How it works
squares = length × width; plants = squares × plants-per-square; themes allocate squares per crop
Plants per square foot
Plants per square foot
| Plants / sq ft | Crops |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tomato, pepper, broccoli, cabbage, kale |
| 4 | Lettuce, basil, parsley, swiss chard |
| 9 | Spinach, onion, cilantro, beet, bush bean |
| 16 | Carrot, radish, chives |
A 4×4 bed is 16 one-foot squares. A 4×8 bed is 32. Multiply the per-square count by your number of squares: e.g. 16 squares of lettuce = 64 plants.
Frequently asked questions
How many plants fit in a 4x4 raised bed?
A 4×4 bed has 16 one-foot squares. It depends on the crop: 16 tomatoes or peppers (1 per square), 64 lettuce (4 per square), 144 spinach or onions (9 per square), or 256 carrots/radishes (16 per square). Most people mix crops.
What plants go in a salsa garden?
A classic 4×4 salsa garden holds about 4 tomatoes, 4 peppers, 36 onions, and 36 cilantro plants. Add a tomatillo if you like a green salsa — tomatillos need two plants to pollinate.
How much soil do I need for a square foot garden?
Multiply length × width × depth. A 4×4 bed filled 6 inches deep needs 8 cubic feet of soil — about 6 of the 1.5 cu ft bags. The classic Mel's Mix is equal parts compost, peat/coir, and vermiculite.