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Vegetable Seed Sizes

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From NJ Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations

Table R-1. Vegetable Seed Sizes

CropSeeds/Unit Weight
Asparagus13,000-20,000/lb 
Beans: baby lima1,150-1,450/lb 
Beans: fordhook440-550/lb 
Beans: snap1,600-2,200/lb 
Beets24,000-26,000/lb 
Broccoli8,500-9,000/oz 
Brussels sprouts8,500-9,000/oz 
Cabbage8,500-9,000/oz 
Carrots300,000-400,000/lb 
Cauliflower8,900-10,000/oz 
Celery60,000-72,000/oz 
Collards7,500-8,500/oz 
Cucumbers15,000-16,000/lb 
Eggplants6,000-6,500/oz 
Endive, escarole22,000-26,000/oz 
Kale7,500-8,900/oz 
Leeks170,000-180,000/lb 
Lettuce: head20,000-25,000/oz 
Lettuce: leaf25,000-31,000/oz 
Muskmelons16,000-19,000/lb 
Mustard15,000-17,000/oz
Okra450-550/oz
Onions: bulb105,000-144,000/lb
Onions: bunching180,000-200,000/lb
Parsnips7,500-12,000/oz
Parsley240,000-288,000/lb
Peas1,440-2,580/lb
Peppers4,000-4,700/oz
Pumpkins1,900-3,200/lb
Radishes40,000-50,000/lb
Rutabaga150,000-192,000/lb
Spinach25,000-50,000/lb
Squash: summer3,500-4,800/lb
Squash: winter1,600-4,000/lb
Sweet corn: normal, sugary enhanced1,800-2,500/lb
Sweet corn: Super sweet (Sh)3,000-5,000/lb
Tomatoes: fresh10,000-11,400/oz
Tomatoes: processing160,000-190,000/lb
Watermelons: small seed8,000-10,400/lb
Watermelons: large seed3,200-4,800/lb

Use this table to estimate your seed requirements. Varieties and see lots can differ in seed size. Check with your seed supplier and the label on the container for more precise information.

Plant Spacings and Populations

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From NJ Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations

Table R-2. Population of Plants per Acre at Several Between-Row and In-Row Spacings

 Inches Apart in Row
Inches Between Rows2468101214161824303648
7448,046224,023149,349112,01189,60974,67464,006      
12261,360130,68087,12065,34052,27243,56037,33732,67029,04021,78017,42414,52010,890
18174,24087,12058,08043,56034,84829,04024,89121,78019,36014,52011,6169,6807,260
21149,34974,67449,78337,33729,87024,89121,33618,66916,59412,4469,9578,2976,223
24130,68065,34043,56032,67026,13621,78018,66916,33514,52010,8908,7127,2605,445
30104,54452,27234,84826,13620,90917,42414,93513,06811,6168,7126,9705,8084,356
36 (3 ft)87,12043,56029,04021,78017,42414,52012,44610,8909,6807,2605,8084,8403,630
42 (3½ ft)74,67437,33724,89118,66914,93412,44610,6689,3348,2976,2234,9784,1493,111
48 (4 ft)65,34032,67021,78016,33513,06810,8909,3348,1677,2605,4454,3563,6302,722
60 (5 ft)  17,42413,06810,4548,7127,4676,5345,8084,3563,4852,9042,178
72 (6 ft)  14,52010,8908,7127,2606,2235,4454,8403,6302,9042,4201,815
84 (7 ft)  12,4469,3347,4676,2235,3344,6674,1493,1112,4892,0741,556
96 (8 ft)  10,8908,1676,5345,4454,6674,0843,6302,7222,1781,8151,361

Making a Plant-Growing Mix

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From NJ Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations
Many pre-mixed growing media products suitable for conventional and organic production are available commercially. A good, lightweight, disease-free, plant-growing material can also be made from a mixture of peat and vermiculite. A formula for a very simple mix for conventional production is given in Table R-4, but a preferred formulation is shown in Table R-5. If plants are to be grown in a mix longer than 8 weeks, use the formula in Table R-5. Organic growing media differ from conventional media because all components used must be allowable under organic production standards. When mixing your own formulation it is important to verify with your certifier that the materials you are using will not compromise your certification. For more information on organic growing media including several formulations can be found in:

Table R-4: Simple Plant-Growing Mix

MaterialsCubic Yard (22 Bushels)2 Bushels
Shredded sphagnum peat moss11bu1bu (10gal)
No. 2, 3, or 4 domestic or
African vermiculite1 or
horticultural grade (dust-screened)		11bu1bu (10gal)
Pulverized limestone:
dolomitic lime for mixes made with domestic vermiculite or
calcitic lime mixes made with African vermiculite		–
10lb
6lb		–
1lb
9oz(3/4c)
Superphosphate (20% P2O5) or
Triple superphosphate (46% P2O5)		2½lb
1¼lb		4oz (½c)
2oz (¼c)
Fertilizer (5-10-10)5lb8oz (1c)

1 Vermiculite should be pea-sized and relatively free of fines and dust. Final mix should have a pH of 6.0-6.5

Notes. Good results for growing lettuce and cabbage transplants have been obtained by diluting this mix with an equal part of sand.
This mix will only get the seedlings up. Supplemental fertilizing will be needed to grow plants to transplant size. About 3 weeks after seeding, begin liquid fertilizing the plants with a soluble fertilizer, such as a 20-20-20, at the rate of 2-3 teaspoons per gallon of water. This rate should be applied at least weekly. More frequent applications may be desirable.

Table R-5: Preferred Plant-Growing Mix

MaterialsCubic Yard (22 Bushels)2 Bushels
Shredded sphagnum peat moss11bu1bu (10gal)
No. 2, 3, or 4 domestic or
African vermiculite1 or
horticultural grade (dust-screened)		11bu1bu (10gal)
Pulverized limestone:
dolomitic lime for mixes made with domestic vermiculite or
calcitic lime mixes made with African vermiculite		–
10lb
6lb		–
1lb
9oz(3/4c)
Superphosphate (20% P2O5) or
Triple superphosphate (46% P2O5)		2½lb
1¼lb		4oz (½c)
2oz (¼c)
Sulfate or muriate of potash (50%-60% K2O)½lb1oz (2tbs)
Osmocote2 (18-6-12)
Tomatoes
Eggplants
Peppers		–
4lb
8lb
8lb		–
6oz (3/4c)
12oz (1½c)
12oz (1½c)
Micronutrient mixUse according to mfgr’s recommendations.
Wetting agent (such as Aqua-Gro granular)1½pt1oz (4tbs)

1 Vermiculite should be pea-sized and relatively free of fines and dust. Final mix should have a pH of 6.0-6.5

2 Osmocote is a slow-release fertilizer. Use a formula that will release nutrients over a period of 8 to 9 months. Therefore, mixes should be made just prior to seeding. Plants grown in mixes containing Osmocote must be carefully watered and the temperature carefully controlled prior to field planting. Reduced rates are suggested to control plant height when using small cells.

Regardless of which formula is chosen, unless good mixing procedures are used, the results will be less than optimal. For best mixing, use a horizontal-type paddle mixer that folds or blends the components, such as lime and fertilizer, evenly throughout the mix. With tilted or other types of mixers, the components tend to segregate or separate out, resulting in erratic performance of the mix.
Good procedures to follow when preparing a mix are:

  1. Use a respirator to prevent inhalation of dust when mixing peat, vermiculite and additives.
  2. For small quantities of mix preparation–1 cubic yard or less–place 4 to 5 inches of vermiculite in the bottom of a 5-gallon pail.
  3. Add all the additives (lime, fertilizer, micronutrient, etc.) to the vermiculite in the pail and mix thoroughly.
  4. Fluff the recommended amount of peat. Start mixer and begin blending the peat.
  5. While blending, add water according to the dampness of the peat. You will need approximately 1 gallon of water per bushel of peat in the mix.
  6. While blending, slowly pour the additives, which you have already mixed thoroughly with a small amount of vermiculite, into the mixer and blend for 3 to 5 minutes.
  7. Add the recommended amount of vermiculite after the other ingredients and blend for 1 minute or less, depending on the consistency of the vermiculite. It should be mixed thoroughly without breaking down. Soon after mixing, use the mix for growing your plants. It is not a good practice to stockpile the mix in large piles for long periods of time.
  8. Read all labels of the ingredients used, and heed all warnings that may be marked on the labels or bags.