Don't do this you will maximize your harvest

Square foot gardening is an intensive, space-efficient method of gardening that was popularized by Mel Bartholomew in the 1980s. It's designed to be simple, organized, and highly productive, making it a great option for beginners, people with limited space, or those who want to reduce the time and effort spent on gardening.

Here's a breakdown of the key principles and components:

Raised Beds and a Grid: The core of the method is a raised garden bed, typically 4 feet by 4 feet, which is then divided into a grid of 1-foot squares. The grid can be made with wooden slats, twine, or other materials and serves as a visual guide for planting. This system eliminates the need for wide paths, which are common in traditional row gardening, and allows for more plants in a smaller area.

Custom Soil Mix: The method recommends a specific soil mixture, often called "Mel's Mix," which is a blend of one-third compost, one-third peat moss or coco coir, and one-third coarse vermiculite. This soilless mix is rich in nutrients, retains water well, and is light and fluffy, so it doesn't get compacted. This is one of the main reasons the method produces high yields.

Strategic Planting: Instead of planting in long rows, each 1-foot square is treated as its own mini-garden. The number of plants you put in each square depends on the mature size of the plant. For example:

1 plant per square: Large plants like tomatoes, peppers, or cabbage.

4 plants per square: Medium-sized plants like lettuce or Swiss chard.

9 plants per square: Smaller plants like bush beans or spinach.

16 plants per square: Very small plants like carrots or radishes.

No Digging or Tilling: Since you're working with a raised bed filled with a loose, custom soil mix, there's no need for heavy digging or tilling. This saves effort and helps maintain the soil's structure and health.

Reduced Maintenance: Square foot gardening is known for being low-maintenance. The dense planting shades the soil, which helps to suppress weeds. When weeds do appear, they are easy to pull from the loose soil. The raised beds also make watering more efficient as you're only watering the growing area, not the paths.

Benefits of Square Foot Gardening:

High Yields: You can grow a surprising amount of food in a small area.

Saves Space: It's perfect for small backyards, patios, or even rooftops.

Less Weeding: The dense planting helps to crowd out weeds.

Conserves Water: The custom soil mix and concentrated planting area help to retain moisture.

Easy to Plan and Manage: The grid system makes it simple to plan your garden layout and keep track of what you're growing.

Accessible: Raised beds can be built to a height that is comfortable for people with mobility issues.