Home
Site Search
Newsletter
What's New
Annuals
Perennials
Rose Gardening
Shade Gardens
Herbs
Bulbs
Vegetables
Trees and Shrubs
Kid's Gardening
Critter Control
Insects
Starting Seeds
Design Basics
Gardening Basics
Gardening Books
Online Catalogs
Garden Links
YOUR Stories
Garden Blog
Site Policies
Site Build It
About Us
Contact Us
SBI! eLearning
Sitemap
 Articles
Disclosure
Questions?
Garden Shop

[?] Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

Square Foot Gardening- It Might Just Change Your Life Forever!

You've probably seen the book All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space at book stores for over 25 years just like I have. Maybe you passed them by thinking... "That just doesn't make sense"... just like I have.

Well, a few months ago I purchased the book just to see what all the fuss is about.

I'm here to tell you that my life hasn't been the same since. There is a reason this book is the best selling gardening book of all times.

All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space book is Mel Bartholomew's newest edition of his original book Square Foot Gardening.

For me as a Master Gardener, and my husband a professional horticulturalist, it makes perfect sense.

This system of gardening allows you to grow 100% of your produce in only 20% of the space with no weeding or fertilizing and the only tools needed are a pencil and a trowel (once the box is built).

Benefits

  • Out produces every other method known.
  • Requires 80% less than conventional gardening.
  • Can be done in an area of 4 feet by 4 feet.
  • Build-up, rather than down, with Mel's Mix so your existing soil doesn't matter.
  • Uses less water; only about 20% compared to conventional gardening.
  • No fertilizers or pesticides used so it's all organic and sustainable.
  • No thinning and very few seeds.
  • Can be started any season.
  • Produces 5 times the harvest of a conventional garden.
  • Great for those with physical or mental limitations.
  • Can be made into raised beds for wheelchair acces
  • Great for the whole family.
  • No weeding, no thinning, no heavy digging.
  • Largest selling garden book in America, EVER

Ten Basics

  • LAYOUT - Arrange your garden in squares, not rows. Lay it out in 4'x4' planting areas.
  • BOXES - Build boxes to hold a new soil mix above ground.
  • AISLES - Space boxes 3' apart to form walking aisles.
  • SOIL - Fill boxes with Mel's special soil mix: 1/3 blended compost, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 coarse vermiculite.
  • GRID - Make a permanent square foot grid for the top of each box. A MUST!
  • CARE - NEVER WALK ON YOUR GROWING SOIL. Tend your garden from the aisles.
  • SELECT - Plant a different flower, vegetable, or herb crop in each square foot, using 1, 4, 9, or 16 plants per square foot.
  • PLANT - Conserve seeds. Plant only a pinch (2 or 3 seeds) per hole. Place transplants in a slight saucer-shaped depression.
  • WATER - Water by hand from a bucket of sun-warmed water.
  • HARVEST - When you finish harvesting a square foot, add compost and replant it with a new and different crop.


For More Information:



Find raised bed supplies and a kitchen garden planner.

Learn more about how to make raised beds.

Return Home From Square Foot Gardening


footer for square foot gardening page