In this class for both beginners and experienced gardeners, Extension Master Gardener Nina DeRosa presents the many benefits of this method, which requires half the work associated with traditional in-ground gardening. Learn how to start your own square foot garden from raised bed construction to what has proved to be good to grow and how to grow it.
Zoom session, recorded May 16, 2025
Class Video
Chapter Breaks
- 0:00:00 Introduction & Overview
- 0:03:10 Choosing a Location
- 0:04:05 Sunlight Requirements
- 0:05:40 Watering
- 0:07:01 Proper Size Garden
- 0:10:20 Materials for Construction
- 0:11:43 Plan for 4×4 raised Bed
- 0:12:41 Growing Medium
- 0:20:01 Determining Soil Needed
- 0:23:05 Adding the Grid
- 0:24:09 Determining Planting Dates
- 0:27:34 Starting Seeds & Spacing
- 0:31:30 Garden Accessories
- 0:33:31 Crop Rotation
- 0:34:05 Companion Planting
- 0:37:09 Succession Planting
- 0:38:37 Layout Ideas for Themed Gardens
- 0:45:32 Final Recommendations
- 0:48:05 Resources
- 0:48:48 Questions
Additional Resources
Online Resources
- Bartholomew, Mel and Suzy Valentine. 2009. Square Foot Gardening: A simplified method of gardening, practiced around the world. University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Taylor County.
https://taylor.extension.wisc.edu/files/2010/05/SquareFootGardeningNew2009.pdf - Gunter, Christopher. 2022. Vegetable Gardening, Chapter 16. In: K.A. Moore, and L.K. Bradley (eds). North Carolina Extension Gardener Handbook, 2nd ed. NC State Extension, Raleigh, NC.
http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/16-vegetable-gardening - Niemiera, Alex X. 2023. Intensive Gardening Methods.
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-335/426-335.html - Planting Chart Cheat Sheets. 2025. Square Foot Gardening Foundation
https://squarefootgardening.org/planting-chart-cheat-sheets/ - Square Foot Gardening Foundation.
https://squarefootgardening.org/ - Square Foot Gardening FoundationYouTube Channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@squarefootgardeningfoundat5435
Books
- Bartholomew, Mel. 2005. A New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work. Rodale Press.
- Riotte, Louise. 1998. Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Storey Publishing, LLC.
- Riotte, Louise. 2012. Roses Love Garlic: Companion Planting and Other Secrets of Flowers. Storey Publishing, LLC.
- Square Foot Gardening Foundation. 2025. All New Square Foot Gardening: 4th Edition. Cool Springs Press.