square foot gardening

[artist]

Has anyone here tried square foot gardening? Thoughts? suggestions? advice? Seriously considering this for this spring.

[KayLR]

I have...I particularly like the soil mix formula the guy uses. It's very healthy, friable soil.

I had issues with my gardening partner on the construction of the boxes, but all in all, I truly believe the method is a good one. We didn't get real obsessive about the construction of the compartments with the lattice material, but the method produced one of my more successful gardens.

My most successful garden was based on Peter Chan's methods from his book, "Better Vegetable Gardening the Chinese Way."

http://www.amazon.com/Better-Vegetable-Gardens-Chinese-Way/dp/0882663887/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358183393&sr=1-1&keywords=peter+chan

[Float On]

Personally I think his boxes are too short but I forget that other people actually have dirt instead of shelf rock for yards. The raised beds I built are 14" tall and filled to the top with a mix of garden soil, compost, peet moss, and vermiculite. I add more compost every spring and fall.

[Rogar]

I have used my sq ft garden for two years. The first year was good and I was pleased. The second year I tried some new things and it was just so-so. I plan to continue using it and there are things that I think do better in it than a traditional garden. But it just takes some experimentation to see what works best for you climate and sun exposure.

I second the recommendation to go a little deeper than what the book suggests. Mine is 8" deep and I maybe would go 10" if I was doing it again. As the soil settles and the compost decomposes the actual soil depth will be less than when you first start. I also think that the devil is in the detail in using his magic soil mix to get the promised results. In my area, vermiculite is a little hard to find and is not cheap.

There is a online square foot gardening forum that I've looked up a couple of times for some details and it is worth checking out.

[razz]

I used the SFG method for a number of years until the boxes started rotting out. I am going to try intensive gardening a la Jeavons this coming season and will see how it compares.

[Rogar]

I might add that the advantages I see, other than economizing on space, are that there is hardly any weeding and the water retention of the soil mixture reduces the watering frequency. Both are pretty decent things if you don't like puttering in the garden a lot.

Last year I made a plastic tent using PVC and sheets of plastic in order to extend the growing season by making sort of a green house. Materials cost maybe ten bucks for one unit. It didn't quite work out, but I learned a few things to try next time.

I use one end of the square foot for tomatoes and also have tomatoes in my conventional garden. The tomatoes in the square foot garden have done better.

[Gardenarian]

I plant very intensively and find that I have few weeds. I throw in some cosmo and marigolds where there is a little room. I've never followed the square foot plan exactly, but I think the principles are very sound.

I got some large black plastic pots that I'm going to use for tomatoes this year - our maximum sun is along the driveway and I want to take advantage of that.

[creaker]

I have used my sq ft garden for two years. The first year was good and I was pleased. The second year I tried some new things and it was just so-so. I plan to continue using it and there are things that I think do better in it than a traditional garden. But it just takes some experimentation to see what works best for you climate and sun exposure.

I second the recommendation to go a little deeper than what the book suggests. Mine is 8" deep and I maybe would go 10" if I was doing it again. As the soil settles and the compost decomposes the actual soil depth will be less than when you first start. I also think that the devil is in the detail in using his magic soil mix to get the promised results. In my area, vermiculite is a little hard to find and is not cheap.

There is a online square foot gardening forum that I've looked up a couple of times for some details and it is worth checking out.

I've got 3 4x4 frames - I'd definitely recommend going deeper.