What is square-foot gardening?

Square-foot gardening is a way of growing small but highly productive vegetable gardens. This method is especially good for people who are new to gardening or who have limited outdoor space.

Square-foot gardens are usually grown in raised beds (typically four square feet) that are divided into grids of one square foot. Anywhere from one to 16 plants can grow in each small square, depending on the mature size of each vegetable.

This compact layout allows gardeners to reach all of their plants easily. And because they’re often raised above the ground, few weeds grow, making these gardens easier to maintain than traditional ones.

What you plant depends on you. Some vegetables that do well in square-foot gardens include tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, onions, lettuce, herbs and many more.