Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space

Mel Bartholomew's square foot gardening revolutionized small-space growing. The concept: garden in 1x1-foot squares, using a custom soil mix and intensive planting. It works for containers, patios, rooftops, backyards—anywhere with sun.

Build Your Box

Start small: a 2x2-foot box or even a few 1-foot containers. Any container holding 6–8 inches of soil with drainage works. My first garden used four dollar-store wastebaskets on a cement apron. Location: 6+ hours of sun.

Mel's Mix (Not Dirt)

Blend 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 compost. Light, moisture-retentive, nutrient-rich. A 10-lb bag of each filled my 2-square-foot garden.

Plant by the Grid

Each square holds one crop. Spacing determines quantity per square (from seed packet):

• 12-inch spacing → 1 plant
• 6-inch spacing → 4 plants
• 2-inch spacing → 9 plants
• 1-inch spacing → 16 plants

My first "spaghetti garden": 1 basil, 4 tomatoes, 1 oregano, 16 onions.

Harvest and Rotate

When a square finishes, pull the crop (compost it!), add a trowel of compost, and plant something different. Rotation prevents nutrient depletion and keeps every square productive all season.

Square foot gardening turns tiny spaces into abundant harvests—perfect for beginners and experts alike.