Utilize Less Space to Grow More Crops

Pros and Drawbacks of Gardening in Square Foot

Discover the fundamentals of creating a square-foot garden (SFG). Plant closely together in squares to get more in less area. Discover the benefits and drawbacks, if square-foot gardening is actually effective, the recommended depth and size for a square-foot garden, and other advice. Plus, get six SFG garden plans that you may use as a guide.

Square-foot gardening: What Is It?

Raised-bed gardening includes square-foot gardening (SFG), which is essentially raised gardening in the form of a split square box. Instead of planting in rows like you would with a regular gardening approach, you plant in 4×4-foot blocks. 

Depending on their size, different crops are planted in different blocks; for instance, 16 radishes in a square foot or just one cabbage per square foot. Every square foot is divided by a lattice that is positioned across the top.

Mel Bartholomew, an American novelist and TV host, created this planting technique in the 1970s. It’s an easy method to make raised beds gardens that require little upkeep and are manageable. 

Supporters of SFG assert that compared to traditional gardens, it generates more, requires less water and soil, and requires far less maintenance time.

Specifically, he saw that the typical gardener was making extra work for themselves by spending hours weeding the large spaces between lengthy rows of plants. 

It was quickly discovered that utilizing intense deep beds in place of rows might significantly reduce the amount of upkeep needed for the garden. To make crop spacing and rotation simple, place a one-foot square grid on top.

A Square-Foot Garden Bed: What Is Its Size?

In order to visibly divide the crops, SFG beds are usually at least 4 feet by 4 feet and have a square foot lattice on top. Having said that, mattresses can measure 2 by 2 feet or 4 by 12 feet, however 4 by 4 feet is the most typical. Plants can now be positioned closer to one another as a result.

There are no plant spacings to remember, which makes planting easier. Instead, depending on the size of the plant, each square contains 1, 4, 9, or 16 plants.

These are simple to arrange in each square by using your fingers to create a tiny grid in the dirt. There are a few larger plants that span two squares, albeit this is the exception. Two mini-rows of four climbing peas and beans are planted in each square. 

How Deep Is A Garden Bed That Is Square Feet In Size?

Beds ought to be deep, with a depth ranging from six to twelve inches, in order to provide plants with an abundance of nutrient-rich nutrients while still ensuring adequate drainage.

Additional Rules for Gardening in Square Foot

For the purpose of filling the beds, a particular soil mixture that is both water-retentive and nutrient-rich is utilized. Not only does this produce a start that is free of weeds, but it also retains water and contains a wealth of nutrients.

Plants are able to be grown considerably closer together than they would normally be due to the rich soil, which in turn suppresses the growth of weeds.

How to Get Thin with Scissors: Snip off the surplus plants with scissors rather than dragging them up, which might cause the root systems of the plants you wish to grow to become disrupted.

Never walk on the soil in the bed because doing so will just cause the soil to become more compacted. In the 1970s, this was a concept that was considered groundbreaking!

The Benefits of Gardening in Square Foot

SFG’s “pros” principally consist of its ease of use and straightforwardness. Students who are just starting out in gardening, those who are short on time, persons who are elderly or disabled (SFG gardens can be constructed at a higher height to make them more accessible), and toddlers are all excellent candidates for the SFG approach.

The SFG technique has been adopted by a great number of schools due to the fact that it is simple to implement and maintain, and it does not come with any new responsibilities for the instructor.

The Drawbacks of Gardening in Square Foot

SFG gardens are capable of cultivating a wide variety of vegetables; but, they are particularly limited in their capacity to support larger plants (such as squash, melons, main-crop potatoes, and so on), perennials (such as globe artichokes and rhubarb), and fruit bushes and trees.

 Once novice gardeners experience the success of SFG gardens, they typically desire to expand the range of crops they cultivate beyond the standard SFG crops.

Originally, a soil mixture of peat moss, vermiculite, and compost (“Mel’s Mix”) was advised in SFG. However, two of the three components originate from sources that are not renewable, despite the fact that this makes for ideal soil for growing veggies.

 There is a significant amount of value in peat as a natural sink for greenhouse gasses, and its development takes thousands of years. As a result of the fact that vermiculite is extracted by mining, it is also a non-renewable resource that has a substantial carbon footprint.

The use of coconut coir as an alternative to peat or vermiculite is something that we have adopted, as is the case with many other gardeners.

The particular soil mix and raised beds can be more expensive to set up than other ways, despite the fact that SFG is easier to maintain than other methods.

However, none of these factors eliminate the possibility that SFG could be a beneficial component of a garden! As an alternative to Mel’s Mix, you could use 100% recycled compost in the beds. You could also progressively increase the number of SFG beds and combine them with portions of your garden that are reserved for fruit trees and larger crops. 

Deep raised beds, not compacting the soil, removable coverings and plant supports, and other techniques that were revolutionary in the 1980s are now frequently utilized for vegetable gardening. They include many of the same techniques that were used for SFG.

How Effective Is Gardening in Square Footways?

The answer is yes; square-foot gardening is effective for people who have a restricted amount of space since it enables plants to be positioned in closer proximity to one another.

Another thing that we have discovered is that there is significantly less weeding. In the event that you do not have a significant amount of time to devote to wedding, watering, and maintaining your vegetable garden, then square-foot gardening can be the solution for you.

 The soil heats up more quickly in SFG, which allows for earlier planting and harvesting. This is one of the benefits that SFG shares with all raised beds.

You are, however, restricted in the things that you are able to cultivate. It has been said previously that plants that require greater area, such as pumpkins, corn, potatoes, and watermelon, do not fare as well when they are grown in boxes.

The square-foot gardening method was groundbreaking when it was initially developed, and it continues to be an excellent system for individuals who are just beginning their gardening endeavors, have a limited amount of space, or are looking for a method that is highly structured.

On the other hand, if you want to reap the benefits of gardening with raised beds and efficient organization, you do not have to adhere to the SFG. Someone once said, “If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.” This is a highly inspirational saying.

Although SFG is effective in a wide variety of circumstances, it is not applicable to every circumstance. 

The success that it offers can frequently inspire individuals to discover the joys of fruit trees, the utilization of barrels to cultivate enormous crops of potatoes, or the management of a greenhouse that is full of high-value crops.

 To put it simply, it is an excellent stepping stone into the realm of growing your own food, which is the reason why it is still going strong after 35 years!