Garden Grid
16 squares
Est. Yield
15.6 lbs
Soil Cost
$11
Mel Bartholomew recommends 6" minimum for most crops, 12" for root vegetables
Grid Size
4 × 4 ft = 16 squares
1 per sq ft — Large plants
2 per sq ft — Trellised vines
4 per sq ft — Medium plants
8 per sq ft — Climbing/small
9 per sq ft — Root/bush crops
16 per sq ft — Tiny root crops
Garden Grid
16
square feet (4 × 4)
Assigned
4
squares
Available
12
squares
Based on avg retail prices: vermiculite ~$2.50/cu ft, peat/coir ~$1.00/cu ft, compost ~$0.80/cu ft
Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage
Cucumber (trellised), Squash (trellised)
Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Basil, Parsley, Kale
Pole Beans, Peas, Spinach
Bush Beans, Beets, Turnips
Radish, Carrots, Onions
Mel’s Mix Tips
Successive Planting Guide
Inputs
Result
A 4x4 bed provides 16 squares. With 4 squares for tomato, 4 for lettuce (4 each), 4 for carrots (16 each), and 4 for basil (4 each), you get 37 plants total.
Inputs
Result
A 4x8 bed has 32 squares, enough for 8 different vegetable types with 4 squares each. Succession planting lettuces and radishes can double their yield.
Plant spacing in square foot gardening depends on plant size. Small plants like radishes fit 16 per square, medium plants like lettuce fit 4 per square, large plants like peppers fit 1 per square, and extra-large plants like tomatoes need 2 squares each.
| Spacing | Plants/Square | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 3" apart | 16 | Radish, carrot, onion |
| 4" apart | 9 | Spinach, beet, turnip |
| 6" apart | 4 | Lettuce, chard, herbs |
| 12" apart | 1 | Pepper, broccoli, cabbage |
The classic Mel's Mix is 1/3 peat moss (or coconut coir), 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 blended compost (5+ sources). For a standard 4x4 ft bed at 6 inches deep, you need 8 cubic feet of mix, costing about $50-$80.
| Bed Size | Soil Volume (6") | Soil Volume (12") | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4x4 ft | 8 cu ft | 16 cu ft | $50–$80 |
| 4x8 ft | 16 cu ft | 32 cu ft | $100–$160 |
| 4x12 ft | 24 cu ft | 48 cu ft | $150–$240 |
A single 4x4 ft square foot garden (16 squares) can produce $200-$400 worth of vegetables per season. With succession planting, a 4x8 bed can yield $400-$800. The SFG method produces the same harvest as traditional row gardening in 20% of the space.
| Crop | Squares Needed | Harvest Time | Yield/Square |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lettuce | 1 | 30 days | ~1 lb |
| Tomato | 2–4 | 70–80 days | 10–20 lbs |
| Radishes | 1 | 25 days | ~1 lb |
| Peppers | 1 | 60–80 days | 2–5 lbs |
A 4x4 ft raised bed is ideal for beginners. It provides 16 planting squares, is reachable from all sides (never wider than 4 ft), and costs $50-$100 for lumber. A 4x8 bed doubles production and is the most popular size for serious gardeners.
| Bed Size | Squares | Lumber Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3x3 ft | 9 | $30–$50 | Balconies, kids |
| 4x4 ft | 16 | $50–$100 | Beginners |
| 4x8 ft | 32 | $80–$150 | Families |
| 4x12 ft | 48 | $100–$200 | Serious gardeners |
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Last Updated: Mar 9, 2026
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