Which direction should vegetable rows run?

North-south orientation gives the most even sun distribution. In the UK, run rows along the longest dimension for efficiency.

How wide should paths between rows be?

Allow 30-45 cm for kneeling access and 60 cm for paths you walk along. Wheelbarrow paths need 90 cm minimum. If you enter a Path Width wider than your Row Spacing, the calculator uses the path width as the gap between those rows rather than adding it on top — row spacing already builds in some access room.

Should row spacing be wider than plant spacing?

Usually yes. Row spacing accounts for root spread, air circulation, and access for weeding and harvesting.

Should row direction matter?

Run rows north to south when possible so both sides get equal sunlight through the day. For sloping sites, run rows across the slope to reduce soil erosion from rain.

How many plants fit in a row?

Divide the row length by the plant spacing, then add 1 for the end plant. For example, a 3m row at 30cm spacing: 3 / 0.3 + 1 = 11 plants per row.

GardenCalcs

Row Planting Calculator — Plants per Row

Calculate plant quantities for straight rows in beds and allotments.

Row Length

Length of each row along the bed

Number of Rows

How many parallel rows across the bed

Plant Spacing (in row)

Gap between plants within a row, e.g. 30 cm for carrots

Row Spacing

Gap between adjacent rows, centre to centre (allows weeding and harvesting)

How We Calculate This

Plants per row = Floor(Row Length ÷ Plant Spacing) + 1. The +1 is the plant at the far end of the row (fence-post rule).

Total plants = Plants per Row × Number of Rows.

Bed width = (Number of Rows − 1) × inter-row gap, where the gap is the larger of Row Spacing and any Path Width you enter (so a wide access path is honoured without double-counting clearance).

Bed area = Row Length × (Bed Width + one inter-row gap), leaving half a gap of margin beyond the outer rows on each side for plant spread and edge access.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard gardening guidelines. Results may vary with soil conditions, climate, and plant varieties.