All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew (2006, Paperback)

For years we've had the big, row-style garden. Each year borrowing a tiller and setting aside at least a weekend for tilling, planting, etc. We'd string two hoses together to make them long enough to reach the garden (the only spot large enough). With babies and surgeries, we weren't sure it was worth the effort. Then I read about square foot gardening. I read other reviews and really pondered it and figured I wouldn't have anything to lose buying the book. So we purchased the book and it was so easy to read! It was well organized and used "real" language. We decided to follow his advice and start small. We built one 4 x 4 box and mixed soil (we did not follow his exact advice this year regarding three-part mix) and planted. Then there was a late froze, so we had to replant everything except potatoes. But with this style of gardening, it was no big deal!!! I can do it all on my knees. No more back pain, no more blisters from hoeing! The children LOVE it b/c they can see exactly what we have and have learned to identify which plants have what names. I am so glad to have found this book and plan to expand year after year. What a blessing this book as been to us. My friends see it and now want one - they can have a garden even in their small subdivision backyards!

Being new to gardening and studying a lot I went to this book at the recommendation of several gardening blogs. I am thrilled with the visual
instruction. Detailed plans and reasoning for gardening in this method.
Using raised beds instead of row gardening is space efficient, economical
and the highest yield method for least space. My book arrived and then
I attended a gardening symposium the next week-end. I decided to sit on
a 78 year old Master Gardener gentleman's talk on Vegetable Gardening.
He had a 1981 edition of this book with complete instruction of this
method. Anyone can grow vegetables even if they live in a high rise
with a 4X4 balcony.

This is a great book for the large or small gardener. It offers a great way to make the most of small spaces yet it can be applied to larger gardens. The raised bed approach is an extremely efficient way to raise vegetables or flowers. I would recommend this book to anyone who is planning a raised bed garden.

Bought this on recommendation of a relative. As a "black thumb" gardener I am looking forward to success for a change! The plans, ideas and common sense approach to gardening are easy to follow.

After 3 failed year of only 2-3 ft tall weeds as I don't have time to spend in the garden but, like the fresh vegetables and don't like paying the high price of the supermkt prices. I had learned about Square foot gardening when searching for gardening basics.

I fell in love the www.squarefootgardening.com website and wanted a book right away.

Now I am planning my weed free (less weeds anyways) garden by doing it the squearefoot method. I'll even use the square foot grids on the top so that it is attractive and the vegetables in each grid will be of the same kind.
In a 4' x 4' section I can actually plant 16 diferent kinds of vegetables, with a special soil mix that will take less watering and save space & time of weeding.

Check out the site, get the book and enjoy fresh vegetables all year long even in the winter!

Thanks Tammy - NH Zone 5

This book is terrific. Step by step instuctions. Terrific yields from minimum garden space. I like it so much I am buying copies for each of my kids that like to garden.

Mel makes sense explaining how to reinvent gardening. He breaks it down in step by step simplicity. The materials are mostly easy to aquire with the exception of the vermiculite. I cannot wait to get started planting for my fall crops.

I had already started gardening in a similiar raised bed fashion but this book had great ideas about trellis & supports for my vegetables that were very helpful.

I own the original book and on a whim purchased this one to see what was different. This one is a lot more fun to read!

Mel's personality comes through the pages and he is so informative with the method and why he does things the way he does. Instructions are clear and pictures make them easy to follow.

I already have a garden based on the original plans of SFG, but after reading this book I want to dig it up and use his new plans!

There was nothing about this book that I didn't enjoy. It is a delightful read.

This is an amazing book and concept. I built a 4 ft x 6 ft square foot garden and planted it on April 26. 21 days later I was eating lettuce! If you follow Mel's instructions about the soil mix, you will have an amazing garden, too! It really is so easy to maintain and so fun to see all the plants emerging and filling the square foot spaces. I highly recommend this book AND square foot gardening to everyone.

slbaker70

My husband and I wanted to make a small garden, and he heard about square foot gardening on a TV show.
If you would like to have a garden and grow your own fresh organic produce, but have very little space or time to manage it, this is the book for you.
You will learn how to create a garden, make the most of your space and time.
You will also learn how to create a soil mix for growing your veggies with max results, how to fertilize, which plants grow best in small spaces, etc.
It is very complete and thorough. Also, I like the idea it uses raised beds, as they are easy to create, there is virtually no weeding, and easier on the back than gardening in traditional rows on the ground.
A great book, for those who have thought about gardening but have no experience, as well as those who are gardening experts looking for an easier way.
Our garden is doing great, and in a few weeks we look forward to fresh beefsteak tomatoes, grape tomatoes, leaf lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, green beans, green onions, carrots, beets, green bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, sweet banana peppers, pimento peppers, ancho peppers (we love peppers, LoL) and we also plan to plant herbs next year.
Happy planting!

Wonderful advice, has made my best garden EVER! Easy to read, easy steps to follow. This could easily be called "Gardening for Dummies!"

This book is easy to read, informative and interesting. It describes a way to garden using less space than the traditional style of gardening. I borrowed the previous edition from the library, and decided to buy my own. This version is even better than the original. I'm looking forward to using this method for my garden this year. We built the box, and are working on the soil mixture now. This book gives very clear instructions and lots of information on spacing plants, timing and ways to prevent pests from ruining your garden. It was worth purchasing.

I haven't had a chance to try out the gardening method outlined in this book yet, but it really makes me excited to do some gardening as soon as the weather is right for it. Well written and illustrated, this book is a must-read for those who want to garden but are too scared about failing.

I liked the new ideas that the author has tried and suceeded with. I will be trying some of these in the fall and looking forward to megacrops.

This book is an excellent introduction to an interesting gardening technique. Though it reads a little bit like an info-mercial, the author really explains his methods clearly. I look forward to following his advice to the letter and experiencing success in my garden.

It is easy to read, and has helpful photos, charts and money saving hints. We promptly built square foot gardens and are enjoying our harvest after just a few weeks.

Clear instructions and helpful pictures and graphs. Great source of information for square foot gardening.

I checked out this book out of the library first and thought it was a great book. It explains or is written to me how I would like to learn how to garden.

This book is cool. The tips the author gives are great for new and old "farmers" alike. With food prices going through the roof while quality is falling through the floor, its a nice alternative.
I like the idea of "table gardens" so even the elderly or folks with physical limitations can still enjoy the "wonder" of farming. The information will prove useful pretty much forever, so it's a sound investment.

After all, with things going the way they are in the world, we need to learn how to feed ourselves if we can't get or buy food elsewhere!

totally impressed with the square foot gardens. i use raised beds now in colorado. It is the only way to go, since we have clay soil and you can totally change that without a lot of trouble with raised bed gardening. the book gives helpful hints even for people with no building skills for the beds. the only problem i am having at the moment is finding a retailer to purchase the coarse vermiculite.

I love this book! It is very easy to read. I love my square foot garden. Best Gardening book I have read. You don't need a big space to have a square foot garden. Anyone can do it!

Being very new to gardening, this book layed out everything so well, and my garden has been my pride and joy, well, second to my children. If you have just a little space to garden in, this is the book for you. You'll never look at gardening as a drudgery but a joy.