Vegetable spacing chart

USDA's planting table spaces tomatoes 1½ to 3 feet apart in the row, peppers 18 to 24 inches, cabbage and broccoli 14 to 24 inches, lettuce 6 inches, and carrots 2 to 3 inches. The full table is below, with how many plants fit in a 4×8 raised bed.

A raised bed has no rows, so we space plants the USDA in-row distance apart both ways, in a grid (our method, not USDA's).

Plant spacing, USDA table 2
CropIn the rowBetween rowsSeed depthIn a 4×8 bed
Asparagus18 inches1½ to 2 feet1-1½ in10
Beets2 to 3 inches14 to 16 inches1 in512–1,152
Broccoli14 to 24 inches2 to 2½ feet½ in8–18
Brussels Sprouts14 to 24 inches2 to 2½ feet½ in8–18
Cabbage14 to 24 inches2 to 2½ feet½ in8–18
CantaloupeHills, 6 feet6 to 7 feet1 in0
Carrots2 to 3 inches14 to 16 inches½ in512–1,152
Cauliflower14 to 24 inches2 to 2½ feet½ in8–18
CeleryCeleriac: 4 to 6 inches4 to 6 inches18 to 24 inches⅛ in128–288
Chervil and ChivesChives: in clusters2 to 3 inches14 to 16 inches½ in512–1,152
Chinese Cabbage8 to 12 inches18 to 24 inches½ in32–72
Collard Greens18 to 24 inches18 to 24 inches½ in8–10
Corn Salad1 foot14 to 16 inches½ in32
CucumbersDrills, 3 feet; hills, 6 feet6 to 7 feet½ in2
Dandelion Greens8 to 12 inches14 to 16 inches½ in32–72
Eggplant3 feet2 to 2½ feet½ in2
Endive12 inches18 to 24 inches½ in32
Fennel4 to 6 inches18 to 24 inches½ in128–288
Garlic2 to 3 inches14 to 16 inches1-2 in512–1,152
Green BeansBeans, snap, pole: 3 feet3 to 4 inches2 feet1-1½ in288–512
Head Lettuce12 to 15 inches14 to 16 inches½ in18–32
Horseradish18 to 24 inches2 to 2½ feet2 in8–10
Kale12 to 15 inches18 to 24 inches½ in18–32
Kohlrabi5 to 6 inches14 to 16 inches½ in128–171
Leeks2 to 3 inches14 to 16 inches½-1 in512–1,152
Lettuce6 inches14 to 16 inches½ in128
Lima BeansBeans, lima, pole: 3 to 4 feet3 to 4 inches2 feet1-1½ in288–512
Mustard Greens12 inches14 to 16 inches½ in32
New Zealand Spinach18 inches3 feet1-1½ in10
Okra2 feet3 to 3½ feet1-1½ in8
Onion Seed2 to 3 inches14 to 16 inches½-1 in512–1,152
Onion Sets2 to 3 inches14 to 16 inches1-2 in512–1,152
Onions2 to 3 inches14 to 16 inches1-2 in512–1,152
Parsley4 to 6 inches14 to 16 inches⅛ in128–288
Parsnips2 to 3 inches18 to 24 inches½ in512–1,152
Peas1 inch1½ to 3 feet2-3 in4,608
Peppers18 to 24 inches2 to 3 feet½ in8–10
Potatoes10 to 18 inches2 to 2½ feet4 in10–36
Radishes1 inch14 to 16 inches½ in4,608
Rhubarb3 to 4 feet3 to 4 feet—2
Rutabaga2 to 3 inches14 to 16 inches¼-½ in512–1,152
Salsify2 to 3 inches18 to 26 inches½ in512–1,152
Shallots2 to 3 inches12 to 18 inches1-2 in512–1,152
Sorrel5 to 8 inches18 to 24 inches½ in72–171
Soybeans3 inches24 to 30 inches1-1½ in512
Spinach3 to 4 inches14 to 16 inches½ in288–512
Summer Squash (Zucchini)Drills, 15 to 18 inches; hills, 4 feet4 to 5 feet1-2 in10–18
Sweet CornDrills, 14 to 16 inches; hills, 2½ to 3 feet2 to 3 feet2 in18
Sweet Potatoes12 to 14 inches3 to 3½ feet2-3 in18–32
Swiss Chard6 inches18 to 24 inches1 in128
Tomatoes1½ to 3 feet2 to 3 feet½ in2–10
Turnips2 to 3 inches14 to 16 inches¼-½ in512–1,152
Upland Cress2 to 3 inches14 to 16 inches⅛-¼ in512–1,152
WatermelonDrills, 2 to 3 feet; hills, 8 feet8 to 10 feet1-2 in2–8
Winter SquashDrills, 2 to 3 feet; hills, 4 feet8 to 12 feet1-2 in2–8
Witloof Chicory6 to 8 inches18 to 24 inches½ in72–128

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” table 2, “Quantity of seed and number of plants required for 100 feet of row, depths of planting, and distances apart for rows and plants,” transcribed from the bulletin scan. Rows are the hand-cultivated column. “Drills” are seeds sown in a row, “hills” are groups. Black-eyed peas: not in table 2.

Updated