Square foot gardening is the method that changed how millions of people grow food at home. Instead of long rows that waste space and water, you divide your raised bed into a simple grid — each square foot grows exactly the right number of plants. It works beautifully in Colorado's short growing season, and it's especially great for our dry climate because every drop of water goes exactly where it's needed.
The Book That Started It All
Square foot gardening was pioneered by Mel Bartholomew, and his book is still the definitive guide. If you're serious about getting the most out of your garden this year, it's worth having.
All New Square Foot Gardening, 3rd Edition
By Mel Bartholomew — the man who changed home gardening forever
Mel spent decades perfecting this method and shared it with the world. His book covers everything: Mel's Mix, spacing charts, seasonal planting, vertical growing, and more. Over 2 million copies sold. If you grow a garden this year, he deserves the credit.
View on AmazonA note on credit: The square foot gardening method was created and perfected by Mel Bartholomew (1931–2016). Everything on this page is based on his decades of work and his book. We're simply sharing his ideas with Colorado gardeners who might not have found them yet. If this method helps you — buy his book. It's worth every penny and his foundation continues to carry his work forward at squarefootgardening.org.
What Is Square Foot Gardening?
The idea is simple: build a raised bed, fill it with the right soil mix, divide it into a 1-foot grid, and plant each square with the correct number of plants for that species. That's it.
Traditional row gardening wastes 80% of your space on walking paths and thinning. Square foot gardening uses every inch. A single 4×4 bed (16 square feet) can produce enough vegetables to meaningfully supplement your family's meals all summer — tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, herbs, carrots, beans, and more.
A Sample 4×4 Square Foot Garden — 16 Plants, 16 Squares
The 3 Steps to Get Started
Build Your Box
A 4×4 raised bed is the classic size — you can reach every square from the outside without stepping in and compacting the soil. Go 6–12 inches deep. Cedar or untreated pine both work great in Colorado's climate. For patios and decks, a 2×4 or 2×6 box works perfectly on a tarp.
Fill It With Mel's Mix
This is the secret. Don't use regular garden soil or potting mix — Mel's Mix is a specific blend designed for raised beds. It drains perfectly, never compacts, and holds moisture well. Recipe below. It might look expensive upfront but it lasts for years with just minor topping off each season.
Add a Grid and Plant
Lay a simple 1-foot grid on top — use wood lath, twine, or even just mark lines with a marker. Each square gets planted according to the spacing chart for that plant. That's it. No guessing, no thinning rows, no wasted space.
Mel's Mix — The Magic Soil Recipe
Mel's Mix Formula
(mix several types)
(not perlite)
Coconut Coir
How Many Plants Per Square Foot?
This is the key chart. Plant spacing determines how many fit in each 1×1 square.
Square Foot Gardening Tips for Colorado
The method works everywhere, but Colorado has some quirks worth knowing.
🎬 Watch: Mel Bartholomew Introduces Square Foot Gardening
📚 Authoritative Resources
Square Foot Gardening FoundationThe official organization continuing Mel's work All New Square Foot Gardening, 3rd Edition — AmazonThe definitive guide by Mel Bartholomew CSU Extension — Yard & Garden ResourcesColorado State University gardening guides📖 Want to Learn More? — Garden Planning Research
🌱 More Colorado Gardening Guides
📅 Full Colorado Planting Calendar →Love Your Colorado Home?
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