My gardening is in containers, so I basically do the same thing, but didn't even realize it at first. My buckets are roughly 10"x12", so I just consider it as 1 sq ft. My totes are about 18"x24", so that is 3 sq ft. I put a single potato in each bucket, 2 sunflowers per bucket, 2 tomatoes per tote.
My next door neighbor at my last house was an avid fan of this book and technique; he used the recommended soil mix and even the permanent lattice. He had fantastic results, and grew a fun variety of things. I thought it was interesting, and learned a few things watching him
I see a lot of value in the square foot gardening method. When I started my first garden several years ago,I watched a few you tubers explain their version of it and that’s how I planted my first space.I’m confident in saying,not everyone with a RUclips channel is capable of finding a coherent idea even with two hands and a flashlight. So I read the book and that made WAY more sense! Today my daughter(5) has her own square foot garden that I built for her in a kid friendly scale,and she LOVES to plan out her veggies with drawings in crayon so it’s colour coded. I’m finding the square foot method can be a very encouraging way to grow when one is brand new to gardening. So yeah! We do enjoy gardening! And also love your content mr Scott. It’s never a wasted minute of my day when I see that you’ve put out something new. Can’t say that about a lot of channels that’s for sure!
I've done some, just like you said, square foot gardening since I watched him on TV in the 80's. I just bought a couple weeks ago for the heck of it the SFG plastic tablet. I have 3 of his books and saw him in person and he signed them. The original book is a little beat.
Thankyou for giving Mel the kudos he deserves. So many out there talking about SFG and never acknowledging him. Also, great video, info, and content...Thankyou!
For the first time yesterday, I added branches to the bottom of my layered ( partially composted food waste, and newspapers, chopped leaves, straw and 12 inches quality soil) garden bed.
Thank you for explaining! I actually find SQF more confusing than looking at my garden and dumping the plants wherever I want but it's nice to understand our limitations.
Great job on this video.!! I remember watching Mel's PBS TV show when I was a teenager - I was reminiscing this afternoon and typed in his name, and eventually came upon YOUR video here - You did an awesome job describing the system and making gardening seem easy enough for anyone to do. Hats Off to ya. I'll be checking out more of your videos..!
Thank you for another very interesting video. I cannot duplicate this but it gives me hope that maybe I can put something in the ground this year. I use containers presently except for a few collards and garlic. I'm disabled so I'm somewhat limited in digging, carrying, etc. So it's baby steps. I'm not complaining. It's finding helpful, practical and fertile ideas that keep me going. I appreciate your genuine helpfulness and interest in the gardening community and for people in general. I'm so inspired by planning a garden that my brain has graph paper squares embedded in it. 😂😂😂 Thanks for all you do every day to make gardening an even greater joy.
Hey Gardner Scott! Thank you for another video. I remember back in my formative years when square foot gardening came on the scene. Life got in the way, but I am finally ready to put it into practice once I get settled in my new home. Going to be a little learning curve as I am going from zone 9B to 5B...San Diego County to Panguitch Utah.
I've been growing by the FT² method for decades now, though I used it mainly for saladings. This year, I finally gave up my allotment, which had got too much to manage, and have moved to a 4x4 patch on a friend's plot, where I'm literally _going by the book,_ soil mix, raised bed, the whole kitboodle. I'm very excited to see how it compares to just planting salad in foot square patches.
I love that book. I used it in my old garden at my last house. I did the twine the same way you did. It's cheaper. After setting up my first two beds I started noticing other items that were handy as a square foot planter. My dad had old beehive boxes, so I turned them into planters. It taught me that I don't have to be able to build a large raised bed in order to have a garden. I ended up with more square footage from those boxes than I had from my two beds. I also had a more creative placement of plantings in my backyard because of the versatility of the smaller containers. Thank you for giving Mel a shout-out with this video. The book is what gave me the confidence to grow my own food.
After several fails, I have finally found the best place in my little condo yard to grow a garden. My garden is small, only 63 square feet. I am planning to try a combination of square foot gardening, raised beds, vertical gardening, companion and succession planting. Not sure yet how to make it work so I can use every inch. I really appreciate your videos (I take notes).
Thanks Scott, great explanation of SFG techniques. Important as we face food insecurity that people discover these techniques as it really makes the idea of growing food simple and fun. Once started, other principals such as Permaculture can blend into SFG to introduce layering, composting, and companion planting...
Thank you for taking the time to explain and breakdown the book. I have it and I get so excited over the pictures that I can’t concentrate on the content lol This was very helpful, as with all your videos I’ve seen.
Great video. I changed to raised beds and SFG last year. A couple things I really like are less thinning and being able conquer one square at a time. I’m trying to combine SFG with multi sowing, no dig, and using trellises and cattle panels. I learn something new from each of your videos.
Going to try the SFG method this season. I was planning out four 4x4 SFG beds and was feeling overwhelmed on what to plant where. I have Mel's 3rd edition book. Your video definitely helped me stop stressing and just have fun experimenting.
Will be doing my first Square Foot gardening this growing season. Have been wanting to do one for quite awhile. We now have constructed raised beds that are gopher proof. Great informative video!
Thank you Scott, you introduced folks to Mel Bartholomew. I am one of those, I love it, when a plan comes together. I'm going to use pvc pipe for my grid. With adapter for my hose that is idea I pick up from NC extension, they teach SFG
I started gardening at 33 years old did not know the difference between annuals and perennials, or anything else. Only grew flowers, ornamental trees and shrubs for the next 20 years. Then the last several years I started growing herbs. I only have one small area of full sun, so am limited on what I can grow, the yard is mostly shade to deep shade. I found your channel today and am loving it. I’m learning so much. The video on soil is fantastic, so helpful. Thank you for all your time and experience you are will to share! What a blessing. I may try a little vegetable patch, up to now only put in a few tomato plants in that sun spot.
Love it!! I especially loved your visual popsicle stick plants. I guess I mostly square foot garden-I put in nails every foot along the edges. But I'm more of a chaotic good I guess, didn't add twine, and I would never be so organized as to subdivide inside the foot a nice neat grid. You would probably have a stroke watching me literally toss some seeds in the area of a box and just thin it later
I do this in containers and pots to maximize food output. In a small space, I have 12 pepper plants, several tomato plants, cucumber, garlic, green onions and many herbs.
I remember watching square foot gardening on the local PBS channel when I was a kid. I thought it was great then! Last year I bought the book and tried it. It was very successful but I had some drawbacks that maybe someone can help me with.I noticed Gardner Scott's map had mostly small plants. Last year I had a lot of big plants in the sq. foot section such as cabbage and tomatoes. Also Brussels sprouts, peppers and basil. Most of them were one plant per square foot. They ended up overtaking some of the smaller plants. Any suggestions?
That's a big reason I show a lot of little plants using SFG. I don't think it works as well for bigger plants. The big plants require more space than is recommended in the book so I grow them in other beds and space them as needed without worrying about a grid.
I see the Air Force picture in the background, is that you back in the day? That is awesome, love it. I retired from the Army and my son spent 6 years in the AF and my father was in the Army during WW II and my grandfather in WW I. All male members of our family have served in the US military since arriving here over 100 years ago.
@@GardenerScott haha, that is awesome! I'm 54 now and we want to move out of Miami, we thought Colorado Springs but its too expensive and maybe a bit dry. Northern Idaho seems to be the perfect spot for us now. We want to grow/raise at least two out of three meals we eat, if not all three.
Steve Hey Steve, my wife and I were born and raised in Miami and moved to retire up here in rural NH. Doing the same on getting self sustaining on food production with Gardener Scot’s great help. Best Wishes
Another great video! We did some square foot gardening at the special education school where I worked many years ago. Another approach to marking the squares = those skinny window blind slats that everybody throws away. After placing them on the beds in the correct position, we would pin them down with heavy wire or garden staples. They provided a wonderful visual for the students to clearly see the squares. And they were easy to replace as needed. Thanks again for all you do... looking forward to the next videos! 🌱 😊👍 PS ~ I was also reminded of your spaghetti video when you brought out your wooden markers. An instant classic, that one, haha!
Great info. I like how you gave alternatives. I have this book in my library and refer to it quite often for guidelines. I break the rules in my gardening, because I don’t believe in one hardcore way to do things. (My mom always had trouble raising this child. I always tested waters, hahaha.) What works for one gardener, may not work for another. This is why I enjoy your channel. Thank you for always being open in your opinions and views!
Hi Gardener Scott :-D I just ordered the square foot gardening book :-D I can hardly wait to start planting!!! Thank you for freely sharing all you do! I am an experienced gardener, and learn SO MUCH from you!!! God's blessings
Very good video Scott !! I have the Kindle version of Mel's book. While it has a ton of information, I also find SFG to be very labor intensive. I am trying both SFG, and container gardening my first year, and so far container gardening appears to be much easier. Using SFG you're going to need hardware cloth on the bottom if you have an issue with moles or gophers. Plus you can't prevent nematodes from coming up through the soil unless you also line the bottom with something like plastic sheeting. My Wal-Mart totes are inexpensive, require no labor to build, and can sit on top of the ground. I can easily put them anywhere I want, and I don't have to be concerned about moles or nematodes. The only preparation required is to drill drainage holes, and add potting mix.
Looking forward to a Gardener Scott digital book. 😉 All that content you have provided 🎉 Thank you for this video. It gives a better peek into why that book is/was a game changer. RIP Mel Bartholomew.
Thank you for going into death about the history behind square foot garden. And then again you picking my brain how about different ways to back your garden. Back to the drawing board thank you
Great video Gardener Scott. Thanks and now i can get more detailed info on SFG from the developer. This is my first year and used the principles from a planner for SFG. Instead of a grid, I marked my raised bed (i made 4 x 10 ft beds) on the edges and used a drywall T square along each edge (it can slide along edge) and trowel-etched locations or marked with sticks where the plants will go. I got a question on your experience or understanding on the use of trellis’ for summer squash and butternut squash in order to help with square foot spread of those plants. Best Regards to you and your family best wishes to keep safe and healthy.
That's an interesting way to do it. I have a tomato trellis video and I use that trellis for squash too. I will have another video upcoming that will discuss other trellises.
Ordered the book. I’m gonna try this. Right now I’m daunted by figuring which soil to get. I can’t seem to order fox farm or happy frog without paying $40 or more shipping charges. My Lowe’s basically only has miracle grow.
That is neat. I am trying to make a garden to provide for a salad a day for two ppl. I have built my 8x4 raised bed and filled it and even have two support structures to put on mosquito cloth to keep pests away and another for shade cloth...i live in Miami, FL.
Yes definitely important to organize your crops and space them properly so they can grow properly. Essentially, sqft gardening is simplifying doing out the math on the seed packets . Makes it easier to just say 16 seedlings / radish seeds for every sqft for example. Definitely I neglected this when I first did gardening and got little yield at all. They where crowding each other the different crops. Plus I did alot of other stupid things like over fertilizing and under watering them.
That's fantastic! You just described my garden to a tee. Three 4x8 beds, string grid, garden planner layout (MS Word doc, gets edited during late winter each year), trellis along one 8' bed, plus external pots for tomatoes and bags for potatoes, and trying potted carrots and peppers this year. I love Square Foot gardening and was introduced to it by Mel's book in the 80s. Next, I want to learn companion planting and bad companions to avoid. Beds are filled with free compost, a bit of free sand, perlite and coir. Also compost (dual tumblers) and we have 6' greenhouse. Fun to see you describe SF gardening. Perfect for small urban gardens.
Trying this for my first attempt at gardening.... the set up is pricey, but its a one time investment. Hoping for some results... My first batch of tomato plants just fell foul to a pest!!
Hi Scott! Love the video, planning a 4x8 ft front yarden bed for this spring. I was thinking of how to do drip / soaker irrigation in it. Have you tried combining drip irrigation with square foot gardening? It seems so easy with rows but the grid makes it complex!
Watched his PBS show religiously, bought the first edition....and then the second edition. Where people fail using SFG method is the lack of planning. The only difficulty I"ve had is with tomatoes. They just don't want to climb that string. I went with the twine immediately after discovering that the lattice got ugly in Years 2 and on.
Hello @Gardener Scott, I've been reading the latest edition of the Square Foot Gardening book. I love the book and want to start doing square foot gardening. The author (and Mel Bartholomew in his own words) both state emphatically that you only need 6 inches of Mel's Mix to grow vegetables in a raised bed. Can you actually grow vegetables in just 6" of Mel's Mix? I find this hard to believe (particularly in a hot south Texas climate where I'm located). I'd like to be able to grow all but the largest vegetables (no pumpkins or non-determinate tomatoes for example). I'd like to the fill a 12" bed as follows: Bottom 6 inches with about a 3-1 ratio of Peat Moss and Composted Cow Manure. Top 6 inches with Mel's Mix. Would that suffice? Would it be better to use 3" of Peat Moss and Composted Cow Manure and 9" of Mel's Mix? Thanks again in advance for all of your help. :)
Many of the vegetables we grow in a typical bed can grow in just 6", but will do better with deeper soil. Your plan of 12" is good for just about anything you want to grow. Mel's mix uses vermiculite and I think you can leave it out for the bottom. Consider adding some of your native soil so that it isn't entirely a soil-less mix.
@@GardenerScott Thanks! EDIT: I removed the first question since you already answered it. For the bottom layer, about what ratio of each ingredient should I use for native soil, Peat, and Compost? Or would do you recommend?
@@GardenerScott If I were to use this blend to fill the raised bed, how far in advance should I fill the raised bed to make the organic material available to the plants? I want to use this method to plant a fall garden. Should I add anything else to speed up the process? Like biochar or worm castings like you mentioned in your How To Fill a Ralsed Bed video?
Thank you sir!.....I love planting, but now, it is only in pot, in appart....I sorry about that loose space to do it outside, it's make me sad, you do unsderstand me. Have a nice day!
@@GardenerScott Hope, don't think more but, little, like tomatos, red pepper, and i put a date core and it's growing, two peach core and it's growing too, and lemon and i things the other one is a orange or tangerine seed, will see what growing later, it's too small for now... Before I had very big garner I gived so many many vegetable to family and friends. Now a few pot... well life going like that... Have a nice day!
Mel says you only need 6" of soil. Can't you substitute the bulk of the raised bed with logs, woodchips, straw, leaves or something along those lines? Then use the last 6 - 8" with Mel's mix?
@@GardenerScott Thank you for the reply. I just bought the book, but haven't read it completely yet. I really appreciate your videos. I have learned a great amount from them. I wish I had seen them sooner! I really messed up last year's garden. It was my first and I could have avoided a lot of mistakes by watching your videos before I started! Thank you again!
I do not amend the soil in the whole bed until the end of the season when all of the plants are harvested. A small amount of compost can be added with new plants in each new planting during the season.
No need to refer to the book to determine spacing. Use the information on the seed packet and the “thin to” recommendation. If a seed packet says to thin to 4-6 inches, you can plant 4-9 seeds in a square. If it says to thin to 3’”, plant 16 per square. Plants with large leaves, like squash, can be planted in a corner so part of the plant drapes outside to bed. It only requires a 6” depth of Mel’s Mix, so if you have deeper beds just fill the bottom with top soil or sand, leaving enough room for 6” of Mel’s Mix and 1-2” for mulch. If you want long carrots, place a “top hat” on the one square that you will be planting 16 carrots. That can give you a 12” depth of Mel’s Mix for those few crops that need a greater depth. You don’t need the entire bed full of 12” of Mel’s Mix.
As a soil-less mix most of the nutrients are present, but it lacks a mineral component from actual soil. This usually requires the addition of fertilizers. Also, the peat and compost will continue to decompose and the soil level can drop. Mixing in native soil helps with the soil structure to reduce level change and encourages soil life to minimize fertilizer.
I'm confused by your chart at 4:15. It doesn't seem possible to place 9 kale plants in one square foot. Kale plants can get pretty big. Seems more like 1 or 2 would fit.
You're meant to pick a couple of the outer leaves off each of them while the leaves are still small and repeat the process as the formerly inner leaves grow and become the new outer ones rather than chopping up the giant leaves of full grown ones. Supposedly, you get higher output per square foot when doing it this way.
Hmm, my friend at work use's Mel's mix and had some seriously large pineapples. I used organic soil, compost, and vermiculite in a 40/40/20 ratio.....hope that works, not sure where i found that dirt recipe.
@@GardenerScott ...not anymore, our female husky thought the bed was for her to dig up and play in....time to plant something new, lol, and put the mosquito covering over it so she doesn't go in again!
When a plant matures and then is terminated, we are to replace it with seed? Won’t that position then be over shaded? Or, should I then transplant starts instead? Great video!
I’m trying to do this right now and I am overwhelmed. I have 48 total squares and idk how many of each square how many plants to put in there. I even bought the book lol
Really beginner question. I understand the s/m/l/xl plant size per soft idea. What I need to know is: Do I plant one seed and that will be one seed will grow into one plant? What about seeds that just dont grow? Thank you all!
One seed will grow into one plant. While most seed packets should give you at least 90% germination, not all seeds will germinate. That's why many gardeners sow two or three seeds in a pot or sow many seeds in a row.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
My gardening is in containers, so I basically do the same thing, but didn't even realize it at first. My buckets are roughly 10"x12", so I just consider it as 1 sq ft. My totes are about 18"x24", so that is 3 sq ft. I put a single potato in each bucket, 2 sunflowers per bucket, 2 tomatoes per tote.
My next door neighbor at my last house was an avid fan of this book and technique; he used the recommended soil mix and even the permanent lattice. He had fantastic results, and grew a fun variety of things. I thought it was interesting, and learned a few things watching him
I see a lot of value in the square foot gardening method. When I started my first garden several years ago,I watched a few you tubers explain their version of it and that’s how I planted my first space.I’m confident in saying,not everyone with a RUclips channel is capable of finding a coherent idea even with two hands and a flashlight. So I read the book and that made WAY more sense! Today my daughter(5) has her own square foot garden that I built for her in a kid friendly scale,and she LOVES to plan out her veggies with drawings in crayon so it’s colour coded. I’m finding the square foot method can be a very encouraging way to grow when one is brand new to gardening.
So yeah! We do enjoy gardening! And also love your content mr Scott. It’s never a wasted minute of my day when I see that you’ve put out something new. Can’t say that about a lot of channels that’s for sure!
Thanks, Derek. So glad to hear your daughter is involved and liking it.
I've done some, just like you said, square foot gardening since I watched him on TV in the 80's. I just bought a couple weeks ago for the heck of it the SFG plastic tablet. I have 3 of his books and saw him in person and he signed them. The original book is a little beat.
I use the square foot gardening design but I plant whatever I want in the spots, I don’t adhere to a rigid design. Works amazing.
I remember watching Mel way back when, Bought his first book.
He was quite humorous in his own way.
I do like your construction string method to really make it easier to organize stuff into squares
Thankyou for giving Mel the kudos he deserves. So many out there talking about SFG and never acknowledging him.
Also, great video, info, and content...Thankyou!
My pleasure!
Fill the bottom of the bed with dead wood/branches. Huglekultur it a bit. Saves money and gives years of improved soil as the wood decays.
Adox, you should watch the video Gardner Scott did on Huglekultur. He built those raised beds and filled the bottoms with wood, branches and leaves.
For the first time yesterday, I added branches to the bottom of my layered ( partially composted food waste, and newspapers, chopped leaves, straw and 12 inches quality soil) garden bed.
@@thomasadams3334 I'll look that up. Thank you!
Thank you for the video!
gotta say,'ve watched many sq ft.garden videos on here but your one makes it more clear and concise that any of the others ! good job!
Thank you I was waiting for someone to actually talk about the history behind square foot gardening now I know thank you see you full knowledge
Great video.I met Mel once when he came to speak at the plant nursery I worked at.
That's cool!
Thank you for explaining! I actually find SQF more confusing than looking at my garden and dumping the plants wherever I want but it's nice to understand our limitations.
Thank you Scott! This is the perfect video for anyone interested in growing a square foot garden but isnt sure where to begin!
Glad it was helpful!
Great job on this video.!! I remember watching Mel's PBS TV show when I was a teenager - I was reminiscing this afternoon and typed in his name, and eventually came upon YOUR video here - You did an awesome job describing the system and making gardening seem easy enough for anyone to do. Hats Off to ya. I'll be checking out more of your videos..!
Thank you for another very interesting video. I cannot duplicate this but it gives me hope that maybe I can put something in the ground this year. I use containers presently except for a few collards and garlic. I'm disabled so I'm somewhat limited in digging, carrying, etc. So it's baby steps. I'm not complaining. It's finding helpful, practical and fertile ideas that keep me going. I appreciate your genuine helpfulness and interest in the gardening community and for people in general. I'm so inspired by planning a garden that my brain has graph paper squares embedded in it. 😂😂😂 Thanks for all you do every day to make gardening an even greater joy.
Hey Gardner Scott! Thank you for another video. I remember back in my formative years when square foot gardening came on the scene. Life got in the way, but I am finally ready to put it into practice once I get settled in my new home. Going to be a little learning curve as I am going from zone 9B to 5B...San Diego County to Panguitch Utah.
That may be a big learning curve. Good luck.
Thanks so much Scotl, we are planning to build our first raised bed and do square foot gardening in it. This video has been exceptionally helpful!
I've been growing by the FT² method for decades now, though I used it mainly for saladings. This year, I finally gave up my allotment, which had got too much to manage, and have moved to a 4x4 patch on a friend's plot, where I'm literally _going by the book,_ soil mix, raised bed, the whole kitboodle. I'm very excited to see how it compares to just planting salad in foot square patches.
I love that book. I used it in my old garden at my last house. I did the twine the same way you did. It's cheaper. After setting up my first two beds I started noticing other items that were handy as a square foot planter. My dad had old beehive boxes, so I turned them into planters. It taught me that I don't have to be able to build a large raised bed in order to have a garden. I ended up with more square footage from those boxes than I had from my two beds. I also had a more creative placement of plantings in my backyard because of the versatility of the smaller containers.
Thank you for giving Mel a shout-out with this video. The book is what gave me the confidence to grow my own food.
Good suggestion, Sandy. Square foot gardening can be done in any container.
Hi Scott, I bought the book as I'm an amateur gardener. It has helped me amensly.
This square foot thing sounds great!
I just discovered you today and am binge watching your videos. I bought this book for Kindle and am very excited to plan out a 4x8 bed!
Have fun!
The best summary of square foot gardening I've heard, very thorough and easy to follow. Thank you!!
Terrific! We have a three raised bed 2' wide this will work so well now that I get the idea! Ty for sharing
After several fails, I have finally found the best place in my little condo yard to grow a garden. My garden is small, only 63 square feet. I am planning to try a combination of square foot gardening, raised beds, vertical gardening, companion and succession planting. Not sure yet how to make it work so I can use every inch. I really appreciate your videos (I take notes).
Best explanation of how to plant a basic garden i have ever heard
taking notes as summer arrives!
Best video that I have seen so far about how to set this up. Thank you
This is my approach too. Love square foot gardening
Thanks Scott, great explanation of SFG techniques. Important as we face food insecurity that people discover these techniques as it really makes the idea of growing food simple and fun. Once started, other principals such as Permaculture can blend into SFG to introduce layering, composting, and companion planting...
Thank you for taking the time to explain and breakdown the book. I have it and I get so excited over the pictures that I can’t concentrate on the content lol This was very helpful, as with all your videos I’ve seen.
Great video. I changed to raised beds and SFG last year. A couple things I really like are less thinning and being able conquer one square at a time. I’m trying to combine SFG with multi sowing, no dig, and using trellises and cattle panels. I learn something new from each of your videos.
Thanks. Sounds like you have a great gardening journey ahead.
Thanks!
Thanks, Todd.
Going to try the SFG method this season. I was planning out four 4x4 SFG beds and was feeling overwhelmed on what to plant where. I have Mel's 3rd edition book. Your video definitely helped me stop stressing and just have fun experimenting.
How did it turn out?
Will be doing my first Square Foot gardening this growing season. Have been wanting to do one for quite awhile. We now have constructed raised beds that are gopher proof. Great informative video!
I use the growveg garden plan app and that has an SFG mode
Thank you for the video ! Glad to see you again, health and shine like always !
Thank you Scott, you introduced folks to Mel Bartholomew. I am one of those, I love it, when a plan comes together. I'm going to use pvc pipe for my grid. With adapter for my hose that is idea I pick up from NC extension, they teach SFG
I started gardening at 33 years old did not know the difference between annuals and perennials, or anything else. Only grew flowers, ornamental trees and shrubs for the next 20 years. Then the last several years I started growing herbs. I only have one small area of full sun, so am limited on what I can grow, the yard is mostly shade to deep shade. I found your channel today and am loving it. I’m learning so much. The video on soil is fantastic, so helpful. Thank you for all your time and experience you are will to share! What a blessing. I may try a little vegetable patch, up to now only put in a few tomato plants in that sun spot.
I'm glad the videos have been so helpful.
Love it!! I especially loved your visual popsicle stick plants. I guess I mostly square foot garden-I put in nails every foot along the edges.
But I'm more of a chaotic good I guess, didn't add twine, and I would never be so organized as to subdivide inside the foot a nice neat grid. You would probably have a stroke watching me literally toss some seeds in the area of a box and just thin it later
Thanks! I often garden like you. It takes more work to be orderly.
I do this in containers and pots to maximize food output. In a small space, I have 12 pepper plants, several tomato plants, cucumber, garlic, green onions and many herbs.
Wonderful. Refreshingly simple. You are a gifted teacher.
I remember watching square foot gardening on the local PBS channel when I was a kid. I thought it was great then! Last year I bought the book and tried it. It was very successful but I had some drawbacks that maybe someone can help me with.I noticed Gardner Scott's map had mostly small plants. Last year I had a lot of big plants in the sq. foot section such as cabbage and tomatoes. Also Brussels sprouts, peppers and basil. Most of them were one plant per square foot. They ended up overtaking some of the smaller plants. Any suggestions?
That's a big reason I show a lot of little plants using SFG. I don't think it works as well for bigger plants. The big plants require more space than is recommended in the book so I grow them in other beds and space them as needed without worrying about a grid.
Smaller in front, larger in back
I see the Air Force picture in the background, is that you back in the day? That is awesome, love it. I retired from the Army and my son spent 6 years in the AF and my father was in the Army during WW II and my grandfather in WW I. All male members of our family have served in the US military since arriving here over 100 years ago.
That is me back in the day. Thanks!
@@GardenerScott haha, that is awesome! I'm 54 now and we want to move out of Miami, we thought Colorado Springs but its too expensive and maybe a bit dry. Northern Idaho seems to be the perfect spot for us now. We want to grow/raise at least two out of three meals we eat, if not all three.
Steve Hey Steve, my wife and I were born and raised in Miami and moved to retire up here in rural NH. Doing the same on getting self sustaining on food production with Gardener Scot’s great help. Best Wishes
Another great video! We did some square foot gardening at the special education school where I worked many years ago. Another approach to marking the squares = those skinny window blind slats that everybody throws away. After placing them on the beds in the correct position, we would pin them down with heavy wire or garden staples. They provided a wonderful visual for the students to clearly see the squares. And they were easy to replace as needed. Thanks again for all you do... looking forward to the next videos! 🌱 😊👍
PS ~ I was also reminded of your spaghetti video when you brought out your wooden markers. An instant classic, that one, haha!
Thanks for the suggestion.
I am trying going to implement this. I just got my bed built now I have to get them set and filled up.
Enjoy it!
Great video! Your explanations were very clear and concise, keep up the good work👍
As soon as you I saw the green sticks I thought of your April fools growing spaghetti video haha thatks for the info!
LOL I lived that April fools video 😂
Great info. I like how you gave alternatives. I have this book in my library and refer to it quite often for guidelines. I break the rules in my gardening, because I don’t believe in one hardcore way to do things. (My mom always had trouble raising this child. I always tested waters, hahaha.) What works for one gardener, may not work for another. This is why I enjoy your channel. Thank you for always being open in your opinions and views!
Thanks, Deb.
Hare behind the white fence in upper left quadrant @ 5:31 :D
Excellent tutorial. Square Foot Gardening well explained. Thank you.
Thank you Gardener Scott! I just ordered the book by following your link!!, very excited to start reading!!!
Hope you enjoy it!
Awesome information!! I always wondered about how much space I needed in this world for the food I eat
Hi Gardener Scott :-D
I just ordered the square foot gardening book :-D I can hardly wait to start planting!!!
Thank you for freely sharing all you do! I am an experienced gardener, and learn SO MUCH from you!!!
God's blessings
Hope you enjoy it!
@@GardenerScott If YOU recommended it, I KNOW I will :-D
This actually taught me a bit, Thanks! I'm a very new gardener.
Once again. Thanks for this video! Great stuff.
My pleasure!
Very good video Scott !! I have the Kindle version of Mel's book. While it has a ton of information, I also find SFG to be very labor intensive. I am trying both SFG, and container gardening my first year, and so far container gardening appears to be much easier. Using SFG you're going to need hardware cloth on the bottom if you have an issue with moles or gophers. Plus you can't prevent nematodes from coming up through the soil unless you also line the bottom with something like plastic sheeting. My Wal-Mart totes are inexpensive, require no labor to build, and can sit on top of the ground. I can easily put them anywhere I want, and I don't have to be concerned about moles or nematodes. The only preparation required is to drill drainage holes, and add potting mix.
Thanks! You've highlighted why container gardening can be a good option.
Looking forward to a Gardener Scott digital book. 😉 All that content you have provided 🎉
Thank you for this video. It gives a better peek into why that book is/was a game changer. RIP Mel Bartholomew.
Thank you for going into death about the history behind square foot garden. And then again you picking my brain how about different ways to back your garden. Back to the drawing board thank you
Very good educational video for beginners. Its a great way to start. Maximize every inch of ur bed.
Yes, definitely
Great video Gardener Scott. Thanks and now i can get more detailed info on SFG from the developer. This is my first year and used the principles from a planner for SFG. Instead of a grid, I marked my raised bed (i made 4 x 10 ft beds) on the edges and used a drywall T square along each edge (it can slide along edge) and trowel-etched locations or marked with sticks where the plants will go. I got a question on your experience or understanding on the use of trellis’ for summer squash and butternut squash in order to help with square foot spread of those plants. Best Regards to you and your family best wishes to keep safe and healthy.
That's an interesting way to do it. I have a tomato trellis video and I use that trellis for squash too. I will have another video upcoming that will discuss other trellises.
@@GardenerScott Thanks - my wife eats squash like it is candy! ;0) me..Tomatoes, vinegar and olive oil or just plain!
I am new to your channel, I have been searching for information on Square foot gardening, and I found it all here! Thank you so much for this video! 😊
Ordered the book. I’m gonna try this. Right now I’m daunted by figuring which soil to get. I can’t seem to order fox farm or happy frog without paying $40 or more shipping charges. My Lowe’s basically only has miracle grow.
That is neat. I am trying to make a garden to provide for a salad a day for two ppl. I have built my 8x4 raised bed and filled it and even have two support structures to put on mosquito cloth to keep pests away and another for shade cloth...i live in Miami, FL.
Thanks. Good luck!
Yes definitely important to organize your crops and space them properly so they can grow properly. Essentially, sqft gardening is simplifying doing out the math on the seed packets . Makes it easier to just say 16 seedlings / radish seeds for every sqft for example. Definitely I neglected this when I first did gardening and got little yield at all. They where crowding each other the different crops. Plus I did alot of other stupid things like over fertilizing and under watering them.
That's fantastic! You just described my garden to a tee. Three 4x8 beds, string grid, garden planner layout (MS Word doc, gets edited during late winter each year), trellis along one 8' bed, plus external pots for tomatoes and bags for potatoes, and trying potted carrots and peppers this year. I love Square Foot gardening and was introduced to it by Mel's book in the 80s. Next, I want to learn companion planting and bad companions to avoid. Beds are filled with free compost, a bit of free sand, perlite and coir. Also compost (dual tumblers) and we have 6' greenhouse. Fun to see you describe SF gardening. Perfect for small urban gardens.
Thanks! Sounds like you have a great gardening system.
Trying this for my first attempt at gardening.... the set up is pricey, but its a one time investment. Hoping for some results... My first batch of tomato plants just fell foul to a pest!!
Hi Scott! Love the video, planning a 4x8 ft front yarden bed for this spring. I was thinking of how to do drip / soaker irrigation in it. Have you tried combining drip irrigation with square foot gardening? It seems so easy with rows but the grid makes it complex!
Thanks! I haven't done drip irrigation with SFG because there are so many different plants. A few rows of soaker hoses can be an option.
I just got that book from the link you left a few videos ago and just got it today.
Great!
Watched his PBS show religiously, bought the first edition....and then the second edition. Where people fail using SFG method is the lack of planning. The only difficulty I"ve had is with tomatoes. They just don't want to climb that string. I went with the twine immediately after discovering that the lattice got ugly in Years 2 and on.
Thanks. Your points are good.
Thank you for the information!!
You bet!
Thank you for sharing such knowledge, can you tell me which books should i have about plant propagation? and thank you again.
I've used "Plant Propgation A to Z" amzn.to/2SlubDW
Awesome stuff Scott!
Hello @Gardener Scott,
I've been reading the latest edition of the Square Foot Gardening book. I love the book and want to start doing square foot gardening.
The author (and Mel Bartholomew in his own words) both state emphatically that you only need 6 inches of Mel's Mix to grow vegetables in a raised bed. Can you actually grow vegetables in just 6" of Mel's Mix? I find this hard to believe (particularly in a hot south Texas climate where I'm located). I'd like to be able to grow all but the largest vegetables (no pumpkins or non-determinate tomatoes for example).
I'd like to the fill a 12" bed as follows:
Bottom 6 inches with about a 3-1 ratio of Peat Moss and Composted Cow Manure.
Top 6 inches with Mel's Mix.
Would that suffice?
Would it be better to use 3" of Peat Moss and Composted Cow Manure and 9" of Mel's Mix?
Thanks again in advance for all of your help. :)
Many of the vegetables we grow in a typical bed can grow in just 6", but will do better with deeper soil. Your plan of 12" is good for just about anything you want to grow. Mel's mix uses vermiculite and I think you can leave it out for the bottom. Consider adding some of your native soil so that it isn't entirely a soil-less mix.
@@GardenerScott Thanks!
EDIT: I removed the first question since you already answered it.
For the bottom layer, about what ratio of each ingredient should I use for native soil, Peat, and Compost? Or would do you recommend?
I target about 25%-30% organic matter with native soil.
@@GardenerScott If I were to use this blend to fill the raised bed, how far in advance should I fill the raised bed to make the organic material available to the plants? I want to use this method to plant a fall garden.
Should I add anything else to speed up the process? Like biochar or worm castings like you mentioned in your How To Fill a Ralsed Bed video?
Thank you sir!.....I love planting, but now, it is only in pot, in appart....I sorry about that loose space to do it outside, it's make me sad, you do unsderstand me. Have a nice day!
Thank you. I hope you can grow more in pots.
@@GardenerScott Hope, don't think more but, little, like tomatos, red pepper, and i put a date core and it's growing, two peach core and it's growing too, and lemon and i things the other one is a orange or tangerine seed, will see what growing later, it's too small for now... Before I had very big garner I gived so many many vegetable to family and friends. Now a few pot... well life going like that... Have a nice day!
Excellent info, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Scott, I will try it. Thank you
Hope you enjoy
Mel says you only need 6" of soil. Can't you substitute the bulk of the raised bed with logs, woodchips, straw, leaves or something along those lines? Then use the last 6 - 8" with Mel's mix?
Yes, that's how I fill my beds. I show it in this video: ruclips.net/video/A29aXHBBJZM/видео.html
Do you have a video that tell what plant and how many can go in a square foot
I don't have a video like that yet, but am planning one to talk about spacing when sowing seeds outside.
Thanks and I thank you for replying back I'm just starting and building my square foot garden
What about companion planting in a square foot garden? What goes together well or even compliments each other without damaging their neighbors?
Companion planting plants with similar water, nutrient, and sun requirements is a common part of SFG.
@@GardenerScott Thank you for the reply. I just bought the book, but haven't read it completely yet. I really appreciate your videos. I have learned a great amount from them. I wish I had seen them sooner! I really messed up last year's garden. It was my first and I could have avoided a lot of mistakes by watching your videos before I started! Thank you again!
I am a new gardener exploring square foot gardening. How do you add new compost after harvesting a square?
You can work it in with a hand cultivator. Most gardeners wait until the end of the season and amend the whole bed.
Thank you. Straight forward. ☺️🌿
How will you review the soil and add manure after harvesting in that one foot without distrubing other plants
I do not amend the soil in the whole bed until the end of the season when all of the plants are harvested. A small amount of compost can be added with new plants in each new planting during the season.
No need to refer to the book to determine spacing. Use the information on the seed packet and the “thin to” recommendation. If a seed packet says to thin to 4-6 inches, you can plant 4-9 seeds in a square. If it says to thin to 3’”, plant 16 per square. Plants with large leaves, like squash, can be planted in a corner so part of the plant drapes outside to bed. It only requires a 6” depth of Mel’s Mix, so if you have deeper beds just fill the bottom with top soil or sand, leaving enough room for 6” of Mel’s Mix and 1-2” for mulch. If you want long carrots, place a “top hat” on the one square that you will be planting 16 carrots. That can give you a 12” depth of Mel’s Mix for those few crops that need a greater depth. You don’t need the entire bed full of 12” of Mel’s Mix.
Where do I get hoops? lol I just saw the video
I have a video that shows how you can make your own.
I'm curious about how to companion plant. Would you explain/suggest on how to do that?
I have a video planned to discuss that. It should be out next month.
Can you use square foot gardening methoh for flower beds ?
Yes, you can. Figure out the mature size of the flower plants and fit them in using a grid pattern.
Why don't you used the growing mix recommended by Mel please? Can you tell us why?
As a soil-less mix most of the nutrients are present, but it lacks a mineral component from actual soil. This usually requires the addition of fertilizers. Also, the peat and compost will continue to decompose and the soil level can drop. Mixing in native soil helps with the soil structure to reduce level change and encourages soil life to minimize fertilizer.
How do you handle differing soil ph, moisture, fertilizer requirements in a system like this?
I make sure I amend the soil regularly with organic matter before and after the season. It balances pH, holds more moisture, and provides nutrients.
Thank you, I have to try this.
Have fun!
LPT: Affiliate link for the square foot gardening book...
I'm confused by your chart at 4:15. It doesn't seem possible to place 9 kale plants in one square foot. Kale plants can get pretty big. Seems more like 1 or 2 would fit.
I agree, but that is the recommendation from the book. In practice, I grow four and thin if necessary. I'm guessing Mel used a small variety.
You're meant to pick a couple of the outer leaves off each of them while the leaves are still small and repeat the process as the formerly inner leaves grow and become the new outer ones rather than chopping up the giant leaves of full grown ones. Supposedly, you get higher output per square foot when doing it this way.
Hmm, my friend at work use's Mel's mix and had some seriously large pineapples. I used organic soil, compost, and vermiculite in a 40/40/20 ratio.....hope that works, not sure where i found that dirt recipe.
I'm guessing you'll have good results too.
@@GardenerScott ...not anymore, our female husky thought the bed was for her to dig up and play in....time to plant something new, lol, and put the mosquito covering over it so she doesn't go in again!
What about plants that don't like each other and those that cast shade?
You do need to consider shade and size when planning the bed.
When a plant matures and then is terminated, we are to replace it with seed? Won’t that position then be over shaded? Or, should I then transplant starts instead? Great video!
It depends on the seed and the plant. You should consider the amount of shade when starting. If a transplant will get more sun, it may be better.
How can I measure off of galvanized beds?
You can sink rebar, stakes, or long nails into the soil and measure from there.
I’m trying to do this right now and I am overwhelmed. I have 48 total squares and idk how many of each square how many plants to put in there. I even bought the book lol
Really beginner question.
I understand the s/m/l/xl plant size per soft idea. What I need to know is: Do I plant one seed and that will be one seed will grow into one plant? What about seeds that just dont grow? Thank you all!
One seed will grow into one plant. While most seed packets should give you at least 90% germination, not all seeds will germinate. That's why many gardeners sow two or three seeds in a pot or sow many seeds in a row.
I’m getting this book!
The link for the book doesn’t work
Thanks. Try this link: amzn.to/32j3GDa