Yes. JoeBees is completely free to use, with no account required. Plan a raised bed, ask the AI gardening tutor questions, and print a take-outside sheet at no cost.

How big should my raised garden bed be?

A 4×8 foot raised bed is the most popular starter size. It gives you 32 square feet — enough for a varied salad, herb, and tomato mix — while staying narrow enough to reach the center from either side without stepping into the bed and compacting the soil.

What is square-foot gardening?

Square-foot gardening, popularized by Mel Bartholomew, divides a raised bed into 12-inch squares and assigns each square a set number of plants based on their mature size. JoeBees uses this method to maximize yield per square foot while preventing crowding and root competition.

Does JoeBees support companion planting?

Yes. JoeBees flags antagonistic pairings placed too close together and groups proven companions automatically. The AI layout tool also accounts for spacing, sun exposure, and your USDA hardiness zone.

Square Foot Gardening

Square Foot Gardening (SFG) divides a raised bed into a grid of 12-inch cells. Each cell holds a fixed number of plants based on the plant's mature spacing requirement. This eliminates row spacing, wastes no soil, and makes crop rotation straightforward.

The spacing formula

Plants per cell (for plants with spacing ≤12 in.):

plants_per_cell = floor(12 ÷ spacing_inches)²

Multi-cell footprint (for plants with spacing >12 in.):

footprint_cells = ceil(spacing_inches ÷ 12) per side

Source: Bartholomew, Mel. All New Square Foot Gardening, 3rd ed. Cool Springs Press. The JoeBees planner enforces these constraints — no two plants may overlap footprints.

Vegetables

Plant	Spacing	SFG
🌱Scallion	2 in.	36 per cell
🥕Carrot	3 in.	16 per cell
🔴Radish	3 in.	16 per cell
🥬Mâche	3 in.	16 per cell
🧅Onion	4 in.	9 per cell
🫘Bush Bean	4 in.	9 per cell
🥬Arugula	4 in.	9 per cell
🟣Beet	4 in.	9 per cell
🫒Turnip	4 in.	9 per cell
🧅Shallot	4 in.	9 per cell
🫘Wax Bean	4 in.	9 per cell
🫘Dry/Shell Bean	4 in.	9 per cell
🥬Spinach	6 in.	4 per cell
🫛Pea	6 in.	4 per cell
🥬Swiss Chard	6 in.	4 per cell
🧄Garlic	6 in.	4 per cell
🧅Leek	6 in.	4 per cell
🥬Bok Choy	6 in.	4 per cell
🥬Mustard Greens	6 in.	4 per cell
🥕Parsnip	6 in.	4 per cell
🫛Edamame	6 in.	4 per cell
🫘Lima Bean	6 in.	4 per cell
🫘Fava Bean	6 in.	4 per cell
🥬Mizuna	6 in.	4 per cell
🥬Tatsoi	6 in.	4 per cell
🥦Broccoli Rabe	6 in.	4 per cell
🫘Cowpea	6 in.	4 per cell
🟤Rutabaga	6 in.	4 per cell
🫛Snow Pea	6 in.	4 per cell
🫘Pole Bean	6 in.	4 per cell
🌱Daikon Radish	6 in.	4 per cell
🫛Sugar Snap Pea	6 in.	4 per cell
🥬Lettuce	8 in.	4 per cell
🥬Celery	8 in.	4 per cell
🌽Corn	12 in.	1 per cell
🥔Potato	12 in.	1 per cell
🥬Kohlrabi	12 in.	1 per cell
🍠Sweet Potato	12 in.	1 per cell
🥬Napa Cabbage	12 in.	1 per cell
🥬Sorrel	12 in.	1 per cell
🥬Endive	12 in.	1 per cell
🟣Radicchio	12 in.	1 per cell
🌿Florence Fennel	12 in.	1 per cell
🥔Celeriac	12 in.	1 per cell
🌶️Pepper	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🥒Cucumber	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🥦Brassica (general)	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🥬Kale	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🍆Eggplant	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🫑Okra	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🥦Cauliflower	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🥦Brussels Sprouts	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🥬Collards	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🫛Asparagus	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🥦Broccoli	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🥬Cabbage	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🥦Romanesco	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌱Horseradish	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌻Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke)	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🍅Tomato	24 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🥒Zucchini	24 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🟢Tomatillo	24 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🎃Squash	36 in.	3×3 cell footprint
🎃Winter Squash	36 in.	3×3 cell footprint
🌱Rhubarb	36 in.	3×3 cell footprint
🎃Pumpkin	36 in.	3×3 cell footprint
🥦Globe Artichoke	48 in.	4×4 cell footprint

Fruits

Plant	Spacing	SFG
🍓Strawberry	12 in.	1 per cell
🍒Raspberry	24 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🍊Ground Cherry	24 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🍈Cantaloupe	36 in.	3×3 cell footprint
🍉Watermelon	36 in.	3×3 cell footprint
🫐Blackberry	36 in.	3×3 cell footprint
🫐Blueberry	48 in.	4×4 cell footprint
🍒Currant	48 in.	4×4 cell footprint
🫐Gooseberry	48 in.	4×4 cell footprint
🍇Grape	72 in.	6×6 cell footprint

Herbs

Plant	Spacing	SFG
🌿Cilantro	6 in.	4 per cell
🌱Chives	6 in.	4 per cell
🌼Chamomile	6 in.	4 per cell
🌿Chervil	6 in.	4 per cell
🌱Parsley	8 in.	4 per cell
🌾Dill	9 in.	1 per cell
🌼Calendula	9 in.	1 per cell
🌿Basil	12 in.	1 per cell
🌿Thyme	12 in.	1 per cell
🌿Oregano	12 in.	1 per cell
🍃Mint	12 in.	1 per cell
🌾Fennel	12 in.	1 per cell
🌿Marjoram	12 in.	1 per cell
🌿Summer Savory	12 in.	1 per cell
🌿Winter Savory	12 in.	1 per cell
🌸Hyssop	12 in.	1 per cell
🟡Turmeric	12 in.	1 per cell
🌿Ginger	12 in.	1 per cell
🌿Sage	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🪻Lavender	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🍃Tarragon	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🍃Lemon Balm	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌿Borage	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🍬Stevia	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🐱Catnip	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🪷Echinacea	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌺Bee Balm	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌿Rosemary	24 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌿Lemongrass	24 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌿Lemon Verbena	24 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌱Lovage	24 in.	2×2 cell footprint

Flowers

Plant	Spacing	SFG
🌸Sweet Alyssum	4 in.	9 per cell
🌸Bachelor's Button	6 in.	4 per cell
🌸Pansy	6 in.	4 per cell
🌸Sweet Pea	6 in.	4 per cell
🌸Morning Glory	6 in.	4 per cell
🌺Poppy	6 in.	4 per cell
💙Lobelia	6 in.	4 per cell
💙Larkspur	6 in.	4 per cell
🌸Portulaca	6 in.	4 per cell
🌼Marigold	9 in.	1 per cell
🌸Zinnia	9 in.	1 per cell
🌷Snapdragon	9 in.	1 per cell
🌸Dianthus	9 in.	1 per cell
🌸Impatiens	10 in.	1 per cell
🌸Begonia	10 in.	1 per cell
🌺Nasturtium	12 in.	1 per cell
🌸Cosmos	12 in.	1 per cell
🌸Petunia	12 in.	1 per cell
🌺Geranium	12 in.	1 per cell
🌼Black-Eyed Susan	12 in.	1 per cell
🌷Foxglove	12 in.	1 per cell
🌸Columbine	12 in.	1 per cell
🌺Celosia	12 in.	1 per cell
🌸Verbena	12 in.	1 per cell
🌸Nicotiana	12 in.	1 per cell
🌸Annual Vinca	12 in.	1 per cell
🌻Sunflower	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
💙Salvia	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
💙Catmint	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌼Yarrow	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌸Phlox	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
💙Delphinium	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌸Cleome	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌺Hollyhock	18 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌸Dahlia	24 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌺Daylily	24 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌿Hosta	24 in.	2×2 cell footprint
🌸Peony	36 in.	3×3 cell footprint

Cover Crops

Plant	Spacing	SFG
🌾Winter Rye	2 in.	36 per cell
🌾Oats	2 in.	36 per cell
🌾Buckwheat	3 in.	16 per cell
🌱White Clover	3 in.	16 per cell
🌱Crimson Clover	4 in.	9 per cell
🌱Hairy Vetch	4 in.	9 per cell
🌱Austrian Winter Pea	4 in.	9 per cell

Grid setup

Mark the grid: Stretch twine or use wood lath across the bed top at 12-inch intervals in both directions. Remove after the season to simplify harvest.
One crop type per cell: Never split a single cell between two plant types — it defeats the spacing calculation.
Succession plant: Because each cell is isolated, you can replant a harvested cell immediately without disturbing neighbors.
Multi-cell plants: Tomatoes, squash, and corn occupy multiple cells. Mark all cells as occupied on your plan before planting anything else.

Sources

Bartholomew, Mel. All New Square Foot Gardening, 3rd ed. Cool Springs Press.
Old Farmer's Almanac — per-plant spacing data. almanac.com/plant

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