Growing a Year's Worth of Food for Two Adults
A Practical, Canadian Guide to Planning, Planting & Storing
With food prices climbing and the colder weather setting in, there’s real value in growing even a portion of your own food. A well-planned garden gives you more control, more security, and more flavour — without needing a homestead or a giant backyard.
Growing a year's worth of food might sound ambitious, but the moment you see those shelves filling with your own harvest… well, the grocery store starts to feel less like a lifeline and more like a backup plan.
Last year; I stored, froze, canned and dried a lot of my vegetables, herbs and fruits to last us a whole year with some leftover tomato sauce and juices. :)
Main Storage & Garden Crops for Two Adults
These crops carry you through fall, winter, and early spring. Plant a little extra to account for wildlife and unexpected losses.
| Crop | How Much to Plant | Expected Yield | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | 40–50 ft of rows or ~40 seed potatoes | 120–200 lbs | Top calorie crop; stores beautifully in a cool, dark space. |
| Sweet Potatoes | 8–12 slips | 25–40 lbs | Needs warm soil; cure before storing. |
| Garlic | 50–70 cloves | 50–70 bulbs | Plant in fall; extremely reliable. |
| Carrots | 20–25 ft of row | 40–60 lbs | Excellent for cold storage or sand boxes. |
| Beets | 15–20 ft of row | 25–35 lbs | Great for pickling, fermenting, or storing. |
| Dried Beans | 30–40 plants | 8–10 lbs dried | Protein powerhouse. |
| Green Beans | 20–30 plants | 25–40 lbs | Freeze, pickle, stir-fry. |
| Shell Peas | 10–15 ft of row | 10–15 lbs | Early spring planting; freeze or eat fresh. |
| Snow Peas | 10–12 ft of row | 8–12 lbs | Crisp snack and stir-fry; succession plant for longer harvest. |
| Tomatoes | 8–12 plants | 80–120 lbs | Grow both paste and slicing varieties. |
| Broccoli | 8–10 plants | 8–15 heads + side shoots | Freezes extremely well. |
| Cauliflower | 6–8 plants | 6–8 heads | Pickle or freeze. |
| Kohlrabi | 6–8 plants | 6–8 lbs | Quick-growing; mild flavour. |
| Squash (summer & winter) | 4–6 plants | 20–40 lbs | Zucchini for summer, winter squash for storage. |
| Cabbages | 4–6 plants | 20–30 lbs | Store in cool place; protect from pests with row covers. |
| Onions | 50–60 sets or seedlings | 50–70 lbs | Can be stored for months; consider wildlife protection. |
Summer Crops for Fresh Eating & Preserving
Keep your plates colourful and nutritious during summer and early fall:
- Lettuce (succession every 2 weeks)
- Peas (shell and snow) — spring and fall plantings
- Cucumbers (4–6 plants)
- Zucchini (2 plants)
- Radishes (frequent small sowings)
- Sweet Corn (15–20 plants for fresh; 40+ if freezing)
Useful Herbs for Drying & Freezing
| Herb | Quantity | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | 4–6 plants | Pesto, sauces, drying |
| Parsley | 2–3 plants | Freezes perfectly |
| Dill | 2–3 groupings | Pickling + pollinators |
| Thyme | 1–2 plants | Drying |
| Oregano | 1 plant | Drying |
| Chives | 1 clump | Freeze or use fresh |
| Sage | 1 plant | Drying |
Companion Planting Highlights
- Tomatoes + Basil — better flavour, fewer pests
- Carrots + Onions — repel each other's worst insects
- Corn + Beans + Squash — classic "Three Sisters"
- Cabbage family + Dill — attracts beneficials
Garden Space Needed
| Garden Type | Minimum Size |
|---|---|
| In-ground rows | 800–1,200 sq. ft. |
| Raised beds | 8–12 beds (4×8 ft each) |
| Mixed beds + containers | Works fine; keep potatoes in ground |
Preserving Overview
- Tomatoes → 20–40 jars of sauce
- Green beans → 10–15 freezer bags
- Broccoli & cauliflower → 12–20 bags frozen
- Carrots & potatoes → raw storage
- Herbs → jars dried
- Beets → pickled or fermented
- Cabbages → fermented or frozen for soup
Explore Other Pages
- How Much Food to Grow for Two
- Grow enough Fruit to last a year - growing for two
- Grow Enough Vegetables for Two - to last a year
- IPM Pest Timing
- Beneficial Insects & Pollinators
- Frost Dates by Province
- Cottage Garden
- Seasonal Gardening
- Canning Food homes-n-gardens.com
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