Buzz
In many areas of the U.S., spring is just around the corner. If you’re still unsure about what to plant and where to start, don’t worry—you’re not the only one. If you're interested in companion planting but feel overwhelmed by which plants go well together, I’ve got the perfect solution. Square foot gardening offers a variety of pre-made plans suitable for nearly any garden size, and it emphasizes companion planting.
What exactly is 'square foot' gardening?
The objective of square foot gardening is straightforward: Make the most of the available space by planting in a way that maximizes both the above- and below-ground areas efficiently. This approach reduces the need for tilling and weeding, and as an added bonus, it helps protect your plants from diseases and pests. By diversifying your plants, you avoid creating a target for specific pests or diseases.
The Square Foot Gardening Method is a trademarked system created by Mel Bartholomew, with both official books and an official website, packed with valuable resources. However, the idea of gardening by the foot, yard, or in similar small sections is a concept that has been widely explored by others.
Following Mel’s approach, or going off on your own
Bartholomew’s method is quite structured: You begin with a four-by-four-foot garden box, fill it with a specific mixture of soil (vermiculite, compost, and peat moss or coco coir), and then add a wooden grid on top to clearly mark off sections of the garden.
If this approach feels too strict for your style, feel free to adapt the square foot gardening technique. You can skip the grid entirely or create a temporary one as you plant using PVC pipe or wooden strips. Lay them down in one direction and then perpendicular, and proceed with planting. Once you’re finished, simply remove the grid and move on to the next bed. While 'Mel’s Mix' is an effective soil blend, it requires sourcing a lot of vermiculite for outdoor use, and there are now other aerating minerals available, such as perlite or volcanic rock. As peat moss is becoming less accessible, many gardeners now prefer using coco coir. However, this mix doesn’t include sand, which is ideal for carrots, and depending on your compost’s content, you might be missing out on important minerals. It’s always a good idea to ask local gardeners where they source their garden mix and rely on garden centers that deliver pre-made three-way or four-way soil mixes.
Suggested products:
Square Foot Gardening and Companion Planting by Chauncey Cruz Jr. $21.47
Square-Foot Gardening: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Healthy Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers in Small Spaces by Self Reliant Books $12.95
Square Foot Gardening: New And Expanded by James Paris $12.95
Grow All You Can Eat in 3 Square Feet by DK $19.82
Square Foot Planting Guide: Vegetable Gardening the Easy Way Audiobook by James Paris $4.99
Helpful resources for square foot garden layouts
Although 'square foot' may suggest that each plant has its own designated square, it's more about understanding the space each plant needs in units. Once you grasp the space requirements, you can easily arrange plants like puzzle pieces. For instance, tomatoes require more space (one square) compared to beets, which can fit nine in a single square. Plants generally fall into one of these categories: small (16 plants per square), medium (nine plants per square), large (four plants per square), or extra large (one plant per square). The Square Foot Garden Method Foundation offers free garden grids on their website. A fantastic chart outlining space needs for common vegetables can be found at Garden in Minutes. This Garden Therapy post shares layout examples for a 16-square garden. VegPlotter, an online tool to help you plan your garden, also includes a new feature for square foot planning.
To make things easier, try using a seeding square
In most summer gardens, a mix of seeds and seedlings are used. However, for plants that can be continuously seeded, such as lettuce, radishes, beets, onions, and carrots, you can opt for a seeding square. These convenient grids have color-coded holes to help guide you in placing seeds with the appropriate spacing. Each square is exactly one square foot. If you'd prefer to create your own seeding squares, you can find detailed instructions here.
Square foot gardening lets you think big by starting small
The square foot method is designed to break the overwhelming task of planning a whole garden into simpler steps by encouraging you to imagine just one grid and repeat it. Once you're comfortable with the concept, you can start experimenting with different grid layouts. Until then, picking up or borrowing any of the many books mentioned earlier will give you access to a variety of pre-designed grids that will make your garden look lush and organized.
