Square Foot Gardening Calculator User Guide

What It Does:
Calculate how many plants fit in your square foot garden bed and plan efficient intensive planting layouts using the Square Foot Gardening method.

How to Use:

📐 Calculator Tab

1. Select Plant:
   • Choose from 14 common vegetables
   • Auto-displays plants per square foot
   • Shows spacing pattern and notes
2. Enter Number of Squares:
   • How many 1×1 ft squares you’ll plant
   • Each square = 1 square foot
3. Calculate:
   • Click “Calculate Plants”
   • Results show:
     • Total plants for your space
     • Squares used
     • Plants per square
     • Bed requirements

📊 Spacing Guide Tab

Quick reference for plants per square foot.

Categories:

• 1 per square (12″ spacing): Tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, broccoli
• 2 per square (6″ spacing): Cucumbers, small melons
• 4 per square (6″ grid): Lettuce, chard, corn
• 8 per square (3″ spacing): Peas, pole beans
• 9 per square (4″ grid): Bush beans, beets, spinach
• 16 per square (3″ grid): Radishes, carrots, onions

📖 SFG Guide Tab

Complete Square Foot Gardening reference.

Topics Covered:

1. Bed Specifications: Standard sizes and grid layout
2. Mel’s Mix: Famous soil recipe (⅓ each compost, peat, vermiculite)
3. Core Principles: Method basics and philosophy
4. Benefits: 80% less space, 20% water, higher yields
5. Setup Steps: How to build and start
6. Succession Planting: Continuous productivity tips
7. Sample Layout: Example 4×4 bed plan
8. Vertical Growing: Trellising for maximum space

Square Foot Gardening Basics:

Standard Bed Sizes:

• 4×4 feet = 16 squares
• 3×6 feet = 18 squares
• 4×8 feet = 32 squares

Mel’s Mix (Soil Recipe):

• ⅓ Compost (mixed varieties)
• ⅓ Peat moss or coco coir
• ⅓ Vermiculite (coarse)

Plants Per Square:

• 1: Large (12″ spacing)
• 4: Medium (6″ in 2×2 grid)
• 9: Small (4″ in 3×3 grid)
• 16: Tiny (3″ in 4×4 grid)

Sample 4×4 Garden (16 squares):

text[1 Tomato] [1 Pepper] [4 Lettuce] [4 Lettuce]
[1 Cabbage] [9 Spinach] [9 Beans] [16 Carrots]
[16 Radish] [16 Onions] [Cucumber] [Cucumber]
[Greens] [Greens] [Greens] [Greens]

Yields: 2 large plants, 8 lettuce, 9 spinach, 9 beans, 16 carrots, 16 radishes, 16 onions, 2 cucumbers, plus continuous greens!

Quick Tips:

✅ Create physical grid – Use string or wood strips
✅ Plant in center – Of each 1×1 ft square
✅ Use vertical space – Trellis on north side
✅ Succession plant – Replant as you harvest
✅ No walking in beds – Prevents soil compaction
✅ Mel’s Mix only – No native soil needed

Pro Tip: Square Foot Gardening produces 5× more vegetables in 20% of the space compared to traditional row gardens! A single 4×4 bed (16 sq ft) can feed one person with fresh salad greens all season plus dozens of tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables. Perfect for small yards, patios, or balconies!

Angelina Everly

Angelina Everly leads the editorial desk at Live Green Gardens, blending practical plant care, hands-on product testing, and approachable outdoor styling. She focuses on step-by-step how-tos, buyer’s guides, and small-space makeovers that work in real life and real budgets. When she’s not comparing pruning shears or setting up a drip kit, you’ll find her creating cozy corners with planters, solar lights, and pollinator-friendly picks—always with clear pros/cons and safety notes so you can buy once and garden happy.