How to Square Foot Garden, Make The Most Out of Your Limited Space

Square-foot gardens allow for a high yield of vegetables in a very small space. Each garden takes up a 4- by 4-foot area separated into 16 squares, each measuring 1 square foot. Each unit produces enough vegetables for one person during the growing season. The main idea is to make everything within an arm's reach for easy gardening in small spaces.

Things You'll Need

• 2-by-6 boards, 4
• Saw
• Drill
• Screws
• Newspaper
• Water
• Level
• Compost
• Vermiculite
• Peat moss
• Tape measure
• Marker
• Hammer
• Nails
• Twine
• Plants

Instructions

Building

1. Cut four 2-by-6 foot boards to 4 feet long. Use cedar or synthetic product because they do not rot as easily as untreated wood.

2. Drill three holes that fit the screws used, in a line at one end of each board. Make a box by connecting each drilled end to a smooth end by drilling the screws in.

3. Place the box in an area that gets eight or more hours sunlight per day. Line the bottom with several layers of newspaper so weeds will not grow through and soak the newspaper with water.

4. Check each side to make sure it is level. If not, prop bottoms of the frame up with extra wood or stones.

5. Mix a light media of 8 cubic feet by combining equal amounts of peat moss, compost and vermiculite. Fill the box with soil mix to within an inch or two of the top of the box.

6. Mark 1-foot intervals with a marker on the edge of each side, starting in a corner and going all around. Drive nails into the marks leaving them sticking up an inch or so. Tie twine to an end nail and stretch it across to the opposite side twisting it around a nail. Continue all the way around to make a grid of 1-foot squares. Drive nails in further to secure the twine.

Planting

1. Plant tall plants, like tomatoes, in the outer north-most row of squares so they will not shade other plants. If constructing a trellis for vertical growing plants, place it in the northern rows.

2. Plant one broccoli, tomatoes, cabbage or bell pepper plant to a square. Plant four leaf lettuce, chard or banana pepper plants to a square. Plants can touch each other but try not to crowd. Plant nine bush bean, spinach or beet plants to a square and 16 carrot, radish or onion plants to a square.

3. Once one crop is finished, start another. When lettuce finishes, plant carrots in that same square. When green onions are all pulled, plant lettuce for a fall crop. Some plants, like tomatoes and peppers, take all season to grow.

Tips & Warnings

• Use potting soil instead of the mix as it will work just as well. Configure garden for the room available. Boxes 3-by-3 feet result in nine squares. Configure boxes in one long line for narrow areas.

• Do not use plastic in the bottom instead of newspaper because it will not allow the box to drain. Never use treated wood as the chemicals can leach into the vegetables.

References

• University of Kentucky; Square Foot Gardens Ideal for Small Volume Growers; Aimee D. Heald; May 2, 2001
• University of Illinois Extension: Square Foot Gardens
• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Square Foot Gardens
• Capital Area Food Bank of Texas: Starting a Square Foot Garden
• Birds and Blooms; Square Foot Gardening; Donna and Tom Krischan

Resources

• University of Arizona Backyard Gardener; Intensive Gardening; Jeff Schalau; January 23, 2002