

Here Here
is a worksheet to help
is a worksheet toyou
helpdocument and plan
you document andout
planapproximate yearlyyearly
out approximate needsneeds
based based
on your
on your
family’s eatingeating
family’s habits.habits.

Serving Amount Weekly

Food Week 1
Serving Amount Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Yearly Need
Weekly
Food Per Meal Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Average Yearly Need
Per Meal Average
F A M I L Y

F A M I L Y

2 cups, Serving amount Serving amount Serving amount Serving amount Total serving Average
2 cups, Serving amount Serving amount Serving amount Serving amount Total serving Average
1 pound, etc. x meals x meals x meals x meals amounts divided weekly use
1 pound, etc. x meals x meals x meals x meals amounts divided weekly use
by 4 weeks x 52 weeks
by 4 weeks x 52 weeks

2x2= 2x2= 2x0= 2x0= 2x1= 2x1= 2x0= 2x0= 6 cups/6 cups/1 1/2 cups
green beans 2
green beans cups
2 cups
4 cups4 cups0 cups0 cups2 cups2 cups0 cups0 cups141/2
weeks=
4
cups
1 1/2 cups
x 52 weeks
weeks= x 52 weeks
= 78 cups
1 1/2 cups = 78 cups

24 T H E F A M I LY G A R D E N P L A N
24 T H E F A M I LY G A R D E N P L A N
P L A N

F A M I L Y
FOOD NEEDS FOR A YEAR WORKSHEET
G A R D E N

Here is a worksheet to help you document and plan out approximate yearly needs based on your
family’s eating Serving Amount Weekly
Food habits. Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Yearly Need
Per Meal Average

G A R D E N
Serving Amount Weekly
Food Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Yearly Need
Per Meal Average
F A M I L Y

2 cups, Serving amount Serving amount Serving amount Serving amount Total serving Average
1 pound, etc. x meals x meals x meals x meals amounts divided weekly use
by 4 weeks x 52 weeks

P L A N
2x2= 2x0= 2x1= 2x0= 6 cups/ 1 1/2 cups
green beans 2 cups
4 cups 0 cups 2 cups 0 cups 4 weeks=
1 1/2 cups
x 52 weeks
= 78 cups

24 T H E F A M I LY G A R D E N P L A N

PLANNING YOUR FOOD CROPS 25

P L A N

P L A N
GROWING
GROWING
SEASON
SEASON
WORKSHEET
WORKSHEET
G A R D E N

G A R D E N

1. My gardening
1. My gardening
zone is zone
____________________________.
is ____________________________.

2. My last
2. Myaverage
last average
frost date
frost
is date
_______________________.
is _______________________.

3. My first
3. My average
first average
frost date
frost
is date
_______________________.
is _______________________.
F A M I L Y

F A M I L Y

4. My growing
4. My growing
season season
is_________________________
is_________________________
days. days.

CROPCROP
PLANNING
PLANNING
WORKSHEET
WORKSHEET
Now that
Nowyou thatknow
you know
whichwhich
foods foods
your family
your family
is eating
is eating
a lot of,
a lot
it’sof,
time
it’sto
time
decide
to decide
whichwhich
of these
of these
crops you’ll
crops you’ll
be planting
be planting
in youringarden
your garden
this year.
this year.
WhenWhen
deciding
deciding
what plants
what plants
to grow,
to grow,
consider:
consider:
• Your• growing
Your growing
seasonseason
(refer (refer to by
to crops crops byorcool
cool or warm
warm seasonseason on pages
on pages 16,18).16,18). For example,
For example,
even though
even though we usewe
onuse on average
average a limeaalime a week,
week, citrus citrus
doesn’tdoesn’t
grow ingrow
ourin our gardening
gardening zone, so
zone, so
we don’t
we grow
don’t it.
grow it.
• What grows grows
• What easily easily
in yourinarea.
your area.

Annual Vegetables
Annual Vegetables PerennialPerennial
Vegetables
Vegetables Fruit Fruit Herbs Herbs
zucchini
zucchini asparagus
asparagus raspberries
raspberries rosemary
rosemary

26 T 2H6 E F
TAHME I L
FYA MGIALRY DGE ANR D
P LE ANN P L A N
HOW MUCH TO PLANT
Below you’ll find a chart with average recommendations for how much to plant per person for a
year’s worth of food, and how much each plant produces on average. Keep in mind, these averages
are based on good soil and may differ year to year. I find my tomatoes and beans produce much
more than the average listed. Your actual yield will be affected by soil nutrition, weather, and pest
conditions.

Bushel Peck Quart Pint

4 pecks 8 quarts (dry) 2 pints (dry) 2 cups (dry)

8 gallons (dry) 16 pints (dry) 4 cups (dry)
32 quarts (dry) 32 cups (dry)
64 pints (dry)
128 cups (dry)

How Much Fruit to Plant

FRUIT Plants per Person Average Yield Per Plant

Dwarf: 5–6 bushels

Apples Semi-Dwarf: 10–15 bushels
Standard: 5–20 bushels

Miniature: 1–2 pecks

Apricots Dwarf: 1–2 bushels
Standard: 3–4 bushels

Blackberries 2–4 plants per person 10–20 pounds per plant

Blueberries 2 plants per person 5–15 pounds depending on maturit y of plant

Sweet
Dwarf: 8–10 gallons
Semi-Dwarf: 10–15 gallons
Cherries Standard: 15–20 gallons
Sour
Dwarf: 3–5 gallons
Semi-Dwarf: 12–18 gallons

62 T H E FA M I LY G A R D E N P L A N
HOW MUCH TO PLANT
Below you’ll find a chart with average recommendations for how much to plant per person for a
year’s worth of food, and how much each plant produces on average. Keep in mind, these averages
FRUIT
are based on Plantsyear
good soil and may differ per Person Average
to year. I find my tomatoes andYield Per Plant
beans produce much
more than the average listed. Your actual yield will be affected by soil nutrition, weather, and pest
conditions.
Elderberries 1 plant per person 10–12 pounds per mature plant
Bushel Peck Quart Pint

4 pecks 8 quarts (dry) 2 pints (dry) 2 cups (dry)

8 gallons (dry) 16 pints (dry) 4 cups (dry)
Grapes
32 quarts (dry) 1 vine
32 cups (dry)per person 5–15 pounds per vine
64 pints (dry)
128 cups (dry)

Miniature: 1–2 pecks

Nectarines Dwarf: 3–4 bushels
How Much Fruit to Plant Standard: 6–10 bushels

Miniature: 1–2 pecks

FRUIT
Peaches Plants per Person Average
Dwarf:Yield Per Plant
3–4 bushels
Standard: 6–10 bushels

Dwarf: 5–6 bushels

Apples Dwarf: 6–8
Semi-Dwarf: bushels
10–15 bushels
Pears
Standard:
Standard:12–15 bushels
5–20 bushels

Miniature: 1–2 pecks

Apricots Dwarf: 1–2 bushels
European:
Standard:
Dwarf: 3–4 bushels
1 1/2–1 bushel
Standard: 1–2 bushels
Plums Japanese:
Dwarf: 3–4 bushels
Blackberries 2–4 plants per person 10–20 pounds
Semi-Dwarf: 4–5per plant
bushels
Standard: 5–6 bushels

Blueberries 2 plants per person 5–15 pounds depending on maturit y of plant

Raspberries 10–25 plants per person 1–2 quarts per plant

Sweet
Rhubarb 2–3 crowns per person Dwarf: 8–10
2 pounds pergallons
crown
Semi-Dwarf: 10–15 gallons
Cherries Standard: 15–20 gallons
Sour
Dwarf: 3–5 gallons
Strawberries 20–25 plants per person 1 pound or 112–18
Semi-Dwarf: pint pergallons
plant

62 T H E FA M I LY G A R D E N P L A N
C H O O S I N G Y O U R P L A N T VA R I E T Y A N D S E E D S 63
HOW MUCH TO PLANT
How
BelowMany Vegetables
you’ll to Plant
find a chart with average recommendations for how much to plant per person for a
year’s worth of food, and how much each plant produces on average. Keep in mind, these averages
are based on good soil andAverage
VEGETABLES may differ year
Plants per to year.Average
person I findpounds
my tomatoes
per plant and beans produce
Average Cups much
per plant
more than the average listed. Your actual yield will be affected by soil nutrition, weather, and pest
conditions.
Asparagus 10–15 per person average 2–3 pounds per plant 4–6 cups
Bushel Peck Quart Pint

4 pecks 8 quarts (dry) 2 pints (dry) 2 cups (dry)

8 gallons (dry) 16 pints (dry) 4 cups (dry)
Beans, Dry 15 plants per person 1/4–1/2 pound per plant 2 cups
32 quarts (dry) 32 cups (dry)
64 pints (dry)
128 cups (dry)

Beets 36–40 per person 1/4 pound per beet 1/2 –3/4 cup
How Much Fruit to Plant

Bush: 15–20 plants per person 1/2 pound per plant Bush: 2 cups
Beans, Snap
FRUIT Pole: 10–15 Plants perperson
plants per Person 1/2 pound per plant Average Yield Per Plant
Pole: 3–4 cups

Dwarf: 5–6 bushels

Broccoli
Apples 3–5 plants per person 1 pound per plant Semi-Dwarf: 10–15 bushels
5–6 cups
Standard: 5–20 bushels

Miniature: 1–2 pecks

Brussels Sprouts
Apricots 2–3 plants per person 3/4–1 pound per plant Dwarf: 1–2 bushels4 cups
Standard: 3–4 bushels

Cabbage (finely chopped/

3–5 plants per person 2–4 pounds per plant 8–16 cups
Blackberries
shredded) 2–4 plants per person 10–20 pounds per plant

Cauliflower 2–3 plants per person 2 pounds per plant 3–4 cups
Blueberries 2 plants per person 5–15 pounds depending on maturit y of plant

Carrots 25–30 per person 1/4 pound per carrot Sweet 1/4 cup
Dwarf: 8–10 gallons
Semi-Dwarf: 10–15 gallons
Cherries Standard: 15–20 gallons
Sour
Celery 3–5 per person 1/2 pound per plant 2 cups
Dwarf: 3–5 gallons
Semi-Dwarf: 12–18 gallons

62 T H E FA M I LY G A R D E N P L A N

64 T H E FA M I LY G A R D E N P L A N
HOW MUCH TO PLANT
Below you’ll find a chart with average recommendations for how much to plant per person for a
year’s worth of food, and how
VEGETABLES
much each plant produces
Average Plants per person
on average. Keep in Average
Average pounds per plant
mind, Cups
these averages
per plant
are based on good soil and may differ year to year. I find my tomatoes and beans produce much
more than the average listed. Your actual yield will be affected by soil nutrition, weather, and pest
conditions.
Corn (Sweet, in husk) 15 plants per person 2 ears per plant 1 1/2 cups

Bushel Peck Quart Pint

Cucumbers
4 pecks 8 quarts (dry) 2 pints (dry)
2–4 plants per person 3–5 pounds per plant 8–15 cups2(3–5
cups (dry)
quarts whole)
(3–5”8pickling cukes)
gallons (dry) 16 pints (dry) 4 cups (dry)
32 quarts (dry) 32 cups (dry)
64 pints (dry)
128 cups (dry)
Eggplant 1–2 plants per person 8–10 pounds per plant 32–40 cups

How Much Fruit to Plant

Garlic 15 bulbs per person

FRUIT Plants per Person Average Yield Per Plant

Kale 5 plants per person 1 pound per plant 3–6 cups

Dwarf: 5–6 bushels
Apples Semi-Dwarf: 10–15 bushels
Standard: 5–20 bushels

Spinach 15 per person 1/4 pound per plant 1 1/2 cups

Miniature: 1–2 pecks
Apricots Dwarf: 1–2 bushels
Standard: 3–4 bushels

Leeks 12–15 plants per person 1/4 pound per plant 1/2 cup

Blackberries 2–4 plants per person 10–20 pounds per plant

Lettuce 5–10 per person 1/4–1 pound per plant 4–6 cups

Blueberries 2 plants per person 5–15 pounds depending on maturit y of plant

Onions, storage 15 bulbs per person 1/2 pound 1 cup

Sweet
Dwarf: 8–10 gallons
Semi-Dwarf: 10–15 gallons
Cherries
Okra 6–8 plants per person 1 pound per plant Standard: 15–20 gallons
1 1/2 cups
Sour
Dwarf: 3–5 gallons
Semi-Dwarf: 12–18 gallons

62 T H E FA M I LY G A R D E N P L A N
C H O O S I N G Y O U R P L A N T VA R I E T Y A N D S E E D S 65
HOW MUCH TO PLANT
Below you’ll find a chart with average recommendations for how much to plant per person for a
year’s worth of food, and how
VEGETABLES much
Average each
Plants plant produces
per person Averageon average.
pounds Keep in Average
per plant mind, Cups
theseperaverages
plant
are based on good soil and may differ year to year. I find my tomatoes and beans produce much
more than the average listed. Your actual yield will be affected by soil nutrition, weather, and pest
conditions.
Parsnip 10–12 per person 1/3 pound per plant 2/3 cup

Bushel Peck Quart Pint

4 pecks 308 quarts (dry) 1/8–1/42 pints (dry) 21/4

cupscup
(dry)
Peas, Field per person pound per plant
8 gallons (dry) 16 pints (dry) 4 cups (dry)
32 quarts (dry) 32 cups (dry)
64 pints (dry)
128 cups (dry)
Hot: 1–2 per person
Peppers 1–4 pounds per plant 3–10 cups
Sweet: 3–4 per person

How Much Fruit to Plant

Potatoes 10–15 per person 2 pounds per plant 4 cups

FRUIT Plants per Person Average Yield Per Plant

Pumpkins 1–2 plants per person 4–10 pounds per plant Dwarf: 5–6 16–40
bushelscups cubed
Apples Semi-Dwarf: 10–15 bushels
Standard: 5–20 bushels

Rutabagas 5–10 per person 1–3 pounds per plant 1 1/2–5 cups
Miniature: 1–2 pecks
Apricots Dwarf: 1–2 bushels
Standard: 3–4 bushels
Squash (winter)
(Hubbard, banana, acorn, 1–2 per person 10–15 pounds per plant 10–15 cups
butternut, buttercup)
Blackberries 2–4 plants per person 10–20 pounds per plant

Squash
(summer) (pattypan, yellow, 1–2 plants per person 5–20 pounds per plant 12–50 cups
zucchini)
Blueberries 2 plants per person 5–15 pounds depending on maturit y of plant

Sweet Potatoes 5 plants per person 2 pounds per plant 5 cups

Sweet
Dwarf: 8–10 gallons
Semi-Dwarf: 10–15 gallons
Cherries
Tomatoes 5 plants per person 5–15 pounds per plant Standard: 15–20
7 1/2 gallons
cups–22 1/2 cups
Sour
Dwarf: 3–5 gallons
Semi-Dwarf: 12–18 gallons

Turnips 5–10 per person 1/2 pound per plant 2 cups

62 T H E FA M I LY G A R D E N P L A N

66 T H E FA M I LY G A R D E N P L A N
P L A N

CROPS FOR A YEAR WORKSHEET

Look at the crops you identified on the Food Needs for a Year Worksheet and transfer them
Number of Plants Needed
P L A N
G A R D E N

Crop the How Much to

here. Use Desired
PlantAnnual Yield to determine the amount you’ll need to reach the
charts (use average cups per plant from the How Many Fruits/Vegetables to Plant)

greenCROPS
desired beans FOR
annual 39 pints
yield AforYEAR
your (78 cups)
WORKSHEET
family. 38 to 40 pole bean plants
If you plan on preserving, especially canning, any of your garden produce, the variety can make
Number of Plants Needed
G A R D E N

a difference.Crop Desired
I grow and can all our tomatoAnnual Yield
products for the year;cups
(use average noperneed forthe
plant from store-bought tomatoto Plant)
How Many Fruits/Vegetables

green beans
sauce, tomato paste, tomato 39 pints (78 cups)
soup, spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, 38 to 40 pole bean plantswhole
salsa, sun dried tomatoes, or
F A M I L Y

tomatoes.
If this is your goal, make sure you have chosen a paste tomato for at least some of your plants.
I personally love heirloom San Marzano Lungo 2, and plant a minimum of 18 of them. A paste
F A M I L Y

tomato has less water, which means less simmering time, more flavor in sauces, and a thicker sauce
naturally. This is a big deal come harvest and canning time.
If you plan on making cucumber pickles, plant a pickling variety. I choose the Chicago pickling
cucumber. These varieties offer high yield (enough ripen at once to make a whole batch of pickles),
have good flavor when pickled (not bitter), are fairly uniform in size, and are firm—no one likes a
soggy pickle.
If you plan on canning salsa, make sure you plant enough jalapenos and green bell peppers to
add to your tomatoes without having to purchase from the store.
Now, get the Crops for a Year Worksheet filled in and your seeds ordered!

70 T H E FA M I LY G A R D E N P L A NC H O O S I N G Y O U R P L A N T VA R I E T Y A N D S E E D S 69

70 T H E FA M I LY G A R D E N P L A N
P L A N

F A M I L Y
CROPS FOR A YEAR WORKSHEET

Number of Plants Needed

G A R D E N

Crop Desired Annual Yield Number of Plants Needed

Crop Desired Annual Yield (use average cups per plant from the How Many Fruits/Vegetables to Plant)
(use average cups per plant from the How Many Fruits/Vegetables to Plant)
green beans 39 pints (78 cups) 38 to 40 pole bean plants

G A R D E N
F A M I L Y

P L A N

70 T H E FA M I LY G A R D E N P L A N
C H O O S I N G Y O U R P L A N T VA R I E T Y A N D S E E D S 71
F A M I L Y G A R D E N P L A N
PLAN YOUR GARDEN SPACE
THERE’S SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN…
This guide was designed to get you started, but if you really want to dig in and adopt
gardening as a sustainable lifestyle, you’ll need the Family Garden Plan.

In addition to the helpful worksheets in this download, you’ll get comprehensive instruc-
tions on everything you will need to know about raising healthy food for your family.

Learn more about

• what microclimates are and how to take advantage of them
• where and when to plant your crops
• how to protect your garden from common pests and diseases naturally
• when your fruits and vegetables are ready for harvesting
• how to improve your soil health with simple techniques like crop rotation and
backyard composting

Get your copy today and discover the joy of growing your own healthy herbs, fruits, and
vegetables.