How Much to Plant Per Person for a Year’s Worth of Food: A Simple Guide for South Africans

Imagine you are building a house. The first thing you need is a solid foundation, right? The same applies when it comes to growing your own food. Whether you're in a bustling city like Johannesburg or a quiet town in the countryside, knowing how much to plant for a year's worth of food is crucial. Growing your own food can save money, ensure fresh produce, and even help with sustainability. But where do you start?



This guide breaks down the concept of how much to plant per person for a year's worth of food, with easy-to-understand parts, real-life examples, and analogies relevant to everyday life in South Africa.

Step 1: Understand Your Basic Needs

First, let's break down the basic food requirements of an average person. On a daily basis, you need fruits, vegetables, proteins, and starches to meet your nutritional needs. Think of your food like a car; just as your car needs fuel to run, your body needs food to function.

For example, an average adult requires around 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day. This includes:

Vegetables and Fruits: These are like the "fuel" for your body, providing vitamins and minerals.
Proteins (e.g., beans, peas, eggs, meat): Think of these as the "engine" parts that help you build and repair your muscles and tissues.
Starches (e.g., potatoes, maize, rice): These are like the "engine oil", helping to maintain energy and keep you going throughout the day.

In South Africa, the staples of your diet might include maize (pap), potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, and beans.

Step 2: Calculate How Much You'll Need

Once you know the types of food you need, it's time to calculate how much of each you need per year. Here's where we use the "planting guide" to help you estimate. If you're starting a vegetable garden, think of it like planting a tree. Each tree will provide a specific amount of fruit (or vegetables), and you need to plan for enough trees to cover your needs for the whole year.

Here's a simple way to look at it:

Vegetables: For an average person, you might need around 300-400kg of vegetables annually. This includes leafy greens like spinach, tomatoes, and root vegetables like carrots and potatoes. A single tomato plant can produce around 4 to 10 kg of tomatoes annually under optimal conditions. If you are planting spinach, it takes about 12-16 weeks for the plants to grow fully. Planting them three times a year ensures a continuous supply.

Fruit: Aim for 100-150kg of fruit per person each year. This can include bananas, oranges, and apples. A mature apple tree can produce between 30 to 80 kg of apples annually. In South Africa, citrus trees like oranges and lemons can grow quite easily in the right conditions, making them a great addition to your backyard garden. A mature citrus tree can yield anywhere from 50 to 150 kg of fruit per year, depending on the variety and care.

Starch: A person might need about 150-200kg of starches like maize, potatoes, or rice per year. A single potato plant typically yields around 1 to 3 kg of potatoes annually, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Maize, for example, is a staple food in many South African homes, so planting it in a small garden or plot of land can provide a reliable supply of food for the whole year.

Protein: Growing legumes like beans and peas can help provide protein. An average person might need about 40-50kg of beans or legumes annually. A single bean plant might yield around 0.5 to 1.5 kg of beans annually. Beans are a great option for South Africans because they can thrive in a variety of climates and are easy to store.

Step 3: Choosing the Right Crops for South Africa

South Africa's diverse climate means you can grow a wide variety of crops, from tropical fruits to cool-weather vegetables. It's essential to choose crops that suit your local conditions and grow season.

Highveld (e.g., Johannesburg): This area has a temperate climate, perfect for growing vegetables like spinach, tomatoes, cabbage, and beans. Crops like maize also do well in this region.

Coastal Regions (e.g., Durban, East London or Knysna): If you live near the coast, fruits like bananas and avocados will thrive. Coastal areas also support root vegetables like sweet potatoes and yams.

Step 4: Companion Planting - Working with Nature

Planting the right crops together can help them grow better. Think of it like teamwork. In a good team, everyone has a role to play. For example, beans are great for fixing nitrogen in the soil, which helps nearby crops like maize grow better.

In your South African garden, you could plant tomatoes alongside basil, which helps keep pests away. Similarly, carrots and onions are great companions because they naturally repel each other's pests.

Step 5: Harvesting and Storing Your Produce

Once your crops are ready, it's time to harvest and store them for the long term. Imagine you've worked hard all year to fill your pantry with fresh food. You want to ensure it lasts through the winter months.

Canning: For fruits like tomatoes and peaches, canning is an excellent way to preserve them for use throughout the year. Freezing: Vegetables like spinach and beans can be frozen for long-term storage. Drying: Herbs like parsley, thyme, and basil can be dried and stored in jars for later use.

Grow Your Own Food and Save Money

Growing your own food might seem overwhelming at first, but by following a simple planting guide and choosing the right crops for your area, you can easily provide a year's worth of food for yourself. Not only will this save you money, but it also reduces your carbon footprint, making it a more sustainable choice.

In South Africa, with its varying climates and fertile soil, you have a unique opportunity to grow everything from maize to citrus fruits and beans. Whether you live on a small plot or have access to a larger space, with a little planning, you can ensure that your family has healthy, fresh food all year round.