Make every square foot count
How many plants fit in this bed?
Choose what you want to grow and enter the size of your bed. We’ll show how many plants fit with closer spacing or a little more room.
What are you planting?
1Choose from 199 plants and varieties in Sow.
How large is the bed?
2Choose what you’re planting.
We’ll show how many plants fit and how far apart to place them.
How to use the answer
Closer planting needs a little more care.
Planting close together can shade the soil, reduce weeds, and grow more food in a small bed. It also needs better soil, steady water, and regular harvesting.
- Start with loose, healthy soil and dependable watering.
- Harvest often so mature plants do not crowd one another as they grow.
- Choose the roomier option if leaf diseases are common in your garden.
Where the information comes from
- University of Florida IFAS Extension — Square Foot Gardening — guidance for planting more in small garden beds
Questions gardeners ask
How does square-foot plant spacing work?
Each square foot is divided into a simple grid. A crop spaced 6 inches apart fits four plants per square foot; 4-inch spacing fits nine; 3-inch spacing fits sixteen.
Should I use closer or roomier spacing?
Use the closer option when your bed has healthy soil, steady water, and frequent harvests. Choose the roomier option for easier care, better airflow, or a variety that grows especially large.
Why is the result rounded down?
You cannot plant part of a plant. Rounding down also leaves a little room for bed edges, paths, watering lines, and measurements that are not exact.