How many plants can you fit in a planter box?
To cultivate in a planter box is both practical and fun. In a single planter box of standard size (120x80x19 cm) there is room for about 200 liters of soil. With a double planter box (two boxes stacked on top of each other), you will need 400 liters of soil, but then you also have the opportunity to grow almost anything, including root vegetables and plants with deep roots. If you're only growing lettuce and leafy greens, usually a single box is enough.
By calculating how many plants of each type can fit in a box, you can avoid overpreparing or buying more plants than you actually need.,It is also smart to make full use of the space you have available - throughout the season. Cultivate in the planter box from early spring to late autumn by sowing and planting in stages. Spinach sown in winter in February could be ready for harvest in April-May, and the space can then be used for summer vegetables. When they are harvested in autumn, you can sow something new that can withstand a bit of cold, such as winter lettuce. Of course, you can also grow smaller leafy greens and summer flowers between the larger plants, such as marigolds that attract beneficial pollinators and predatory insects.
Plant spacing
Plant just closely. If you are sowing from seed, the recommended spacing is on the seed packet. Below you can see recommendations for finished plants.
Avoid bare soil, where weeds can take hold, but don't plant the plants too close together either. A little air between the leaves reduces the risk of pests and leaf mold, and makes it easier to care for the plants.
You can fit so many plants in the planter box
Tomato
9 bush tomatoes, physalis or tomatilloor
10-12 tall tomato plants with supportor
15 smaller potted tomatoes
Cucumber
3-4 plants in double planters, these are nutrient-demanding plants that need plenty of space, fertilizer, and water
Cabbage plants
7-9 depending on variety and size
Eggplant
9-12 medium-sized plants
Peppers and chili
9-12 plants
Corn
15 plants, to promote pollination, you should place them in groups rather than rows
Lettuce and leafy greens
Follow the instructions on the seed packet, and consider pre-cultivating several plants indoors or in a greenhouse - this way you can quickly replace what is harvested. If you sow too closely, simply thin out and eat what is left over.
Simple plant box tips that increase crop yield
- Place cardboard at the bottom of the plant box before filling it with soil. The cardboard suffocates weeds at the beginning, but dissolves over time, allowing the roots of the plants to go even deeper into the ground.
- Give the plants plenty of soil. Cucumber, tomato, and chili thrive best when they each get 15-20 liters.
- When plants grow in a limited amount of soil in a box, they need more fertilizer and water than if they were growing in open ground. Water and fertilize a little extra.
- Grass clippings and other greens can be placed between the plants, reducing water evaporation and adding nutrients.
- Remember that all plants should have space above ground when they reach full size.
- Sometimes it's difficult to sow exactly the right amount, but if you sow too densely, you can thin out the plants as they grow – so the ones left have room to grow big and healthy.
Growing in a plant box is great when you want to start growing quickly. The plant box can be placed on rocky ground, a mountain plot, or on a terrace, and it will still be able to produce lovely plants. So don't hesitate, start now and aim for a great harvest this year!
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