How We Fixed Square Foot Gardening And Grow More Food, Intensively!

We are huge fans of intensive gardening and integrate a lot of square foot gardening practices into our growing efforts. That said, the square foot gardening technique, as written in Mel Bartholomew's book is not as good as it can be!

A lot of newer growers fall into the trap of square foot gardening and think it's the solution for growing everything. That couldn't be further from the truth! In fact, it's a very poor technique for some plants and the smart grower will use alternative techniques to grow these things.

Over the many years we've practiced SFG and other intensive intensive gardening, this video discusses all of the major changes we've made to the technique as far as we practice it. In our opinion, we've improved on the practice and are finally quite happy with the food it produces in our gardens.

For a very detailed guide, including our full plant spacing guidelines, please check out this in-depth article:

In case you're curious, these are the plants we grow in our intensive, square foot gardens:

Radish
Beet
Rutabaga
Turnip
Carrot
Lettuce (leaf & head)
Spinach
Mustards
Bok Choy
Onion
Green Onion
Leek
Chard
Celery
Peas

[quake]

Thank you for great infos for square foot garden. FYI background music is too loud, hard to hear what you are talking.

[philomath]

Good info. I like the content and video however, like others have mentioned, the music is distracting. With your content I feel the music is not necessary. If you want to add music, maybe make a short intro or include separate b-role footage with music. Just suggestions. Good work thanks for sharing and keep it up!

[ladyb]

I'm going to try again, but this time, I plan to sink it in the earth, and mulch 6 inches on top (like back to eden gardening). I'm hoping that will help with keeping the moisture in...



*& I'll keep all your tips in mind, thnx. 👍🏼

[azulbernal]

I used to watch his TV show, and he explained about the beds being different sizes, and also about the soil preparation, not compost alone, and he used fertilizer continuously, every time he planted a seed.

[ShoalsChickens]

Just found this and love your channel. Great content rich material. Im glad to be a new subscriber.

[MattMilla]

It is interesting to see people's experience of SFG. I did think I would need to be fertilizing. I think large brassicas and plants like squash need 2 to 4 square feet. It probably doesn't make sense to use up such a large section of your raised bed for such plants. Though Mel suggests you might need 3-4 raised beds per person per year, so perhaps you would plant in separate beds. Like your container gardening!! I never thought you could grow corn in containers. What an eye opener!

[GardeningwithDave]

Love your editing and film style brother! Thank you for your amazing recommendations! Drip irrigation has been my favorite upgrade. -Dave🎉

[Angie-cilp]

Thank you for sharing! Your opening statement is on point! That caught my attention 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 New subscriber! Very INFORMATIVE!

[tonykember]

Hi Frosty garden, I’m living in southern part of United Kingdom and three years ago stated SFG . My experience has been exactly as you describe. In addition I find many of the spacing suggested too intense leading to over-crowding which can cause a fungus build- up. I have modified my planting in the same way you suggest, but I do grow pole beans or peas vertically along the ‘northern’ edge of suitable beds . Potatoes, courgettes I grow in containers. I find my own compost quickly raises the soil pH so also use lime and general organic fertilizers sparingly. (‘ Worm tea’ is good for containers.
Thanks for your interesting channel
Tony, Cardiff, UK.

[whenpigsfly]

I bought the SFG book nearly 40 years ago. The recommendations of Bartholomew on fertilization is the same as yours. I don't think there is any substitute for mineral fertilizers if strong disease and pest free plants are the goal. In 2024 I am going to do my garden in a sterile (no humus or compost) substrate made of sawdust and sand and the only nutrients will be provided by 100% inorganic fertilizers. I have experience with hydroponics and aeroponics with excellent results that exceeded expectations. What I'll be doing in 2024 is hydroponics without the expensive setup. I expect few weeds, few pests and extremely productive plants.
I enjoyed your video. I'd like to hear more about your fertilizer strategy and use.

[morningdevotion]

What a great video. God bless you and your wife. So so helpful.

[norellweiner]

I had a very small area for a garden and wanted to grow many things...it probably wasn't very conventional but it worked well for me. I had plenty of tomato plants, but planted basil, and other herbs practically beneath them. I planted onions and interspersed them with lettuces and other herbs...I trellised my snow peas and cucumbers. In looking back, I think I was growing trailing or vining plants up, then tall plants interspersed with bushy plants and things that would grow underground (root type veggies) so that they would hopefully work together because they occupied different spaces and you could plant them closer together. It always seemed to work really well for me and the diversity it seemed to help keep bad insects away.

[RobertMcAdams-iule]

I have taken this valuable info and introduce it to my own garden Thanks for the insight

[farmervee_yt]

Good information on square foot gardening. Thank you!

[fzsbmhd]

Great info, but the music is too loud compared to your voice so it’s distracting and makes it a bit hard to hear and concentrate on what you are saying. (Sorry to be critical.) I do love the changes you have made to SFG tho. I've been doing SFG since the book came out and appreciate what you are saying. Thanks!

[lyndysimpson]

Hi I love your video but your music is way too loud and very distracting but your video is so good. your knowledge is wonderfu.l I'm not being a terrible YouTuber person I just wanted to let you know it's okay to get rid of the music. your voice is wonderful your presentation is beautiful.

[ewstoy]

Awesome content! I subscribed. Just curious, what region are your gardens located?

[VALERIEJENSEN-kpis]

Just curious about planting 6 bush beans per bucket. You don't have a problem with Botrytis or Sclerotinia??? I've taken to spacing my beans 12" and even interplanting to prevent the fall mold from taking hold. So was surprised. And curious to know your experience. Maybe the trick is that your buckets are spaced to allow for good air flow ???

[lurklingX]

planting like with like... instantly makes me think of pest invasions. i like the organization, but so do the pests.

[edevans]

I'll just say that even if you are a taller person don't think "Well if little old ladies can handle 4ft wide beds then I can do 5". You probably can until you put up a trellis for your peas to climb or you tomato plants get a bit burley blocking easy access from one side..