Square Foot Gardening: Learn How to Grow Food in Limited Spaces
Growing food for your family might not have been a priority if you’re an urban dweller with limited space. But the COVID-19 pandemic, with its disruptions in supply chains, might have caused you to reconsider. Indeed, things are back to normal as far as food supplies go. Still, the pandemic also sparked renewed interest in home gardening. As a result, square foot gardening is gaining popularity, particularly among those living in urban areas with limited space to grow food.
There is more to urban gardening than self-sufficiency. Growing food on your balcony, patio, or terrace garden deepens your connection to nature. Gardening is an enriching activity that reduces stress and enhances physical and mental well-being, all while allowing individuals to reduce their dependence on external food sources. Not convinced? Read on to understand the benefits and learn how to set up a sq ft garden on your small balcony or terrace.
The Challenges of Urban Gardening
Before we delve into square foot gardening, let’s understand the challenges of growing food in urban areas.
Limited space
Most urban dwellers live in apartments or tiny houses with hardly any open space, making traditional gardening difficult. Without a yard or land attached to the home, the options for growing food are limited. Therefore, it’s essential to optimise any available space, like a balcony or terrace.
Lack of sunlight
Urban areas typically have high-rise buildings and houses built too close together, blocking sunlight or limiting the hours of direct sunlight exposure, which is critical for growing vegetables (they need 6-8 hours daily).
Struggles with watering
Busy urban lifestyles often lead to irregular watering schedules, denying plants consistent moisture vital for their health. It can result in poor growth and lower yields.
Poor soil quality and pests
City soil is often contaminated or deficient in essential nutrients. Moreover, potted plants are more susceptible to pest infestations and diseases since they are grown in a controlled environment.
Fortunately, square foot gardening offers a viable solution to allow urban dwellers to grow their own food and reap the other benefits of gardening.
What is Square Foot Gardening?
The square ft garden method, developed in America in the 80s, involves setting up a raised garden bed and dividing it into one-foot squares. Each gardening square is dedicated to growing a specific type of plant. The goal is to maximise yield in minimal space—just what urban gardeners need!
While the original method involved growing in small yards or gardens, the technique can be implemented in small balconies, rooftops, patios, or terrace gardens. Raised planters, or even pots and fabric grow bags, can be set up, employing the same principles, to help urban residents grow vegetables for self-consumption.
Why Square Foot Gardening Works Well in Limited Spaces
Dividing the limited space into sections allows for better planning, ensuring every square foot is used efficiently. Moreover, proper planning allows for the placement of plants alongside compatible companions, minimising pests. Drip irrigation or automatic watering systems can ensure reduced watering and soil loss.
How to Plan a Square Foot Garden
- Choose a space that receives at least 6-8 hours of sunlight. Most balconies, patios, terraces and small front yards in urban areas will be suitable.
- A typical square foot garden has a 4×4 foot raised bed divided into 16 squares. Depending on your space, you can play around with the dimensions – 1×4 foot for a small balcony or several 4×4 foot grow beds for a larger terrace or rooftop vegetable garden.
- When choosing a raised bed planter or a container, ensure it is at least 6-12 inches deep for healthy root growth.
- You can think outside the box and place 4×1 foot fabric grow bags or ceramic pots on a raised planter stand to customise your square foot garden on a balcony or terrace.
- Ideally, you should choose square or rectangular planters to maximise space. If each planter is more than 1×1 ft, divide it into equal 1-foot squares using string or bamboo sticks. This step is essential, as each square foot will grow one specific type of vegetable or herb.
- Ensure you use a nutrient-rich soil mix to enhance growth and yield. Ideally, the soil mix should include equal parts of compost (for nutrients), peat moss (for moisture retention), and vermiculite (for aeration and drainage).
- Decide what you will plant in each square foot depending on the plant size and spacing requirements.
How Much Can You Plant in One Square Foot?
Make a list of the herbs or vegetables you want to grow. Check the seed packet for the plant spacing requirements. The list below will give you a better idea of how many different vegetables or herbs you can grow.
| 1 plant per square foot | Tomato, Brinjal (Eggplant), Ladies finger (Okra), Chilli, Capsicum (Bell Pepper), Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage |
| 4 plants per square foot | Corn, Mint, Strawberry, Thyme |
| 9 plants per square foot | Carrot, Radish, Onion, Shallot, Spinach, Peas, Bush beans, Coriander |
| 16 plants per square foot | Turnips, Radish, Spring onion, Fenugreek greens (Methi) |
Don’t Forget Walls for Vertical Gardening
In small balconies or tight spaces, optimise vertical space to grow food. You can use walls, fences, and balcony railings for vertical gardening. Depending on the space, you can grow climbing vegetables like cucumbers, peas, or yard-long beans, supporting them with a pole or trellis. Hanging baskets are another option for strawberries or cherry tomatoes. Use wall-mounted planters for growing lettuce or herbs like mint, basil, oregano, and thyme.
Are you inspired to take up square foot gardening? It’s easy and rewarding. We recommend starting small if you aren’t confident about setting up a full-fledged square foot vegetable garden. How about growing different types in a 1×2 foot planter to begin? Once you harvest your first crop of homegrown organic vegetables, you’ll want to grow more and expand your garden. So, get started and enjoy the fruits of your labour!
