GardenCalcs.uk
Square Foot Gardening Calculator — SFG Plant Counts
Plan a square foot garden with correct plant counts per square.
How We Calculate This
The bed is divided into a grid of equal squares (30 cm / 1 ft is standard). Each square is planted according to the crop's spacing needs.
Squares = Floor(Length ÷ Square Size) × Floor(Width ÷ Square Size). Total plants = Squares × Plants per square.
Mel Bartholomew's counts by mature size: 1 (extra-large, e.g. tomato), 4 (large, e.g. lettuce), 9 (medium, e.g. bush beans), 16 (small root veg, e.g. radish).
Frequently Asked Questions
A method dividing raised beds into 30 cm (1 ft) squares, each planted with a specific number of plants based on their size. It maximises yield in small spaces.
Mel Bartholomew's spacing splits crops by mature size: extra-large (tomato, pepper, cabbage, courgette) = 1 per square (30 cm / 12 in apart); large or leaf lettuce = 4 per square (15 cm / 6 in); medium (bush beans, spinach, beetroot) = 9 per square (10 cm / 4 in); small (radish, carrot, onion) = 16 per square (7.5 cm / 3 in). Peas are an exception at 8 per square.
Minimum 15 cm, ideally 30 cm. Mel Bartholomew (SFG inventor) recommended 15 cm of his special soil mix over existing ground. Deeper beds (25-30 cm) suit carrots, parsnips and other long roots.
Mel's Mix is equal parts by volume: 1/3 blended compost, 1/3 coarse vermiculite, and 1/3 peat moss (or peat-free coir as a sustainable UK substitute). The compost supplies nutrients, while the vermiculite and peat/coir hold moisture yet keep the mix loose and free-draining. No added fertiliser is needed.
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Last updated: February 2026
All calculations are estimates based on standard gardening guidelines. Results may vary with soil conditions, climate, and plant varieties.