fruit · transplant
Paste Tomato: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating paste tomato a few times a week needs about 3 plants in ~24 sq ft, worth about $90 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$3.00/lb retail — an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1 | ~8 sq ft | ~2 | ~$30 |
| 2 people | 2 | ~16 sq ft | ~3 | ~$60 |
| 4 people | 3 | ~24 sq ft | ~4 | ~$90 |
| 6 people | 4 | ~32 sq ft | ~5 | ~$120 |
Spacing
24" in row · 48" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
80 from transplant (110 from seed)
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 22 – Jul 22 | — |
| Zone 4 | May 17 – Jul 17 | — |
| Zone 5 | May 7 – Jul 7 | — |
| Zone 6 | Apr 27 – Jun 27 | — |
| Zone 7 | Apr 12 – Jun 12 | — |
| Zone 8 | Apr 1 – Jun 1 | — |
| Zone 9 | Feb 27 – Apr 29 | — |
| Zone 10 | Feb 7 – Apr 9 | — |
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Yield
About 10 lbs per plant over ~7 productive weeks (~10 lb).
Watch for
Tomato hornworm · Aphids · Early & late blight · Flea beetles — the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with basil. Keep away from potato.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
18 kcal · 1.2 g fiber · 13.7 mg vitamin C · 237 mg potassium
Related varieties
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code — not just your zone — in about 60 seconds.