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Growing food for a year for two adults

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

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🦁 A gentle roar from the little Canadian Lion Gardener:
May your hands stay busy, your heart stay curious and your garden stay kind.

the Little Canadian Lion Gardener story →