Square-Foot Gardening

Square-foot gardening splits a raised bed into a grid of 1-foot squares. Each square holds a set number of one crop based on its spacing, so the whole bed is planted densely and deliberately.

The grid makes spacing and planning simple, packs a lot of food into a small footprint, and leaves little open soil for weeds. It's beginner-friendly and makes succession planting easy — replant a square the moment it's harvested.

Use a bed about 4x4 feet so every square is within reach. Lay a physical grid of string or thin wood on top, marking 1-foot squares. Plant each square by spacing: e.g. 1 tomato, 4 lettuce, 9 bush beans, or 16 carrots/radishes per square. Replant each square as soon as it's cleared.

Tall or sprawling crops (tomatoes, cucumbers, pole beans) go at the north side on a trellis so they don't shade shorter plants. A loose, compost-rich mix supports the dense planting. Keep a few squares cycling fast crops like radish and lettuce for a steady harvest.