Peat moss and vermiculite help hold moisture and keep the soil loose.

When buying vermiculite, be sure to get the coarse grade, and get the more economical 4 cubic foot sized bags.

If placing frames over grass you can dig out the grass, or cover it with cardboard or landscape cloth to discourage grass and weeds from coming up through your new garden soil.

Grid. On top of each frame place a permanent grid that divides the box into one foot squares. The grid is the unique feature that makes the whole system work so well. Without it you will be tempted to plant in rows, which is a poor use of space.

Grids can be made from nearly any material: wood, plastic strips, old venetian blinds, etc. Use screws or rivets to attach them where they cross. On a 4 foot by 4 foot frame, the grid divides the frame into 16 easy-to-manage spaces, for up to 16 different crops. The grid can be cut long enough to fit across the top of the box or cut shorter to lay on the soil inside the box.

Once the grid is in place look at your 4 foot by 4 foot box with the grid on and imagine up to 16 different crops. What you see before you is a neat and attractive, and well organized garden, that will be easy to manage. Leave the grid in place all season.

Care. Since you will never walk on or depress the growing soil, don’t make the frames any wider than 4 feet (2 feet, if only one side is accessible). Any wider makes it too difficult to reach in to tend the plants.

Select. Depending on the mature size of the plant, grow 1, 4, 9, or 16 equally-spaced plants per square foot. If the seed packet recommends that plant spacing be 12 inches apart, plant one plant per square foot. If 6-inch spacing; 4 per square foot. If 4-inch spacing; 9 per square foot. If 3-inch spacing; 16 per square foot.

Plant. Plant one or two seeds in each spot by making a shallow hole with your finger. Cover, but do not pack the soil. Thinning is all but eliminated, and seeds are not wasted. Extra seeds can be stored cool and dry in the refrigerator.

Don’t over-plant. Plant only as much of any one crop as you will use. This 4 foot by 4 foot box will grow more than a conventional garden that is 8 feet by 10 feet.

Water. Water only as much as each plant needs. Water often, especially at first, and on very hot dry days. If possible, water by hand (uses a lot less water) with a cup from a sun-warmed bucket of water. Warm water helps the soil warm up in early and late season.

Harvest. Harvest continually and when a crop in one square is gone, add some new compost and plant a different crop in that square.

There you have the basics from Mel himself—directions that he has refined and improved over the years. Go to Mel’s website at SquareFootGardening.com and take a look at all the pictures. You will be inspired!

While it may seem that starting now is too late to catch the North American growing season, Mel says no. In fact, there is a way to square foot garden year-round—provided you add a few features to your garden. 

Check out Mary's recently released revised and expanded edition of The Financially Confident Woman (DPL Press, 2008).