Plant Spacing Guide - Information On Proper Vegetable Garden Spacing

Orange Ruler In Soil Of Container With Several Tiny Sprouts
plant spacing
(Image credit: Chelnok)

Garden spacing can be to gauge - when you're planting seeds or seedlings, it's hard to imagine those tiny little things are going to grow up to be full-sized plants. But they will, and it's important to give them ample room to grow into. Group your plants too close together and you can face all kinds of problems, from stunted growth to an increased chance of moisture-borne diseases.

But how much space do vegetables need to grow? That's a tricky question, because how much space goes between each plant can vary so much.

In order to make this easier, we've put together this handy plant spacing chart to help you. Use this vegetable plant spacing guide to help you plan how best to place vegetables in your garden.

How to Calculate Plant Spacing

How far apart to plant vegetables is going to vary greatly depending upon the plant, and upon how you're growing it. Tomato plant spacing is going to be quite different from pepper plant spacing, and cucumber plant spacing is going to depend upon whether you're growing along the ground or up a trellis.

There are plant spacing calculators out there, but they're not essential. As long as you know what you're planting, this plant spacing guide is all you need.

To use this chart, simply find the vegetable you plan on putting into your garden and follow the suggested spacing for between the plants and between the rows. If you're planting in traditional rows, use both ranges listed. If you're planting in a raised bed, use only the "Spacing Between Plants" range on all sides of your plant.

This plant spacing chart is not intended to to be used with square foot gardening, which is much more intensive and requires vegetables to be planted much closer together.

Plant Spacing Guide

Alfalfa Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 6-12" (15-30 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 35-40" (90-100 cm)

Amaranth Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 1-2" (2.5-5 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 1-2" (2.5-5 cm)

Artichoke Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 18" (45 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 24-36" (60-90 cm)

Asparagus Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 12-18" (30-45 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 60" (150 cm)

Bush Bean Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 2-4" (5-10 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 18-24" (45-60 cm)

Pole Bean Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 4-6" (10-15 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 30-36" (75-90 cm)

Beet Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 3-4" (7.5-10 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 12-18" (30-45 cm)

Black Eyed Pea Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 2-4" (5-10 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 30-36" (75-90 cm)

Bok Choy Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 6-12" (15-30 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 18- 30" (45-75 cm)

Broccoli Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 18-24" (45-60 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 36-40" (75-100 cm)

Broccoli Rabe Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 1-3" (2.5-7.5 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 18-36" (45-90 cm)

Brussels Sprout Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 24" (60 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 24-36" (60-90 cm)

Cabbage Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 9-12" (23-30 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 36-44" (90-112 cm)

Carrot Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 1-2" (2.5-5 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 12-18" (30-45 cm)

Cassava Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 40" (1 m)

Spacing Between Rows: 40" (1 m)

Cauliflower Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 18-24" (45-60 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 18-24" (45-60 cm)

Celery Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 12-18" (30-45 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 24" (60 cm)

Chaya Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 25" (64 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 36" (90 cm)

Chinese Kale Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 12-24" (30-60 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 18-30" (45-75 cm)

Corn Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 10-15" (25-38 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 36-42" (90-106 cm)

Cress Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 1-2" (2.5-5 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 3-6" (7.5-15 cm)

Cucumber Plant Spacing - Ground

Spacing Between Plants: 8-10" (20-25 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 60" (1.5 m)

Cucumber Plant Spacing - Trellised

Spacing Between Plants: 2-3" (5-7.5 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 30" (75 cm)

Eggplant Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 18-24" (45-60 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 30-36" (75-91 cm)

Fennel Bulb Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 12-24" (30-60 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 12-24" (30-60 cm)

Gourd Plant Spacing - Extra Large (30+ lbs fruit)

Spacing Between Plants: 60-72" (1.5-1.8 m)

Spacing Between Rows: 120-144" (3-3.6 m)

Gourd Plant Spacing - Large (15 - 30 lbs fruit)

Spacing Between Plants: 40-48" (1-1.2 m)

Spacing Between Rows: 90-108" (2.2-2.7 m)

Gourd Plant Spacing - Medium (8 - 15 lbs fruit)

Spacing Between Plants: 36- 48" (90-120 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 72-90" (1.8-2.3 m)

Gourd Plant Spacing - Small (under 8 lbs)

Spacing Between Plants: 20-24" (50-60 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 60-72" (1.5-1.8 m)

Greens Plant Spacing - Mature harvest

Spacing Between Plants: 10" - 18" (25-45 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 36" - 42" (90-106 cm)

Greens Plant Spacing - Baby green harvest

Spacing Between Plants: 2-4" (5-10 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 12-18" (30-45 cm)

Hops Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 36-48" (90-120 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 96" (2.4 m)

Jerusalem Artichoke Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 18-36" (45-90 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 18-36" (45-90 cm)

Jicama Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 12" (30 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 12" (30 cm)

Kale Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 12-18" (30-45 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 24" (60 cm)

Kohlrabi Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 6" (15 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 12" (30 cm)

Leek Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 4-6" (10-15 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 8-16" (20-40 cm)

Lentil Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 0.5-1" (1-2.5 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 6-12" (15-30 cm)

Lettuce Plant Spacing - Head

Spacing Between Plants: 12" (30 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 12" (30 cm)

Lettuce Plant Spacing - Leaf

Spacing Between Plants: 1-3" (2.5-7.5 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 1-3" (2.5-7.5 cm)

Mache Greens Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 2" (5 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 2" (5 cm)

Okra Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 12-15" (18-38 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 36-42" (90-106 cm)

Onion Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 4-6" (10-15 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 4-6" (10-15 cm)

Parsnip Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 8-10" (20-25 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 18-24" (45-60 cm)

Peanut Plant Spacing - Bunch

Spacing Between Plants: 6-8" (15-20 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 24" (60 cm)

Peanut Plant Spacing - Runner

Spacing Between Plants: 6-8" (15-20 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 36" (90 cm)

Pea Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 1-2" (2.5- 5 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 18-24" (45-60 cm)

Pepper Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 14-18" (35-45 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 18-24" (45-60 cm)

Pigeon Pea Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 3-5" (7.5-13 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 40" (1 m)

Potato Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 8-12" (20-30 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 30-36" (75-90 cm)

Pumpkin Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 60-72" (1.5-1.8 m)

Spacing Between Rows: 120-180" (3-4.5 m)

Radicchio Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 8-10" (20-25 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 12" (30 cm)

Radish Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 0.5-4" (1-10 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 2-4" (5-10 cm)

Rhubarb Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 36-48" (90-120 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 36-48" (90-120 cm)

Rutabaga Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 6-8" (15-20 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 14-18" (34-45 cm)

Salsify Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 2-4" (5-10 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 18-20" (45-50 cm)

Shallot Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 6-8" (15-20 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 6-8" (15-20 cm)

Soybean (Edamame) Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 2-4" (5-10 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 24" (60 cm)

Spinach Plant Spacing - Mature Leaf

Spacing Between Plants: 2-4" (5-10 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 12-18" (30-45 cm)

Spinach Plant Spacing - Baby Leaf

Spacing Between Plants: 0.5-1" (1-2.5 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 12-18" (30-45 cm)

Squash Plant Spacing - Summer

Spacing Between Plants: 18-28" (45-70 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 36-48" (90-120 cm)

Squash Plant Spacing - Winter

Spacing Between Plants: 24-36" (60-90 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 60-72" (1.5-1.8 m)

Sweet Potato Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 12-18" (30-45 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 36-48" (90-120 cm)

Swiss Chard Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 6-12" (15-30 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 12-18" (30-45 cm)

Tomatillo Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 24-36" (60-90 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 36-72" (90-180 cm)

Tomato Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 24-36" (60-90 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 48-60" (90-150 cm)

Turnip Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 2-4" (5-10 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 12-18" (30-45 cm)

Zucchini Plant Spacing

Spacing Between Plants: 24-36" (60-90 cm)

Spacing Between Rows: 36-48" (90-120 cm)

We hope this plant spacing chart will make things easier for you while you figure out your vegetable garden spacing. Learning how much space needs to be between each plant results in healthier plants and a better yield.

Heather Rhoades
Founder of Gardening Know How

Heather Rhoades founded Gardening Know How in 2007. She holds degrees from Cleveland State University and Northern Kentucky University. She is an avid gardener with a passion for community, and is a recipient of the Master Gardeners of Ohio Lifetime Achievement Award.