What is Square Foot Gardening?

Square Foot Gardening (SFG) is a planting method that divides a raised bed into 1-foot squares and assigns each plant type a specific number of plants per square foot based on its mature size. It was popularized by Mel Bartholomew and maximizes yield in small spaces.

How many plants fit per square foot?

It depends on the plant. Large plants like tomatoes, peppers, and broccoli get 1 per square foot. Medium plants like lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard get 4. Small plants like beets and parsley get 9. Tiny plants like radishes and carrots get 16 per square foot.

Does this work for non-square raised beds?

Yes. Enter any rectangular length and width. The tool calculates the total square footage and applies the SFG spacing formula to give you an accurate plant count.

Can I use meters instead of feet?

Yes. Toggle the unit selector to meters and enter your dimensions. The calculator converts them internally and keeps the bed-area result in square feet because the selected density is expressed as plants per square foot.

What if my plant is not in the list?

Use the custom spacing option at the bottom of the plant list. Enter the per-square-foot plant count from a seed packet or planting guide, and the calculator applies it to your bed dimensions.

Should I leave space around the bed edges?

For most raised beds you plant right to the edges since there is no foot traffic through the bed. The SFG method accounts for this — it is designed for beds you can reach across (typically 4 feet wide maximum).

Raised Bed Plant Count Calculator

Enter your raised bed dimensions, pick a plant, and instantly see how many fit using Square Foot Gardening spacing rules.

Bed & Plant Settings

Unit

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Plant

Enter your bed dimensions and select a plant, then click Calculate Plant Count.

Summary

The Raised Bed Plant Count Calculator uses Square Foot Gardening (SFG) spacing rules to tell you exactly how many plants fit in any raised bed. Select a vegetable or herb from the built-in list, enter your bed length and width, and the tool instantly calculates the plant count with a visual grid layout. SFG groups plants by how many fit per square foot — from 1 large plant (like tomatoes) up to 16 small plants (like radishes) — making it the most space-efficient planting method for raised beds.

How it works

Enter the length and width of your raised bed in feet or meters.
Select a vegetable or herb from the dropdown list.
The tool looks up the Square Foot Gardening spacing for that plant.
It divides the total bed area by the space each plant needs.
The plant count is displayed along with a visual grid.
Switch plants or resize the bed to compare different layouts.

Use cases

Plan a new raised bed before buying transplants or seeds.
Maximize yield in a small garden space.
Compare how many of different vegetables fit in the same bed.
Calculate total plant count for multiple raised beds.
Teach children about Square Foot Gardening with a visual grid.
Avoid overcrowding and poor air circulation in raised beds.
Estimate seed packet quantities needed for a season.
Plan companion planting layouts in limited space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-11 · Reviewed by Nham Vu