Square Foot Gardening divides the growing area of a prove garden bed into a grid in which crops are imbed according to their fledged size of it . This neat overture to intensive planting was popularized by author Mel Bartholemew , a former engineer , in his 1981 bookSquare Foot horticulture .
Bartholemew introduced club and applied science process into horticulture . His scheme , which he dub square fundament gardening , incorporate a serial of 4’x4′ raised garden beds , each grade with a control grid of 16 1’x1′ squares . Each square toes is planted with 1 , 2 , 4 , 9 , or 16 individual crops , count on their ripe size . For example , one grid might hold one Brassica oleracea italica plant , 2 cucumbers , 4 electric-light bulb onion , 9 spinach plants , or 16carrots . Tall plant are trellised on the north side of the garden bottom to avoid shading smaller plants . Once a grid or “ square ft ” is harvest , another crop is planted to take its lieu , creating time of year - long production .
Square Foot Gardening incorporates many of the value ofcrop rotationandcompanion planting . Once a plant pass on adulthood , it ’s harvest and that grid is planted with a dissimilar vegetable or herbaceous plant ( craw rotation ) . Different plants grown in gamy density create a polyculture , which is thought to have positive impacts on pest and disease resistor ( companion planting ) . It also creates living mulches and suppresses dope ( thickly planted crop fill in out weed seeds ) .
Season extension with square foot gardening
Square Foot Gardening make time of year extension simpler , as it ’s much easier to shroud a 4×4 seam with a canopy or make acold framethan it is to cover a large garden layer . It ’s also much promiscuous to protect from animals like rabbits andsquirrels , as making a cage or fence for the square - foot bed is a much easier job .
How to build a square foot garden
Many gardeners – millions in fact , imprecate by this method acting . Square foot gardening proffer a simple vegetable garden layout that makes it easy to estimate on the button how many plants can grow in your garden . It ’s also convenient for gardeners with special growing space as the style of planting allows for more plants per square foot than traditional growing method . Bartholemew recommended 4 - foundation square bed , but his planting grid can be utilize to any exist garden bed . The safe news is , it ’s incredibly elementary .
mention : In his book , Bartholemew recommended the use oflandscape fabricon the bottom of the garden bed to prevent Mary Jane . That was back in 1981 . This is no longer a recommended practice as it inhibit drain , louse drift , bioactivity , and gas telephone exchange in the dirt . Plus , green goddess are not a significant job in square foot gardening , as the dim planting shades out weed seeds .
Bartholemew also try out with various planting mixing for his straightforward foot gardens and eventually arrived at “ Mel ’s Mix ” : 1/3 peat moss or coconut coir , 1/3 vermiculite , and 1/3 blended compost . Bartholemew claimed that this mix yielded ranking result in only a 6 ” depth , kept the soil friable , reduced weeds to almost zero , and eliminate the motivation for artificial plant food . The mix is added each clip a newfangled square is plant and provides enough nutrients to sustain the plants . I would n’t recommend a profoundness of only 6″ however , as it ’s very shallow for the likes oftomatoes , onion , andpotatoesand may pose drainage trouble in some grime . I would commend at least 9″.
If you do n’t yet have a vegetable garden , read abouthow to build a lift garden bottom . Bartholemew recommends 4’x4′ beds because they grid evenly , but honestly , you may make the garden bed any sizing . When resolve on the width of your raised garden beds , the rule of pollex is that you should be capable to reach halfway across the bottom comfortably to make care and harvest gentle . The length is your option .
Steps in building a square metrical unit garden :
Measure the garden seam and divide it into 12″x12″ sections . Bartholemew recommends that you make a wooden power grid and for good attach it to the top of the bottom so your grid is always present .
Fill your garden beds with high - quality soil , if you have n’t done so already . Bartholemew recommend his “ Mel ’s Mix ” of 1/3 blended compost , 1/3 peat moss , and 1/3 coarse vermiculite . This mix should insure adequate drainage and sufficient fertilization all time of year .
Tall plant that call for trellising should always be on the North side of the seam so they do n’t shadow out minuscule plant . Attach a treillage to the closing of the bed that is confining to North .
Plant your grids according to the mature size of each plant . rise 1 , 4 , 9 , or 16 equally space plants per square human foot .
