Square Foot Gardening vs. Row Gardening: Which Grows More?

Walk past a dozen vegetable gardens and you will see two very different philosophies.

The two methods in brief

In a row garden, crops are planted in single lines with a path between each row.

Which grows more food per square foot?

This is where the debate usually starts, so it is worth doing the math properly.

Cost to set up

Here the advantage swings firmly toward rows.

Work and maintenance

Square foot beds generally need less weeding.

Where row gardening wins

If you want a hundred feet of potatoes, a big block of sweet corn or enough beans to can, rows are simpler and cheaper.

Where square foot gardening wins

Yards, patios and side gardens where every square foot counts.