Hey everyone! I'm diving into square foot gardening for the first time this year and have a couple of questions. For larger plants like tomatoes or peppers, should I plant them in the center of the section, or can I place them off to one side and then put something smaller like basil or garlic on the other side?
Also, I'm curious if anyone has a favorite resource or chart that helps determine how many plants you can fit in a section. I've noticed different recommendations online, especially for pole beans which seem to suggest anywhere from 4 to 16 plants per section. Would love your insights!
4 Answers
I actually prefer intensive in-ground gardening and have a different spacing strategy. When I did use the SFG method, I tended to place larger plants on the northern edge of my garden so they wouldn’t shade others. Also, those spacing guidelines can be pretty conservative! Feel free to adjust them based on your own experiences.
I usually plant my big guys like tomatoes right in the center and then tuck basil around them. When I'm really feeling motivated, I'll add in radishes and carrots since they get harvested early, making the most of my space. I even plant a second tomato seed next to the first one in case it doesn’t make it. Turns into a mini tomato jungle! Just keep in mind tomatoes can handle close quarters, but peppers really can’t stand being crowded at all.
I've been using the app called Planter and it's been super helpful! You should check it out to help with your planting plans.
A little trick I made was using a 1'x1' piece of cardboard with holes for spacing different plants. It's not fancy, but once the snow clears, I’ll definitely use it to help with planting seeds!
Awesome, thank you!