Square foot Gardening?
What do you get when you cross a retired civil engineer who had a sweet-spot for gardening? Well, you get square foot gardening. In a nut shell, this was invented by Mel Bartholomew and he wrote a book about it in 1981 with several revisions to this book until he passed in 2016. Oddly enough, another revision came out in 2018 with the help of an organization that used some of his writings. Mel’s main point was, traditional row farming that large scale farming operations use was not very efficient for the backyard gardener. Luckily for us he developed a “better way” to do this.
Understanding Square Foot Gardening.
Square foot gardening maximizes yield while minimizing space, effort, and resources. Instead of traditional rows, gardeners arrange plants in raised garden beds, divided into square-foot sections. Each section is meticulously planned and planted with specific crops to optimize space and resources. Mel suggested a 4-foot by 4-foot raised garden bed, divided into 16 equal square foot sections, for easy access from outside the bed. Since gardeners don’t need to step into the raised bed, this practice helps keep the soil undisturbed and loose. Mel also determined the optimal amount of each vegetable to plant in each square. This will be detailed later, along with a list of popular vegetables.
Core Principles of Square Foot Gardening
Square foot gardening is guided by several principles:
Raised Beds: Raised beds are the foundation of square foot gardening. These elevated plots provide better drainage, soil aeration, and warmer soil temperatures, all of which contribute to healthier plants and higher yields.
Grid System: Each raised bed is divided into a grid of one-foot squares. This grid serves as a guide for planting and organizing crops, ensuring efficient use of space and easy access for maintenance.
Intensive Planting: Unlike traditional gardening methods that rely on large spaces and long rows, square foot gardening focuses on dense planting within each square foot. By carefully selecting and spacing crops, gardeners can achieve maximum yield in minimal space.
Companion Planting: Companion planting is the practice of planting compatible crops together to enhance growth, repel pests, and improve overall garden health. In square foot gardening, companion planting is utilized to optimize space and promote biodiversity.
Vertical Gardening: Vertical gardening techniques, such as trellises and vertical structures, are often incorporated into square foot gardens to further maximize space and support climbing plants like beans, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
Benefits of Square Foot Gardening
There are a ton of benefits to Square foot Gardening:
Space Efficiency: Square foot gardening allows individuals with limited space, such as home owners or apartment residents, to enjoy the benefits of gardening without the need for a large yard or plot of land.
Maximized Yields: By concentrating plants in small, organized plots, square foot gardening maximizes yield per square foot of garden space. This efficiency is particularly advantageous for those seeking to grow their own food or maintain a self-sufficient lifestyle.
Reduced Maintenance: The compact nature of square foot gardens reduces the need for weeding, watering, and other time-consuming maintenance tasks associated with traditional gardening methods. Additionally, raised beds minimize soil compaction and erosion, leading to healthier plants and less labor-intensive upkeep.
Water Conservation: Square foot gardening promotes water conservation by reducing runoff and evaporation. Raised beds retain moisture more effectively than conventional garden beds, allowing for less frequent watering and overall water savings.
Improved Soil Quality: By utilizing raised beds filled with nutrient-rich soil mixes, square foot gardening creates an optimal growing environment for plants. The soil that is suggested is called Mel’s Mix. This improved soil quality translates to healthier plants, increased yields, and reduced reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
The Disadvantages to Square Foot Gardening
There is one obvious disadvantage to Square Foot Gardening:
- Initial Start up cost: Since square foot gardening suggests using a raised garden bed that is filled with specialized soil, the initial start up cost can be higher than regular gardening. When you consider that these raised garden beds can be used for years, and the soil only needs to have basic maintenance every season, the costs seem to make sense for the amount of vegetables you will produce over the years.
How to Get Started
Here are some steps to help you get started:
Select a Location: Choose a sunny spot with good drainage for your square foot garden. Consider factors such as proximity to water sources, accessibility, and potential obstacles like trees or buildings. While these are possible to move after they have been set up, it makes much more sense to put it in the best spot right from the beginning.
Build or Purchase Raised Beds: Construct or purchase raised beds according to your space and preferences. Beds can be made from various materials such as wood, metal, or composite materials. Ensure that beds are sturdy, level, and adequately sized for your gardening needs. I have found that the 4 foot by 4 foot box works wonderfully. Typically I have mine about a foot deep (though Mel did suggest 6 inches deep is enough). For me, using untreated wood, and screws is all I have ever needed. I have played with weed liner at the bottom of the raised garden bed, but never noticed any benefit from it, so I no longer use those.
Prepare the Soil: Fill raised beds with a high-quality soil mix that is well-draining, nutrient-rich, and free from weeds and debris. Consider incorporating compost, vermiculite, and coconut core / peat moss. See the above link to the post on how to make Mel’s Mix.
Divide and Grid: Divide each raised bed into one-foot squares using wooden slats, string, or other materials. This grid will serve as a guide for planting and organizing crops.
Select and Plant Crops: Choose a diverse selection of vegetables, herbs, and flowers to plant in your square foot garden. Refer to the Monthly Guides to figure out what to plant so you can maximize yield and promote garden health.
Maintain and Harvest: Regularly monitor your square foot garden for signs of pests, disease, and nutrient deficiencies. Water plants as needed (I prefer using a drip irrigation system), and be sure to harvest ripe produce quickly to encourage continuous growth and productivity while helping to keep down the pest pressure.
Popular Vegetables for Square foot Gardening (and how many to plant per square).
In your square foot garden, consider planting these popular vegetables and herbs:
- Lettuce: Plant 4 lettuce plants per square foot.
- Broccoli: Plant 1 broccoli plant per square foot.
- Carrots: Plant 16 carrot plants per square foot. Thin them as they grow to avoid overcrowding.
- Radishes: Plant 16 radish plants per square foot. Radishes grow quickly and can be harvested early, allowing for succession planting.
- Cucumbers: Plant 2 cucumber plants per square foot. Provide support for vining varieties.
- Bell Peppers: Plant 1 bell pepper plant per square foot. Pepper plants appreciate warm soil and benefit from mulching.
- Kale: Plant 4 kale plants per square foot. Kale is a hardy leafy green that thrives in cooler weather and can be harvested continuously as leaves mature.
- Green Beans: Plant 9 bush bean plants per square foot or 4 pole bean plants per square foot with support.
- Spinach: Plant 9 spinach plants per square foot. Harvest leaves regularly to encourage continuous growth.
- Herbs (such as basil, parsley, or cilantro): Depending on the herb, you can plant 1-4 plants per square foot. Herbs add flavor to dishes and can be grown densely in small spaces.
Wrapping it all up.
For a quick and easy start to your gardening journey, consider square foot gardening. Building the boxes, filling them with quality soil, and growing various plants has brought me immense enjoyment. I hope this post inspires you to begin your own gardening adventure! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Get out and Garden!