Square Foot Gardening Chart
Square foot gardening plants 1–16 per square based on crop size. Tomatoes take a full square; radishes fit 16. Chart covers 30+ common US vegetables.
Key takeaways
- Square foot gardening uses a grid system: 1 square per large plant (tomatoes, peppers), up to 16 per small plant (radishes, carrots)
- A standard 4x8 raised bed divided into 32 squares can hold 1 tomato, 4 lettuce plants, 9 beets, and 16 radishes simultaneously
- The method wastes no space on walking rows — all access is from the 2-foot edge, so no part of the bed is unreachable
- Intensive planting creates a living mulch effect; closely spaced plants shade soil, reducing watering and weed pressure
- Succession planting in square foot gardens — replanting a square as soon as one crop finishes — extends harvest through the whole season
What square foot gardening is
Square foot gardening divides a raised garden bed into a grid of 1-square-foot cells. Each cell holds a specific number of plants based on their mature size: 1 large plant, 4 medium plants, 9 smaller plants, or 16 small plants per square foot.
The method was developed by US engineer Mel Bartholomew in 1976 and popularized through his 1981 book and 2005 revised edition. It remains one of the most widely taught beginner gardening techniques in the US because it:
- Eliminates guesswork about spacing
- Maximizes yield per square foot
- Reduces watering and weeding compared to traditional row gardening
- Works well in raised beds, which US extension programs widely recommend for beginner gardens
The core planting chart
This chart covers the most commonly grown vegetables in US home gardens. The “plants per square foot” column is based on mature canopy spread.
| Vegetable | Plants per sq ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes (indeterminate) | 1 | Requires cage or stake; takes full square |
| Tomatoes (determinate) | 1 | Same space but shorter plant |
| Peppers | 1 | Full square; bush plants |
| Eggplant | 1 | Full square; stake in wind |
| Zucchini / summer squash | 1 per 4 sq ft | Needs at least 2x2 ft; plan accordingly |
| Winter squash | 1 per 9 sq ft | Vine varieties need more room |
| Cucumbers (trellis) | 2 | Trellis at back of bed; space more efficiently |
| Cucumbers (bush) | 1 | No trellis needed |
| Broccoli | 1 | Large plant; needs full square |
| Cabbage | 1 | Full square; can be crowded at 4 sq ft |
| Cauliflower | 1 | Same as broccoli |
| Kale | 1 | Full square |
| Swiss chard | 4 | Space 6 inches apart |
| Lettuce (leaf) | 4 | Space 6 inches apart; harvest outer leaves |
| Lettuce (head) | 1 | Full square for iceberg/romaine heads |
| Spinach | 9 | Space 4 inches apart; fast crop |
| Arugula | 9–16 | Can be broadcast; thin to 4 inches |
| Peas | 8 | Use a trellis or twiggy branches for support |
| Bush beans | 9 | Space 4 inches apart in a 3x3 grid |
| Pole beans | 8 | Train up a trellis |
| Beets | 9 | Space 4 inches apart |
| Turnips | 9 | Space 4 inches apart |
| Radishes | 16 | Fastest crop; ready in 25–30 days |
| Carrots | 16 | Need 12+ inches depth; 3 inches between plants |
| Green onions / scallions | 16 | Can be even tighter at 2–3 inches |
| Onions (bulbing) | 9 | Space 4 inches; plant sets in early spring |
| Garlic | 9 | Plant cloves 4 inches apart in fall |
| Leeks | 9 | Space 4 inches; transplant as seedlings |
| Parsley | 4 | Space 6 inches apart |
| Basil | 4 | Space 6 inches apart; pinch frequently |
| Cilantro | 9 | Dense planting; succession-sow every 3 weeks |
| Dill | 4 | Space 6 inches; can get tall |
| Chives | 9 | Perennial; leave one square permanently |
Building a 4x8 foot raised bed plan
A 4x8-foot bed gives 32 one-square-foot cells. Here is an example mid-summer layout for 2 adults:
| Row | Col 1 | Col 2 | Col 3 | Col 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1 (back) | Tomato | Tomato | Cucumber (trellis) | Cucumber (trellis) |
| Row 2 | Pepper | Pepper | Basil (4 plants) | Basil (4 plants) |
| Row 3 | Kale | Chard (4) | Beets (9) | Beets (9) |
| Row 4 | Lettuce (4) | Lettuce (4) | Spinach (9) | Spinach (9) |
| Row 5 (front) | Radishes (16) | Radishes (16) | Carrots (16) | Carrots (16) |
| (ignored) | — | — | Zucchini (4 sq ft = 2 squares wide) | — |
This layout provides salad greens, tomatoes for slicing, cucumbers, peppers, and herbs in one 4x8 bed. The zucchini would require expanding to a second bed or container.
For formal grid plans and printable templates, see vegetable garden layout and raised bed garden plans.
The spacing rule explained
The square foot gardening spacing formula is based on mature plant spread in inches. Divide 12 inches by the plant’s spacing requirement to get plants per square foot:
- 12-inch spacing → 1 plant per square (12 ÷ 12 = 1)
- 6-inch spacing → 4 plants per square (12 ÷ 6 = 2, then 2 × 2 = 4)
- 4-inch spacing → 9 plants per square (12 ÷ 4 = 3, then 3 × 3 = 9)
- 3-inch spacing → 16 plants per square (12 ÷ 3 = 4, then 4 × 4 = 16)
This formula works for any vegetable: if the seed packet or nursery tag says “space 8 inches apart,” that’s closer to 2 plants per square foot (12 ÷ 8 = 1.5 → use 1 plant per square to be safe, or 4 if the variety is compact).
Succession planting in square foot beds
Succession planting — replanting a square as soon as one crop finishes — is the key to getting maximum production from a small bed.
Fast-turnover crops ideal for succession planting:
- Radishes: 25–30 days to harvest; plant a new square every 2 weeks
- Lettuce: 30–50 days to harvest; replant immediately after pulling heads
- Spinach: 40–50 days; bolt in summer heat but can go back in as a fall crop
- Cilantro: 3–4 weeks to usable size; succession sow every 2–3 weeks to prevent gaps
Slow crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) occupy their squares all season. Fast crops cycle through 3–5 times in the same space.
For companion planting within square foot beds, see companion planting chart — some crops actively benefit neighbors and can be interplanted in the same square.
Watering a square foot garden
Close planting means plant leaves shade soil quickly. Mature beds may need watering only every 2–3 days rather than daily, even in hot weather. The living canopy reduces evaporation significantly.
Best watering approach:
- Drip irrigation or soaker hose on a timer laid below the plant canopy
- OR water by hand with a watering wand at soil level
- Avoid sprinkler systems — overhead watering on densely planted beds increases fungal disease
A full 4x8 bed uses 5–10 gallons per watering session in summer. Mulching the few bare areas between newly planted squares reduces this further.
What to grow in each zone
Square foot gardening works across all USDA zones, but timing changes by region:
| Zone | Spring planting | Summer crops | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3–4 | May | June–August | September |
| Zone 5–6 | April–May | June–September | September–October |
| Zone 7–8 | March–April | May–September | September–November |
| Zone 9–10 | February–March | April–September | October–December |
In hot climates (Zones 8–10), cool-season crops (lettuce, spinach, brassicas) go in fall and winter. Warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, beans) go in spring. The square foot grid adapts to either crop type.
Common mistakes
Planting too many large crops: one zucchini plant crowds out 4 square feet. One broccoli per square foot means a 4x4 bed can only hold 16 broccoli plants — which is far more than any family needs. Prioritize high-value crops like tomatoes, peppers, and herbs where space is limited.
Skipping the grid: plants placed “approximately” 6 inches apart tend to drift to 8 or 4 inches. A physical grid — made from wood strips, twine, or PVC pipe — enforces accurate spacing.
Not succession planting: a finished square left empty is wasted space. Have transplants or seed ready to drop in the moment a square opens up.
Underestimating depth: the single most common raised bed mistake is 6-inch-deep beds when 12 inches is the practical minimum. Tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers need 12 inches minimum for healthy root systems.
For full growing guides on specific crops, see how to grow tomatoes, growing cucumbers, how to grow green beans, and companion plants for peppers.
Resources
- Mel Bartholomew, “Square Foot Gardening” (Revised edition) — squarefootgardening.org
- Utah State University Extension, “Square Foot Gardening” — extension.usu.edu
Sarah Mitchell is a Master Gardener and garden writer based in the Pacific Northwest. She has been growing food and flowers for over 15 years across USDA zones 7 and 8.