Square foot method confusion

[kabaam]

I have been reading a bit about the square foot gardening and I am bit concerned about over crowding.  Many of the diagrams have mention having 16 garlic in one square foot area.  That doesn't seem like enough room for the bulbs to grow. Same for onions.  Also they mention having tomatoes 1 per square foot.  The last time I tried tomatoes the plant had huge roots.  Some a couple feet long.

I planted a 3' x 3' raised bed a couple weeks ago and it has 1 cuke, 1 tomato, 2 peppers, 15 onions.  According to the square foot method I could easily have doubled this. 

Am I reading this wrong or am I just wasting a whole lotta space?

Thanks,
Chad

[Brian Gallimore]

I wouldn't say you are wasting space, but you could get more plants in the same space if you wanted to. 

On the tomatoes, it is important to know that if you are only going to give them 1 sq ft, you need to be 1) giving them something to grow up on and 2) pruning the crotch suckers regularly -- otherwise they need about 4 to 6 sq ft of space.

The subject of the book 'Gardening when it counts' goes into why he recommends spacing plants out more.  It has to do with root competition and watering needs.  With intensive methods like square foot gardening, I think you are giving up some production, plant health, and have to water more than if you spread them out more.  BUT, you get more plants in the same space, more diversity, and probably more food overall.

[kabaam]

Thanks Brian,

I will keep my garden as is for this go around. Next time I will try one of each style to record the differences.  I'll have to do more reading up on square foot gardens to ensure I do it correctly.

Thanks again,

Chad