Where to Start with Mel Bartholomew
Mel Bartholomew (1931-2016) was an American author, TV presenter, and retired civil engineer who revolutionized home gardening with his Square Foot Gardening method. After retiring from engineering, he took up gardening and quickly grew frustrated with the inefficiency of traditional row planting. He developed a grid-based system using raised beds filled with a custom soil mix that eliminated most of the guesswork and wasted space in conventional gardens. His first book, Square Foot Gardening (1981), became one of the bestselling gardening books in North America, eventually selling over 2.5 million copies across multiple editions. He hosted a PBS television series of the same name and founded the Square Foot Gardening Foundation to promote his methods worldwide, including in developing countries where efficient food production in small spaces can make a real difference.
Start here
All New Square Foot Gardening
Mel Bartholomew · 272 pages · 2018 · Easy
Themes: small-space gardening, raised beds, grid planting, beginner-friendly
Mel Bartholomew’s Square Foot Gardening method has sold over 2.5 million copies since the original 1981 edition, and for good reason: it reduces vegetable gardening to three steps anyone can follow. Build a raised box (typically 4x4 feet), fill it with “Mel’s Mix” (a blend of compost, peat moss, and vermiculite), and lay a grid on top that divides the space into one-foot squares. Each square gets a specific number of plants based on their spacing needs.
Why Start Here
The Square Foot Gardening approach eliminates most of the decisions that overwhelm new gardeners. You do not need to test your existing soil, plan row spacing, or figure out how much to water. The raised bed and custom soil mix handle drainage, fertility, and weed suppression in one setup. The grid system makes planting intuitive: one tomato per square, four lettuce heads per square, sixteen radishes per square.
This third edition updates the method with new projects, vertical gardening ideas, and advice for growing in containers and non-traditional spaces like patios and rooftops. It is particularly strong for gardeners with limited yard space or poor native soil who want reliable results without a steep learning curve.
What to Expect
A 272-page guide with step-by-step photos, planting charts for 42 common vegetables, and project plans for building raised beds and trellises. The tone is practical and encouraging. Bartholomew writes for people who have never gardened before and want a system they can set up in a weekend.