Square Foot Gardening was made popular by Mel Bartholomew, and now Mel has begun to work with Patty Moreno, the “garden girl.” Even though many have taken ideas from his design (because his system is so simple), Mel deserves the credit.
Original Square Foot Technique with Landscaping Timbers
We use the same basic ingredients: vermiculite, compost, and peat moss or shredded coco blocks. I like to add a little perilite too, or chopped up hay. We have also added a very ingenious root delivery system that has turned some of our tomatoes into six foot high plants loaded with fruit.
Aquaponics and Earth has developed a little different spin off of Mel’s original system which eliminates wood frames and is very fast to set up and very nice for people with infirmities.
We use cement blocks surrounded with landscaping timers. The blocks really work well and are available in most places of the world. You can even grow plants in the holes of the blocks, such as marigolds or sunflowers, to keep away pests. The timbers not only keep the blocks in place, but also provide a surface to put your knees on that enables you to reach into the bed and not get your knees dirty.
Mel's Grid Technique
We use the same grid system that Mel teaches.
See our article on Intensive Grow Beds, which will show you how we take this system and maximize the grow space, in some cases fivefold!
