Square foot gardening spacing chart: how many plants fit per square
Sixteen radishes or one broccoli — the whole method comes down to one number per crop. Here is that number for 33 vegetables, herbs and fruit, with the layout rules that stop a 4×4 bed turning into two courgette plants.
By the Niwa team — we build the garden planner and grow most of what's described here.
What is square foot gardening?
Square foot gardening (SFG) is a method of intensive planting developed by Mel Bartholomew in 1981. Instead of growing vegetables in long rows — a technique designed for large farms and tractors — you divide your garden into a grid of 1-foot squares and plant each square according to how much space that crop actually needs.
The result: you grow significantly more food in a fraction of the space, with far less weeding, watering, and wasted effort. A single 4×4 foot raised bed can hold up to 16 different crops at once.
Why it works so well for raised beds: Raised beds are already built for intensive planting. The soil is loose, deep, and rich — so roots grow down instead of out. Plants can be spaced much more closely than in traditional row gardens, which also means fewer weeds and more consistent moisture.
How to set up your square foot garden
You don't need special equipment. The basic setup takes an afternoon and works in any raised bed or in-ground plot.
1Choose your bed size
The most common size is 4×4 feet. This allows you to reach every square from the edges without stepping on the soil. You can go longer (4×8, 4×12) but never wider than 4 feet — the rule is that you should always be able to reach the center from either side.
2Fill with the right soil
Bartholomew's original recipe — known as Mel's Mix — is ⅓ compost, ⅓ peat moss (or coconut coir), and ⅓ coarse vermiculite. It's light, drains well, and is full of nutrients. Avoid using regular garden soil in raised beds — it compacts and drains poorly.
3Add the grid
The grid is what makes the whole system work. Lay laths, strings, or wooden slats across your bed in a 1-foot pattern. This visual guide is what lets you keep track of which square holds which crop and prevents overcrowding.
4Plan before you plant
This is the most important step and the one most beginners skip. Map out which crop goes in which square before buying seeds. Consider sun, height (taller plants to the north), companion planting, and succession planting. A digital garden planner makes this far easier than pencil and paper.
The square foot gardening spacing chart
The core rule of SFG is simple: the number of plants per square depends on the plant's spacing requirement. If a plant needs 6 inches of spacing, you can fit 4 per square foot. If it needs 3 inches, you fit 16. If it needs 12 inches, you plant just 1.
Here is the complete spacing chart for the most common vegetables, herbs, and fruits:
| Plant | Plants per sq ft | Spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radishes | 16 | 3 in | Fast harvest, great for succession |
| Carrots | 16 | 3 in | Need deep, loose soil |
| Onions | 16 | 3 in | Use sets for faster results |
| Spinach | 9 | 4 in | Bolt-resistant in part shade |
| Beets | 9 | 4 in | Thin to strongest seedling |
| Bush beans | 9 | 4 in | No support needed |
| Peas | 8 | 4–6 in | Need trellis or support |
| Lettuce (leaf) | 4 | 6 in | Cut-and-come-again variety |
| Swiss chard | 4 | 6 in | Harvest outer leaves continuously |
| Kale | 1–2 | 12–18 in | Gets large, allow room |
| Basil (small) | 4 | 6 in | Pinch flowers to extend harvest |
| Basil (large) | 1 | 12 in | Gets very bushy |
| Parsley | 1 | 12 in | Biennial, comes back second year |
| Chives | 16 | 3 in | Perennial, divide every few years |
| Cilantro | 1 | 12 in | Sow successionally every 3 weeks |
| Dill | 4 | 6 in | Great companion for brassicas |
| Garlic | 9 | 4 in | Plant cloves tip-up in fall |
| Leeks | 9 | 4 in | Long season, start early indoors |
| Broccoli | 1 | 18 in | One plant per square |
| Cauliflower | 1 | 18 in | Blanch heads for white color |
| Cabbage | 1 | 18 in | Use netting to prevent moths |
| Pepper | 1 | 12 in | Start indoors 10–12 weeks before frost |
| Eggplant | 1 | 18 in | Loves heat, plant after soil warms |
| Tomato (bush) | 1 | 18–24 in | Use 1–2 sq ft per plant |
| Tomato (vining) | 1 per 4 sq ft | 24+ in | Needs cage or strong stake |
| Cucumber | 2 | 6 in | Train vertically to save space |
| Zucchini | 1 per 9 sq ft | 36 in | Gets enormous, plan space carefully |
| Winter squash | 1 per 2 sq ft | 24 in | Train vines out of the bed |
| Pumpkin | 1 per 2 sq ft | 24 in | Let vines roam outside the bed |
| Corn | 4 | 6 in | Plant in blocks, not rows, for pollination |
| Okra | 1 | 12 in | Harvest when small for tenderness |
| Strawberry | 4 | 6 in | Remove runners to focus energy |
| Marigold | 4 | 6 in | Excellent pest deterrent, plant throughout |
How to lay out a 4×4 raised bed
A standard 4×4 bed gives you 16 squares to work with. Here's a sample layout designed for a productive beginner garden:
Sample 4×4 layout. Place taller plants (tomatoes, cucumbers) on the north side so they don't shade smaller crops.
Common square foot gardening mistakes
Planting too many large crops
One zucchini plant takes up to 9 square feet once fully grown. Two zucchinis in a 4×4 bed would dominate your entire garden. Plan for scale — one is usually enough for a family, and you can always add more beds later.
Ignoring sun direction
In the Northern Hemisphere, taller plants go on the north side of the bed. Tomatoes, cucumbers on a trellis, and corn should never shade the shorter crops next to them. Always sketch your layout with the sun in mind before you plant.
Skipping succession planting
Once a fast-maturing crop like radishes or lettuce is harvested, that square is empty. Succession planting means having a new seedling ready to drop in immediately. This doubles or triples the yield from the same space over a season.
Not planning on paper (or digitally) first
The biggest mistake is just walking to the garden center, buying whatever looks good, and figuring out placement later. You end up with too many large plants, bad companion combinations, and wasted squares. Plan the whole bed first — it takes 20 minutes and saves months of frustration.
Plan your square foot garden visually: Niwa is a free iPhone app built specifically for square foot gardening. It draws the grid for you, shows how many plants fit in each square, and gives you a personalized planting calendar based on your local frost dates. Download it free →
Succession planting for continuous harvests
The real power of square foot gardening shows up when you plan for succession. Instead of planting all your lettuce at once and getting overwhelmed, plant one square every two to three weeks. As you harvest the first square, the next one is catching up.
Good crops for succession planting include: radishes (harvest in 25–30 days), lettuce, spinach, cilantro, bush beans, and beets. Every time a square empties, it's an opportunity to plant something new — even a completely different crop from what was there before.
Crop rotation in raised beds
Even in a small raised bed, rotating crops matters. Tomatoes and other nightshades (peppers, eggplant) should not go in the same square two years in a row — they deplete specific nutrients and can harbor disease. A simple rule: divide your crops into families (nightshades, brassicas, roots, legumes) and rotate each family to a different square or bed each season.
Square foot gardening vs traditional row gardening
| Feature | Square foot gardening | Traditional rows |
|---|---|---|
| Space efficiency | High — 80% growing surface | Low — 20% growing, 80% paths |
| Watering | Less — dense canopy retains moisture | More — large open areas dry faster |
| Weeding | Minimal — plants crowd out weeds | Significant — open rows invite weeds |
| Setup cost | Higher — raised bed + soil mix | Lower — use existing ground |
| Best for | Small spaces, beginners, raised beds | Large plots, farm-scale growing |
Getting started this season
Square foot gardening is the best method for anyone with a small yard, a single raised bed, or a desire to grow more food with less effort. The learning curve is minimal — the spacing chart does most of the work for you.
The key is to plan before you plant. Sketch your grid, assign each square a crop, check the spacing numbers, and account for sun direction and companion planting. Once you've done it once, it becomes second nature.
If you want to skip the pencil-and-paper planning, Niwa does it all on your iPhone — the grid, the spacing, the planting calendar — completely free.
Plan it in the app instead of on paper.
Niwa lays out the bed, spaces the plants and dates every crop. Free on iPhone.
Questions gardeners ask
How much space do I need for square foot gardening?
A 4×4 foot raised bed (16 square feet) is perfect for beginners and can grow 16 different vegetables at once. You can start smaller with a 2×4 bed or go larger with 4×8, but never go wider than 4 feet since you need to reach the center from either side.
Plants per square foot calculatorWhat type of soil should I use in my square foot garden?
Use Mel's Mix: ⅓ compost, ⅓ peat moss (or coconut coir), and ⅓ coarse vermiculite. Never use regular garden soil in raised beds as it compacts and drains poorly. This lightweight mix provides perfect drainage and nutrition.
Plants per square foot calculatorHow many plants can I really fit in one square foot?
It depends on the plant's spacing needs. Small plants like radishes fit 16 per square (3-inch spacing), lettuce fits 4 per square (6-inch spacing), while large plants like tomatoes need 1-4 squares each depending on variety.
Plants per square foot calculatorWhen should I start my square foot garden?
Start preparing beds 2-4 weeks before your last frost date. Cool season crops like lettuce and peas can go in early, while warm season crops like tomatoes and peppers wait until after the last frost. Plan your layout before buying any seeds.
Plants per square foot calculatorDo I need special tools for square foot gardening?
No special tools required. You'll need basic gardening supplies (hand trowel, watering can) plus materials to create your grid (wooden laths or string). The most important "tool" is planning your layout before planting.
Plants per square foot calculatorIs Niwa free to use?
Yes. Niwa is free to download from the App Store, and the core planner — the garden grid, the plant library and the planting calendar — works without paying. Optional in-app purchases unlock additional features.
See it on the App StoreHow many plants fit in one square foot?
It depends on the crop's spacing requirement. A plant needing 3 inches fits 16 per square foot, 4 inches fits 9, 6 inches fits 4, and 12 inches fits 1. Large plants such as vining tomatoes or zucchini need more than one square each. Niwa works this out for you and prints the count straight onto the grid cell.
Plants per square foot calculatorCan Niwa plan a raised bed of any size?
Yes. You set the bed dimensions — 4×4, 4×8, 2×8 or a custom size — and Niwa draws the square foot grid to match. You can keep several beds and several gardens in the app at once and switch between them.
Raised bed plannerHow does Niwa know when I should plant?
Niwa uses your location to find your average last spring frost and first autumn frost, then works backwards from those dates for every crop in your bed. Each plant gets its own sow-indoors, transplant and harvest window on a month-by-month timeline, so the dates are yours rather than a generic zone table.
How the planting calendar worksDoes Niwa warn me about bad companion plants?
Yes. As you place plants on the grid, Niwa puts a green dot between neighbouring squares that benefit each other and a red dot between squares that are better kept apart, so you see the conflict while you are still planning.
Companion planting in NiwaHow much soil do I need to fill a raised bed?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 4×8 bed at 12 inches deep needs 32 cubic feet, roughly 1.2 cubic yards or sixteen 2-cubic-foot bags.
Raised bed soil calculatorDoes Niwa work offline, and do I need an account?
The whole plant library and all your layouts are stored on the device, so the app works with no signal — useful on an allotment. There is no account to create and your garden data is never uploaded to a server.
See what's includedWhich growing zones and countries does Niwa support?
Niwa works worldwide. It recognises USDA hardiness zones in the United States and derives frost dates from your location elsewhere, including the UK, Canada, Australia and Europe.
Find your frost dates and zoneHow is Niwa different from other garden planner apps?
Three things: it is a native iPhone app rather than a desktop planner viewed in a mobile browser, it shows companion-planting conflicts on the grid as you place plants instead of in a separate chart, and it works fully offline with no account.
Compare Niwa with other plannersIs Niwa available on Android?
Not yet. Niwa is a native iPhone app and needs iOS 18.0 or later. An Android version is not currently available.
Read the gardening guides in the meantime