Plant Spacing & Garden Bed Planner
Enter your garden bed size and plant type to see how many plants fit with proper spacing.
Plants that fit
8 tomatoes
Grid layout
4 × 2 grid
Space plants about 24 in (2.0 ft) apart in each direction, in a grid 4 plants long by 2 plants wide.
How to use this tool
- Measure the garden bed you're actually planting into, in feet — not the whole yard.
- Pick the plant type closest to what you're growing; the spacing shown is the standard recommendation for that plant at maturity.
- Read the plant count and grid layout, then mark that grid out with stakes and string before you dig — it's much easier to adjust on paper than after planting.
- For mixed beds, run the calculator once per plant type and divide the bed into zones.
Tips for better results
Spacing is for mature size, not the seedling in front of you
A tomato seedling looks lonely at 24 in apart — that gap disappears fast once it's fully grown, so resist the urge to plant closer.
Edge rows can go a little tighter
Plants along the outer edge of a bed get light from the side too, so you can often shave an inch or two off spacing there without crowding.
Leave a foot for access, not just plants
If the bed is wider than about 4 ft, plan a narrow gap or stepping path so you can reach the middle without stepping on soil.