Square Foot Garden planner
This guide on how to setup and use a square foot garden planner will help you to plan out your best garden this season without having to grow an acre of food. And easy way to grow more in less space that is popular among urban gardeners who are short on space and empty nesters who are short on time.
With just a bit of planning you can organize your garden layout start a backyard garden making the most of the space you have available.
When we first start gardening doing things smalls is a good approach to have. But as our skills grow so does our list of veggies. Unfortunately not all backyards have the space for growing huge elaborate gardens and this is where square foot gardening comes in.
By changing how you grow your food, you can actually grow more in less space with this easy approach.
What is Square Foot Gardening?
Square foot gardening is a way of growing food that divides a raised bed into small, one-foot-square gardening sections. Inside of each square, you can plant a different vegetable or variety of plant.
This way of gardening , allows you to grow more in a smaller space, reduces how much daily care needs to be done and allows you to grow a variety of plants in one raised bed.
Even though the space is small, you’ll still get higher yields at harvest time. Over all, this method is preferred by many over traditional row gardening.
Be sure to grab the FREE Square Foot Garden Cheat Sheet Below!
Plan for Success
Maybe the hardest part of square foot gardening is the planning it takes to decide what will grow where. Since you are in a smaller space, you will need to be sure you are planting things near to other plants that are beneficial and actually encourage better growth.
The good news is, that there is an easy way to plan out your garden map for the growing season but first let’s talk about the importance of using a planner.
Why We Love Garden Planners
Garden planners are an important part of being a successful grower. By keeping notes of different issues that come up each year, you can reasses how you are doing things and make adjustments if and when needed.
They also are a great tool for harvest numbers so you are growing just what you need without being too short or overflowing in any one area. The first year I had a garden, I planted 6 cherry tomato plants only to find myself drowning in small little tomatoes. Because I had a planner, I was able to make a note to only plant 2 plants each year.
Keep a garden journal is a great investment as it does save time and money year over year.
How to Use a Garden Planner
There are many different gardening planners on the market allowing you to find the platform that works best for you.
- A simple notebook – This is what I started out with and worked well for a few years. It is cheap and easy to use allowing you to keep many years in one notebook.
- A PDF that you can download and assemble in a binder – This is what I use now as it allows me to keep my notes for different areas together. Now, if I have a question about a pest I had issues with in the past, I can quickly find my notes from 5 years ago and see what solution worked best.
- A premade hard copy – A bigger cost investment, but it is ready to go and ready to use.
- A digital setup – If you prefer going digital, you can find many options that you can try out.
For many years I just used a notebook to record my seasons but I soon wanted things to be more organized and created a planner that I still use today.
Square Foot Garden Planner+Guide
2024 Garden PlannerHerb Garden Planner+Guide
Try out a few options until you find one that you can stick with year after year because this will be the deciding factor to finding the best planner for you.
How it Can Help with Square Foot Gardening
Square foot gardening centers around planting a large area in small square foot patches. This can get a big confusing when mapping things out.
You can use a grid page, one we have in our free planner you can sing up for below, or draw a simple grid on a piece of paper.
This type of gardening relies on using all the space you have in the most effective way. A garden planner ensures you are doing just that.
With a planner you will know exactly how many plants to place within a square foot, how best to arrange them, and what care each type needs for successful growth.
Planning Your Square Foot Garden
Long before spring hits, is planning season for a gardener. Usually the arrival of seed catalogs are the cue to get out our planners so we can begin laying things out and making our lists.
Step #1. List Your Plants
The best part of square foot gardening is that you can grow almost any vegetable and many herbs in this layout.
- Make a list of plants you know you want to include.
- Review each plant’s growth requirements as some may need more space than others. Be sure to account for that grid planning.
- Ask yourself, how much produce you hope to end up with. Match that to what you can expect to get from each plant you grow.
Step #2. Layout Design
Mapping out yoru growing plan will help you to be more efficient with your space.
- Map out your available growing area.
- Determine how to organize it into square foot grids.
- Your design might include trellises for climbing plants, pathways for easy access, and any other features that will allow you to maximize the space.
- Make a grid outline on a piece of paper to help you with the planning and set up.
Step #3. Grid Set Up
For this step you will be creating your grid map.
- Refer to your plant list and start “assigning” areas where you plan to grow each one.
- Be sure you assign the appropriate squares needed to grow.
- Assign grids to best support what you are growing. For example, grow small plants together giving them plenty of access to the sun they need to grow.
- Be sure to take into account companion planting to make the most of your entire garden using it to support each other.
What is companion planting?
Companion planting is growing certain plants or herbs together to encourage the best growth. Mother nature has given us tools to use to grow a healthier garden. For example, some plants will help to deter pests and others will help conserve nutrients and by knowing which plants do what you can turn your backyard garden into a thriving growing machine.
Companion Planting Resources:
Square Foot Planting and Growing
Now that you have your plan, it’s time to get growing. This section will guide you through the steps to get your square foot garden off to a healthy start.
Step #1. Pick a spot
If you do not yet have a garden, you will want to decide the spot first. Choose an area that gets 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. Next to water, sunlight is the most important part of your garden.
You may want to walk your property a few times throughout the day to ensure you have a good growing location.
Once you have a spot set, you can mark off the areas and start prepping your locations or any raised beds you are using.
Step #2. Build Your Raised Bed
The success of square foot gardening is because it is grown in a raised bed allowing the roots to get the right amount of and to allow for you to give your plants the very best soil.
For a raised bed to last for years, you will want to choose a boarder material that will not deteriorate too quickly.
A few ideas are:
- Logs
- Metal
- Bricks
- Cinder Blocks
- Wood – Be sure not to use pressure treated wood.
You can use any materials you have around your home or you can purchase a ready made kit for your raised bed.
Galvanized Metal Planter Raised Garden Bed Kit for Gardening Outdoor，4x2x1ft Planter Grow Garden Box Raised Flower Bed
Land Guard 8×4×2 ft Galvanized Raised Garden Bed Kit, Galvanized Planter Raised Garden Boxes Outdoor, Large Metal Raised Garden Beds for Vegetables.MGNO 8x4x1FT Galvanized Raised Garden Bed Kit, Galvanized Planter Garden Boxes Outdoor, Large Garden Box for Vegetables,Herb,Flower
Step #3. Prepping the raised bed
You have two ways to prep the inertior of the bed so it is ready for planting.
Use Your Own Soil
You can use your own soil, but you will want to be sure that soil is appropriate and healthy for planting.
Start by doing a test of the soil pH test to see where it is lacking so you can amend things accordingly. Anything above 7.0 is considered alkaline and anything below 7.0 is acidic. What you plant will help you to determine the best pH of the soil.
Plants that love Acidic Soil
- Blueberries
- Sweet Potatoes
- Peppers
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Beans
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries
Plants that love Alkaline Soil
- Asparagus
- Beans
- Beets
- Brussel Sprouts
- Garlic
- Peas
- Kale
- Cauliflower
Once you have your soil amended you are ready to plant.
Fill With Compost Items
Another option and one that I find much easier is to fill the bed with items that are compostable and allow it to sit and compost into a healthy organic soil.
You can use cut grass, compost, manure, straw, twigs, and other items. If you want to use this approach, you can read our guide on No-Dig Gardening that will walk you through the steps.
Step #4. PLANTING
Once your soil is ready you can start planting. The spacing of your seeds and/or seedlings is important, let’s break it down.
How to figure out spacing in a square foot garden
- Find the recommended spacing on the seed packet.
- Divide the width of the square you are planting in which is 12 by the inches on the seed packet.
- The answer is the number of plants you can grow by width and by height.
- Double that number for the total number of plants in a square foot section.
So for example, if you have 4 inch spacing on the seed packet, the math will look like this:
- 12 inches of space divided by 4 inches of spacing per plant = 3 plants for both width and height.
- 3 plants for width and height = 9 plants total in a square foot area
Once you know your spacing you can add that information to your planner along with the the plants name and other specifics.
Be sure to add the location area as well as how your harvest ended up. All this information will be very useful next growing season.
Step #5. Watering and Maintenance
Watering correctly and consistently is an important part of a healthy vibrant garden. You can water by hand daily, always being sure to water in the mornings rather than the evenings.
Or, you can also use drip irrigation or a sprinkler setup for a self-sufficient approach. Get a list of the best watering systems here so you can choose the one that works best for you.
GREEN MOUNT Watering Wand, 24 Inches Sprayer Wand with Superior Stainless Head, Perfect for Hanging Baskets, Plants, Flowers, Shrubs, Garden and LawnSoaker Hose 25FT for Garden Beds – 3/4240FT Drip Irrigation System Kit, Automatic Garden Watering Misting System for Greenhouse, Yard, Lawn, Plant with 1/2 inch Hose 1/4 inch Distribution Tubing and AccessoriesPocket Hose Copper Bullet Expandable Garden Hose w/10 Pattern Thumb Spray Nozzle AS-SEEN-ON-TV 100 FT 650psi 3/4 in Patented Lead-Free Ultra-Lightweight Solid Copper Anodized Aluminum Fittings No-KinkFCMP Outdoor Slim Line 45-Gallon Wood Grain Rain Barrel – Outdoor Home Rain Water Catcher Barrel with Flat Back, BrownRoot & Vessel 30413 Deluxe 2-Gallon Watering Can, Green
I prefer to water by hand as this time allows me to watch for any issues with my plants. I have learned over the years that the earlier I discover an issue the more quickly I can give help before things get out of hand.
Read for more tips on how to water your garden here.
Square Foot GArden Tips
Here are additional tips to help you deal with common issues and ensure a successful growing season.
Pest and Disease Management
Keep a close eye on your plants and address any signs of trouble immediately. Introducing beneficial insects, using natural pesticides, and implementing row covers when needed, can be powerful tools in keeping your garden healthy.
Check your plant’s leaves often as they will give you the first signs something is up. You can turn leaves over to check the underside and inspect them for clusters of eggs alerting you to a pest issue.
Support
If you are growing plants that need support be sure to consider that when planning your layout. Put any trellis plants in an area that will not block out the sun from other plants growing nearby.
Harvesting
Understanding when and how to harvest is an important part of gardening and each plant will have clues to let you know when they are ready to be picked. Be sure to read the plants information so you know the clues and make notes in your planner.
You can get all the help you need for growing in our How to Grow Guides. Get tips on when to plant, spacing, tending, and harvesting clues to ensure you are doing all you can for a healthy garden.
Growing a full garden in a fraction of the space is a great way to fill your kitchen and pantry with amazing farm fresh produce. Get started on your square foot gardening planner today!
