How to use the planner
- Add your beds. Enter each bed’s length and width in feet. A 4 × 4 or 4 × 8 bed is a good place to start.
- Pick a plant from the list. Each plant shows how many fit in one square.
- Click squares to plant them. Click a planted square again with the same plant selected to clear it.
- Set the soil depth to see how much mix you need, split into compost, peat moss or coir, and vermiculite.
- Print your plan to take to the garden center. Your plan is also saved in this browser so you can come back to it.
What is square foot gardening?
Square foot gardening is a method popularized by Mel Bartholomew. Instead of long rows with wide paths, you build a small raised bed, divide its surface into a grid of one-foot squares, and plant each square with a set number of plants based on their size. Because nothing is planted in paths, you grow more food in less space, use less water, and have far fewer weeds to pull.
Plants per square: the spacing chart
| Per square | Typical plants |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tomato (staked), pepper, eggplant, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale |
| 2 | Cucumber (on a trellis) |
| 4 | Leaf lettuce, Swiss chard, parsley, basil, marigold, strawberry, corn, potato |
| 8 | Pole beans and peas (on a trellis) |
| 9 | Bush beans, spinach, beets, bulb onions, garlic, turnips, cilantro |
| 16 | Carrots, radishes, green onions |
| 1 per 4 squares | Zucchini and summer squash (they sprawl) |
To space plants inside a square, divide it into an even grid: 2 × 2 for 4 plants, 3 × 3 for 9, and 4 × 4 for 16. Tall plants and trellised crops belong on the north side of the bed so they don’t shade everything else.
How much soil mix you need
The planner works out soil volume with this formula:
- Cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Example: a 4 × 8 foot bed filled 6 inches deep needs 4 × 8 × 6 ÷ 12 = 16 cubic feet, about 0.59 cubic yards. For the classic one-third mix, that is about 5.3 cubic feet each of compost, peat moss or coir, and vermiculite.
Peat moss and coir are often sold compressed and expand when you loosen them, so check the bag for its loose volume before buying. Bagged products are usually sold in 1, 1.5 or 2 cubic foot bags. For large beds, buying compost in bulk by the cubic yard is usually cheaper.
Tips for a productive square foot garden
- Put beds in full sun. Most vegetables need 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day.
- Replant as you harvest. When a square is done, add a trowel of compost and plant something new. That is how a small bed stays productive all season.
- Mix plant families. Spreading crops across the bed instead of planting big blocks of one thing helps limit pests and disease.
- Water at the base. A watering can or drip line keeps leaves dry and puts water where roots can use it.
Frequently asked questions
How many plants go in one square foot?
It depends on the plant's mature size. Large plants such as tomatoes, peppers and broccoli get 1 per square. Medium plants such as lettuce, chard and basil get 4. Smaller plants such as bush beans, spinach and beets get 9. Very small root crops such as carrots and radishes get 16.
How deep should a square foot garden bed be?
Six inches of good soil mix is the standard depth for square foot gardening and suits most vegetables. Deep-rooted crops such as long carrots and potatoes do better with 10 to 12 inches.
What soil do you use for square foot gardening?
The classic mix is one third blended compost, one third peat moss (or coconut coir) and one third coarse vermiculite, measured by volume. Using compost from several sources gives a wider range of nutrients.
How wide should a square foot garden bed be?
Keep beds no wider than 4 feet if you can reach from both sides, or about 3 feet if the bed is against a wall or fence. That way you can reach every square without stepping on the soil.
How much soil do I need for a 4×8 raised bed?
A 4 by 8 foot bed filled 6 inches deep needs 16 cubic feet of soil, which is about 0.59 cubic yards. At 12 inches deep it needs 32 cubic feet, or about 1.19 cubic yards.