Question
Hi Mike,  What is the square foot method of gardening?  I live in Southern Ontario and am trying to plan my veggie garden.  It's my first attempt at a real garden and I've started some seeds indoors.  I'm trying to put it all on paper so I can figure out how much space to till.  I have 2 varieties of tomatoes, leaf lettuce, head lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, bush beans and some watermelons for the kids.  Any help would be appreciated!  Thank you.  Tara.

Answer
Tara, square foot gardening is a method of intensive gardening. The term "square foot gardening" was coined by an American author named Mel Bartholomew who wrote a book under that title.

Quite simply, this method utilizes vegetables and flowers planted very close in proximity, and grown in raised beds which are framed by natural non-rotting wood such as cedar. The beds can be structured anywhere from 2'X4' to 4'X12', with the most common configuration being 4'X4'.

The advantages to this method are as follows:

1. The soil stays friable since you never walk in the beds.
2. You can harvest many more vegetables since you're planting in blocks instead of rows.
3. The beds are much easier to water since there is no waste between rows. The same hold true for fertilizing.
4. Less weeding since there are no rows between plants and every square foot is dedicated to vegetables.
5. Easier pest control.
6. Rotation of crops is done by bed instead of location.
7. The beds are more aesthetic, and far less work.
8. No tilling each spring.
9. Trellises are structured at the north ends of the beds as a means to save even more space by growing vining plants such as peas, beans, and squash vertically.

Here are examples of what can be planted in each square foot:

9 onions, beets, bush beans, bush peas, garlic, or spinach.
16 carrots or radishes.
4 lettuce, chard, marigolds, or kohlrabi.
1 tomato, pepper, eggplant, broccoli, cabbage, or corn.
1 squash, cucumber, or melon per 2 sq.ft.
6 vining plants such as beans or peas on trellises.

This method works well in all parts of North America, and is becoming increasingly popular every year.

I realize this can't begin to explain all that is involved in starting a new garden. That is why I strongly recommend investing in one or two good books on the subject. There are numerous ones on the market, but the one I really recommend is "Square Foot Gardening" by Mel Bartholomew. It can be found on the web or at your local bookstore. Also, feel free to use this forum again should you have any other questions or run into any problems.

Attached is a website that will give you additional information on the subject.

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

My first recommendation would be to not start too big on your new garden.  Gardening requires a certain level of experience which can only be gained through trial and error.  Too many gardeners start off overly ambitious only to become disheartened by weeds, pests, and disease.

I would recommend starting with 10 or less vegetables and one to two flower beds.  Grow only enough based on what your family can consume.  Otherwise, the harvest and weeds can overtake you before you know it. Some easy ones to start with include lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, beets, radishes, and carrots. Squash is also easy to grow, but are highly susceptible to disease and pests. Make sure you also interplant some colorful annuals such as sunflowers, marigolds, salvia, cosmos, and zinnia to attract bees for pollination.

The first basic in gardening is soil preparation.  You want to ensure that you have the proper foundation for your plants to thrive.  This means ensuring proper drainage and nutrients.  Whether your soil is clay or sandy, I always recommend adding as many amendments to your soil that you can get your hands on.  This means well aged manure, peat moss, and compost.  You also need to control the PH of your soil.  PH kits are available at most garden centers.  The proper level is 7.0 for most plants.  If you find your soil is too acidic, you need to add lime.  If it 's too alkaline, you need to add gypsum.

Once the seedlings sprout or your transplants are planted, you need to water to a depth of at least one inch per week.  You also need to fertilize with a well balanced fertilizer once every two weeks.

Next, you need to monitor the plants for pests.  Row covers are available for young seedlings which protect them from the elements as well as insects.  If you do use them, make sure to remove them once certain vegetables blossom.  You need to do this for pollination. If pests begin to overtake your garden, you need to resort to pesticides.  I personally utilize only organic controls such as pyrethrum and rotenone.  BT or Dipel can be used to control cabbage worms on broccoli and cabbage.

Finally, you'll need to know when to harvest.  This is not as easy as it may seem, and usually comes with experience.  A good rule of thumb is to always harvest when the produce is young.  Never wait too long or the vegetables turn tough and bitter.

Unfortunately, what I have documented provides the mere basics of gardening and only touches on the subject.  Methods such as seed starting, composting, companion gardening, and disease control are also very important, but too vast to thoroughly cover in this forum.

I would highly recommend getting a good general gardening book.  Usually, these give you ample information on a plant's growing habits and characteristics.  

For your convenience, I am attaching some web sites which will definitely help you in your endeavor.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/vegetables/veg.html
http://www.shepherdseeds.com/tips.asp?5
http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
http://www.fernlea.com/veg/index.htm
http://www.fernlea.com/annual/index.com
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1152.htm
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/gardenframes.html

Good luck, and please write again should you ever need assistance.

Regards,

Mike