Square-Foot Plans: Designing a 1 m² Garden with Mustard, Amaranth, and Bok Choy

According to the Square Foot Gardening Foundation, bok choy is treated as a large crop at roughly four plants per square, while similar leafy greens are spaced more densely as baby leaves.Source - squarefootgardening.org Urban Farm Colorado notes that bok choy often does well at four plants per square foot, with mustard at four to nine plants per square depending on harvest size.Source - urbanfarmcolorado.com The Laidback Gardener summarizes that full-size bok choy is usually planted four per square, but baby bok choy can reach nine per square in intensive beds.Source - laidbackgardener.blog

“Square-foot gardening is less about rigid rules and more about understanding the mature size of each plant, then matching spacing to how you plan to harvest it.” – Adapted from guidance by educators with the Square Foot Gardening Foundation.

In one extension of the method, extra-large crops like cabbage or kale are given one plant per square foot, while large crops such as bok choy, corn, or leaf lettuce are set four per square, and small root crops can reach sixteen per square in rich soil.Source - squarefootgardening.org Urban intensive-gardening charts suggest mustard at four to nine plants per square, depending on whether leaves are harvested young or to near full size.Source - urbanfarmcolorado.com A typical square-foot bed divides one square metre into roughly nine to eleven squares, each about thirty centimetres per side.Source - loveofdirt.com.au

Context: tiny space, big harvest

One square metre sounds small, but with smart spacing you may harvest a surprising amount of leafy greens. Square-foot gardening breaks that metre into smaller squares so every plant has a clear place and your bed stays easy to read and maintain.Source - squarefootgardening.org

Mustard, amaranth, and bok choy all respond well to frequent, young-leaf harvests. This style also fits many busy households: you can sow once, then pick salad and stir-fry greens again and again instead of replanting every time.

Planning your 1 m² square-foot bed

A 1 m² bed is slightly larger than a classic three-by-three grid of foot squares, but the logic is the same. Many gardeners in metric climates use nine or sixteen roughly equal squares, each around thirty centimetres across, to match square-foot spacing charts.Source - loveofdirt.com.au

You may plan around your eating habits. If your kitchen uses more mild greens, lean toward bok choy and young amaranth. If you love spice and heat-tolerant leaves, give mustard and amaranth a bit more room.

Step 1 – Choose a grid layout

For one square metre, two practical layouts are:

• 3 × 3 grid – Nine squares, each about thirty-three centimetres. Roomy, easy to reach.
• 4 × 4 grid – Sixteen squares, each about twenty-five centimetres. Slightly tighter but flexible.

For beginners, nine squares often feel calmer and easier to manage. Sixteen squares can suit experienced gardeners or those growing mostly baby-leaf greens.

Step 2 – Assign crops to squares

Square-foot resources group plants by mature size so you can decide how many fit per square. Bok choy is classed as a large crop, often at four per square, while mustard and baby greens can be planted more densely if harvested young.Source - squarefootgardening.orgSource - urbanfarmcolorado.comSource - laidbackgardener.blog

Within a one-metre bed, a balanced plan might be:

• Bok choy: three squares for main heads.
• Mustard: three squares for fast, spicy greens.
• Amaranth: two or three squares for tender leaf harvests.
• One flexible square for succession sowing of whichever crop you enjoy most.

Step 3 – Use practical spacing for each crop

For a small, intensively managed bed, many people start with these approximations and then adjust based on how their climate and soil behave:

• Bok choy (standard): four plants per square, roughly 15 cm apart in a two-by-two pattern.Source - squarefootgardening.orgSource - urbanfarmcolorado.com
• Bok choy (baby types): up to nine plants per square if harvested small.Source - laidbackgardener.blog
• Mustard greens: four to nine per square. Fewer for large leaves, more for baby-leaf cutting.Source - urbanfarmcolorado.com
• Leaf amaranth: similar to baby Asian greens; many gardeners sow a small pinch of seed in short rows or circles, then thin to roughly nine to sixteen plants per square for ongoing leaf harvests.

Because amaranth varies a lot by variety, consider sowing lightly at first, then thinning to the spacing that keeps leaves tender without shading each other out.

Step 4 – Match sun, water, and soil to your plan

These crops all appreciate full sun to light shade and evenly moist soil. A loose, compost-rich mix helps intensive spacing succeed by supporting strong root growth and easy water movement through the bed.Source - squarefootgardening.org

If one edge of your bed is shadier, place amaranth or mustard there and keep the sunniest, most open spots for bok choy, which may be more prone to bolting in heat if stressed by crowding or drought.

Execution guide: sowing, tending, and harvesting

Sowing plan by crop

• Bok choy
  Many gardeners sow two to three seeds per final plant position, then thin to the strongest. For four per square, arrange seeds in a neat two-by-two pattern. Keep soil moist until seedlings establish.
• Mustard greens
  For baby leaves, scatter a small pinch of seed across the square in shallow furrows or a loose grid. For larger plants, place seeds in a two-by-two or three-by-three pattern, then thin to four to nine plants per square as they grow.
• Leaf amaranth
  Sow very thinly: tiny seeds can lead to heavy overcrowding. Draw a few shallow lines within the square or simply sprinkle, cover lightly, and gently firm. Begin thinning early, eating the pulled seedlings as microgreens.

Watering and routine care

Because plants are close together, the bed may dry out faster than a traditional row garden on hot or windy days. A gentle spray or drip system that wets the top few centimetres of soil regularly can help keep growth steady.

Consider:

• Mulching lightly with fine straw or shredded leaves between seedlings once they are a few centimetres tall.
• Checking moisture by hand before watering; the top couple of centimetres may dry while deeper soil is still damp.
• Feeding with light, balanced organic nutrition if leaves begin to pale or growth slows noticeably.

Harvest strategies for continuous yield

Cut-and-come-again harvesting keeps a one-metre bed productive for a long time.

• Bok choy: Either harvest whole plants when heads look full, or cut outer leaves first and allow centres to regrow.
• Mustard: Snip outer leaves frequently while leaving a central cluster to continue growing.
• Amaranth: Pinch off young tips and tender side leaves, which may encourage bushier regrowth.

Over time, plants may become tougher or start to send up flower stalks. At that point, many people remove and replant that square with a fresh sowing.

Tips and common mistakes in a 1 m² bed

Some patterns show up often when people first try intensive plantings.

• Overseeding – Tiny seeds encourage heavy sowing. Try to keep lines thin, then thin early and often.
• Ignoring mature size – A baby bok choy may look lost at first, but remember it can quickly fill its space.
• Uneven watering – In a compact bed, dry pockets can form near edges. Walk the perimeter and check corners too.
• No succession plan – When one square finishes, re-sow quickly to avoid bare soil and lost harvest potential.

As you gain experience, you may gently adjust the number of plants per square to better match your climate, soil, and cooking style.

Conclusion: designing your own micro-plot rhythm

A one-metre plot with mustard, amaranth, and bok choy may become a steady source of stir-fries and salads. Start with a simple grid, follow general spacing guidelines for each crop, then pay close attention to how the plants respond.

The most satisfying gardens usually come from noticing small details: which square dries first, which crop bolts sooner, which corner your family harvests the most. Use that feedback to fine-tune your layout next planting, and this tiny bed may quietly anchor a much larger sustainable-living routine.

FAQ

How many bok choy plants fit in one square foot?

Square-foot spacing guides commonly list bok choy as a large crop at four plants per square. Baby varieties can sometimes reach nine per square if harvested young, but four per square gives more airflow and larger heads.Source - squarefootgardening.orgSource - urbanfarmcolorado.comSource - laidbackgardener.blog

How densely can I plant mustard greens?

Urban square-foot charts suggest four to nine mustard plants per square. At four per square, leaves grow larger and individual plants are easy to harvest. At nine per square, you may focus on young, tender leaves and harvest more frequently.Source - urbanfarmcolorado.com

Is amaranth suitable for square-foot gardening?

Leaf amaranth can fit well into square-foot systems, especially when grown for baby leaves. Sow lightly and thin to roughly nine to sixteen plants per square, adjusting based on variety size and how heavily you harvest.

How do I adapt imperial square-foot spacing to a 1 m² bed?

Many gardeners in metric regions simply divide a one-metre bed into nine or sixteen squares, each near thirty centimetres. They then follow plant-per-square guidelines, adjusting slightly to fit the exact bed dimensions.Source - loveofdirt.com.au

Do I need crop rotation in such a small bed?

Rotation may help reduce disease pressure, especially for brassicas like mustard and bok choy. In a small plot, you can rotate by simply switching which squares hold brassicas, which hold amaranth, and which are left for other families or flowers each planting cycle.