Square Foot Garden Planner
Plan your square foot garden bed. Select up to 5 vegetables and see how many plants fit in each square using SFG spacing rules.
Standard SFG beds are 4 feet wide
Common sizes: 4x4, 4x8, or 4x12
Square Foot Gardening Spacing Rules
Garden Plan Results
Plant Breakdown
Tomato
Extra-Large (1/sq ft) · 6 squares
Harvest: 60-85 days
6
plants
Pepper
Large (1/sq ft) · 5 squares
Harvest: 60-90 days
5
plants
Lettuce
Medium (4/sq ft) · 5 squares
Harvest: 30-60 days
20
plants
Bed Layout (4ft x 4ft)
Each cell = 1 square foot. Number shows plants per square.
Common questions
Square foot gardening (SFG) is a planting method developed by Mel Bartholomew that divides a raised bed into a grid of 1-foot squares. Each square is planted with a specific number of plants based on their mature spacing needs. For example, you plant 1 tomato per square, 4 lettuce per square, or 16 radishes per square. It simplifies garden planning, eliminates wasted row space, and maximizes production in small areas.
How Square Foot Gardening Works
Square foot gardening (SFG) was popularized by Mel Bartholomew in 1981. The method divides raised beds into a grid of 1-foot squares. Each square is planted with a specific number of plants based on their mature size. This eliminates row spacing, reduces wasted space, and makes planning simple. A standard 4x4 bed gives you 16 squares to work with, and a 4x8 bed gives you 32 squares.
Tips for a Productive Square Foot Garden
- Use a high-quality soil mix (Mel's Mix: equal parts compost, peat moss, and vermiculite) for best results in raised SFG beds.
- Plant tall crops on the north side of the bed so they do not shade shorter vegetables.
- Succession plant quick-harvesting squares (radishes, lettuce) to get multiple crops per season from the same square.
- Add a trellis on the north end to grow vining crops like cucumbers, peas, and pole beans vertically without shading neighbors.
- Use the companion planting checker to make sure your selected vegetables grow well together.
Seasonal gardening newsletter
Opt-in email list with occasional seasonal tips and new calculators. No sharing, unsubscribe in one click.
Data last updated: March 2026