For Square Foot Garden spacing, the number of plants put into each square is based on the maturation size of each type of plant. Each of the square foot spaces are managed individually and contain multiples of a single type of plant. Traditional Square Foot Gardening typically involves digging a garden bed (3x3, 4x4 and 4x8-foot sizes are popular), and then creating a grid over it in square foot increments. Armed with the Square Foot Gardening techniques, we were on our way to backyard vegetable gardening success! This strategy for vegetable garden layout removes wasted space and the need for paths in the garden.
Mel literally wrote the book on the subject in 1981, which is now available as the All New Square Foot Gardening: 3rd Edition, earning legions of enthusiastic fans. Square Foot Gardening is a proven seed spacing method invented in 1976 by Mel Bartholomew, a gardener and civil engineer who wanted to find a better, more efficient way to grow a vegetable garden. We soon discovered the world of Square Foot Gardening for garden layout and we were on our way to backyard vegetable gardening success. the veggies as they grew, and to optimize our small backyard garden space. We wanted to be able to better identify the weeds vs. As garden newbies, we grew as many weeds as veggies!įrustrated but eager to figure this out, we began to research proper seed and plant spacing. Our first attempt was an eye-opening failure. I know this because I’ve been there! In 2013, my husband Karl and I decided to start a family vegetable garden to teach our kids the value and excitement of home-grown veggies. While seasoned gardeners know exactly how to space seeds and plants, it’s not so easy if you are a vegetable garden beginner looking in confusion from the seed packet to the patch of soil beneath your feet! Vegetable garden layout is important: If the seeds are too close together, the harvest will be stunted too far and you’re wasting space and inviting in weeds. Epic vegetable gardening begins with planning and precision seed and plant spacing to make the most of every square foot of garden soil.