SFG under ground instead of raised?

GWN Sun 20 May 2012 - 8:18

My husband has refused to make any more 4x4s until he has caught up with the irrigation. So I decided to make my own beds by digging down.
I dug down about 7-8 inches, put rocks all around, and then put down shredded paper as a weed block in ground - SFG under ground instead of raised? Dsc_0255

in ground - SFG under ground instead of raised? Dsc_0255

Chewy likes to get in on the action. in ground - SFG under ground instead of raised? Dsc_0256

Shredded paper LOTS of water then stomp it down
in ground - SFG under ground instead of raised? Dsc_0257

Mels mix and lots more water..
in ground - SFG under ground instead of raised? Dsc_0258

and a bamboo stucture to keep chewy out of bed, cucumbers and presto my CUKE bed.....approx 15 square feet by 7 inches deep. in ground - SFG under ground instead of raised? Dsc_0259

in ground - SFG under ground instead of raised? Dsc_0259

cheyannarach Sun 20 May 2012 - 8:26

Haha, that's a great idea when stuck with a stubborn hubby! It's like a mix of original SFG and ANSFG! Looks like you have been working hard!

I love your bamboo stucture!

**camprn** Sun 20 May 2012 - 8:59

Fab, fab FABULOUS! What a Face

jkahn2eb Sun 20 May 2012 - 9:05

Any drainage issues? I have more in the desert as the ground has lots of clay. Curious about you

GWN Sun 20 May 2012 - 9:09

This area has gravel below, I seem to be able to water lots and lots without it puddling, so I guess that means it is good, perhaps I might have to wait awhile to know for sure.
Just did this this week

**sfg4uKim** Sun 20 May 2012 - 9:47

One of my customers did this too only he dug down more than 12" and filled with mix. He's had great success with this and so did I since he bought the mix from me. Very Happy

**llama momma** Sun 20 May 2012 - 10:46

I've got giant pumpkin seed sprouts that I am transplanting into something very similar so when the season is over I could add Mel's mix back into a box that needs topping off. I didn't want to build a box just for giant pumpkin seeds with vines that will leap out of a box very quickly. Just using weed block in the hole to save as much mix as possible. Who knows I may save the hole and MM to use for other sprawling plants next year.

**Turan** Sun 20 May 2012 - 17:16

I would think this would be excellent for drought conditions.
I just made a long heap of the partial compost for the winter squash.
I heard we are supposed to have a frost Wednesday. SO I am waiting till after to plant anything.

I love the trellis and helper Very Happy

GWN Sun 20 May 2012 - 17:28

Perhaps this is just wishful thinking but I am thinking that the shredded paper (which in my compost was the hottest item in there) might also provide some heat as it breaks down.
I am thinking of digging a few more holes and putting straw down at the bottom.
I am thinking that this might be great way to grow the pumpkins as well Llama mom
Turan, I sure hope you do not have frost, we SEEM to be out of the woods here.

My "helper" just dug up one of my artichokes...... in ground - SFG under ground instead of raised? 950477

in ground - SFG under ground instead of raised? 950477

**gwennifer** Sun 20 May 2012 - 23:54

GWN, good job! I have certainly considered putting an SFG in the ground rather than then going up. But then I always balk at the idea of my custom made Mel's Mix mingling with the native soil. I'm oddly protective of that stuff! I keep thinking plant roots will go down past the MM and so when I pull out a plant, it will pull native soil up through the MM and after a couple of seasons it will be all mixed together. I hadn't thought about just lining the pit with landscape fabric though. Hmmmmm...

GWN Mon 21 May 2012 - 19:58

I actually do not see the difference with respects of mixing native soil, VS mels MIX
I am using shredded paper here, but just as easily could have used landscape fabric, both to separate the native soil from my MM.
I have not found landscape fabric to be superior to cardboard, and this is an experiment with a thick layer of shredded paper.
The way I see it, whether I create the barrier at ground level, OR 7 inches down, there still is a barrier between the MM and the native soil.

Triciasgarden Mon 21 May 2012 - 21:50

I have gone down also, but only some. The wood I bought for my frames was only eight inches high and I wanted to make sure I could plant anything in them so I dug down about four inches and laid down fabric weed block. I have been amending my garden soil for about 16 years and I didn't have enough money for just the Mel's mix exactly. My soil was quite good so I mixed my soil, compost, peat moss, well rotted manure and vermiculite together into the beds. In some of the beds they are not a full 12 inches full but as time goes on I have been adding more of everything except soil.

Love your ingenuity digging down and your bamboo protection! I have been trying for two years to get my son to build me two more boxes! He is getting married in August. I should hold our list for invitations ransom until he gets the boxes done for me, right!

givvmistamps Mon 21 May 2012 - 22:34

This is a great idea for areas with good drainage! Folks with clay and/or silty soil wouldn't want to do this, but if you have gravelly and/or sandy soil I think it's an excellent idea. Wish I'd heard this idea earlier; with our sandy soil we could've planted more! What a Face

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