Square Foot Gardening Forum
[table bgcolor=#000000 height=275][tr][td]
Starting SFG in Memphis Toplef10Starting SFG in Memphis 1zd3ho10

Hello Guest!
Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum.
There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.

Starting SFG in Memphis I22gcj10Starting SFG in Memphis 14dhcg10

[/td][/tr][/table]

Join the forum, it's quick and easy

Square Foot Gardening Forum
[table bgcolor=#000000 height=275][tr][td]
Starting SFG in Memphis Toplef10Starting SFG in Memphis 1zd3ho10

Hello Guest!
Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum.
There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.

Starting SFG in Memphis I22gcj10Starting SFG in Memphis 14dhcg10

[/td][/tr][/table]
Square Foot Gardening Forum
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.
Search
 
 

Display results as :
 

 


Rechercher Advanced Search

Latest topics
» Onions. Walk on?
by sanderson Yesterday at 6:02 pm

» Bokashi
by OhioGardener Yesterday at 8:13 am

» New to SFG and in Virgina
by sanderson Yesterday at 1:38 am

» Compost bins: Open vs. closed
by Scorpio Rising 3/27/2024, 10:38 am

» Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
by sanderson 3/26/2024, 5:56 pm

» 6 metal trellis frames
by docachna 3/25/2024, 4:31 pm

» N & C Midwest: March and April 2024
by Scorpio Rising 3/24/2024, 3:01 pm

» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 3/24/2024, 1:28 pm

» Senseless Banter...
by OhioGardener 3/23/2024, 6:02 pm

» Joann's fabric bankruptcy
by neefer 3/23/2024, 12:33 am

» New gardener from Santa Fe NM
by CantersVary 3/22/2024, 7:50 pm

» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by KiwiSFGnewbie 3/22/2024, 5:07 pm

» Heat Mat Temperature Test
by OhioGardener 3/22/2024, 2:09 pm

» Victory Garden Reboot
by Scorpio Rising 3/22/2024, 11:53 am

» Mark's first SFG
by sanderson 3/22/2024, 11:43 am

» Commercial (bagged or bulk) compost question
by Mikesgardn 3/21/2024, 7:09 pm

» Think Spring 2024
by Scorpio Rising 3/20/2024, 10:34 am

» Fire Ring / Round Raised Bed Planter
by sanderson 3/19/2024, 4:51 pm

» Galvanized Fire Ring for Rhubarb Raised Beds?
by OhioGardener 3/18/2024, 10:34 am

» Happy St. Patrick's Day
by Scorpio Rising 3/17/2024, 5:54 pm

» Happy Birthday!!
by Scorpio Rising 3/11/2024, 10:28 am

» What are you eating from your garden today?
by Scorpio Rising 3/10/2024, 8:38 pm

» Why I love Oregano in the garden.
by OhioGardener 3/10/2024, 8:16 am

» Comfrey
by OhioGardener 3/9/2024, 6:07 pm

» Sealing Barrels Flowers Struggling-Need Ideas
by Turan 3/9/2024, 3:09 pm

» Hello again from a slightly different part of Central PA!
by sanderson 3/9/2024, 1:46 pm

» Chicken manure compost
by Oopsiedaisy 3/8/2024, 7:56 pm

» Chinese Broccoli
by sanderson 3/7/2024, 10:28 pm

» Heat Mat Lifespan
by Scorpio Rising 3/7/2024, 9:33 am

» Now is The Time To Take Seed Inventory
by OhioGardener 3/6/2024, 4:36 pm

Google

Search SFG Forum

Starting SFG in Memphis

+2
Kelejan
nosmok
6 posters

Go down

Starting SFG in Memphis Empty Starting SFG in Memphis

Post  nosmok 2/18/2013, 11:42 pm

After being inspired by the gardens at Blackberry Farms outside Knoxville, I decided to finally put in some vegetable gardens. After I designed and built two 4x12x2 boxes I came across SFG, bought and read the book and am anxious to start! I plan to post pictures, but I was hoping for some insight and advice. Since these boxes are so large and deep, would it be ok to fill the first 16 inches with local garden mix (Natures Earth: compost, sand and sifted top soil) and top it off with 6 inches of Mel's Mix. It would be outrageously expensive to use MM for the entire depth. I read a suggestion to fill with sand, but that would be very heavy and would stress the sidewalls over time.
nosmok
nosmok

Male Posts : 55
Join date : 2013-02-18
Age : 66
Location : Memphis, TN

Back to top Go down

Starting SFG in Memphis Empty Re: Starting SFG in Memphis

Post  Kelejan 2/19/2013, 12:32 am

glad you\'re here nosmol happy hi
It is quite acceptable to put a six layer of MM on top of any soil you have in your boxes. Also as the top of your garden will be about 24" it is a nice height for you to work at.
It is a waste of money to completely fill with MM any deep bed. IMO. Better to spread your MM over a larger surface area of six inches deep.
I hope you have a successful first year, but it gets even better the following year as you build on your experience gained.
Read the SFG book and seive through these forums, there is so much information to be gained. Use the search box, ask questions, and eventually you will be able to start answering some yourself.
I found it a lovely feeling the first time I was able to answer someone's question and to know that my answer was right. If my answer is not correct, someone would jump on me I'm sure. Very Happy
Kelejan
Kelejan

Female Posts : 6016
Join date : 2011-04-24
Age : 89
Location : Castlegar, British Columbia

http://www.castlegarinkspot.ca

Back to top Go down

Starting SFG in Memphis Empty Pro mix ??

Post  nosmok 2/19/2013, 11:41 am

Has anyone used pro mix as the basis for Mel's mix? It has vermiculite and peat moss in it. Seems like you could just add compost. Haven't researched if this is cost beneficial yet
nosmok
nosmok

Male Posts : 55
Join date : 2013-02-18
Age : 66
Location : Memphis, TN

Back to top Go down

Starting SFG in Memphis Empty Re: Starting SFG in Memphis

Post  camprn 2/19/2013, 11:43 am

nosmok wrote:Has anyone used pro mix as the basis for Mel's mix? It has vermiculite and peat moss in it. Seems like you could just add compost. Haven't researched if this is cost beneficial yet
I used a similar sterile soilless mix (BM8) when I could not find vermiculite. It worked very well.

____________________________

43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost

There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books



Starting SFG in Memphis WxBanner?bannertype=wu_clean2day_cond&airportcode=KEEN&ForcedCity=Keene&ForcedState=NH&zipcode=03431&language=EN
camprn
camprn

Forum Moderator Certified SFG Teacher

Female Posts : 14169
Join date : 2010-03-06
Age : 61
Location : Keene, NH, USA ~ Zone 5a

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-week

Back to top Go down

Starting SFG in Memphis Empty Re: Starting SFG in Memphis

Post  walshevak 2/19/2013, 12:33 pm

nosmok wrote:Has anyone used pro mix as the basis for Mel's mix? It has vermiculite and peat moss in it. Seems like you could just add compost. Haven't researched if this is cost beneficial yet

What is the ratio of vermiculite to peat moss. If half and half then just compost is fine. If heavy on peat, you will need to also add extra vermiculite. If I remember right, promix is about 75% peat.
Kay

____________________________

A WEED IS A FLOWER GROWING IN THE WRONG PLACE
Elizabeth City, NC
Find more about Weather in Elizabeth City, NC
Click for weather forecast
avatar
walshevak

Certified SFG Instructor

Female Posts : 4374
Join date : 2010-10-17
Age : 81
Location : wilmington, nc zone 8

Back to top Go down

Starting SFG in Memphis Empty Re: Starting SFG in Memphis

Post  victoria 2/19/2013, 4:44 pm

Just a tip I have found from the community gardens we work in - we can't afford to replace the existing soil in the beds . So what we have done is lay the weed mat over the top of the soil we don't want - this keeps the expensive Mel's Mix on top and this helps a ton with weed control too - the soil underneath usually has all sorts of weed seeds in it. University of Tennesse has SFG Beds in their garden along with Certified Instructors - we just taught there in October I believe. Also - we are working with the a man who owns 5 of the ace hardware stores there - he wants to bring in a truckload of MM - sooooo making a few calls may pay off. ( Both Memphis and Knoxville - done that drive - I realize it is a long distance from one to the other but where ever you are - there should be something close )
victoria
victoria

Female Posts : 40
Join date : 2010-04-22
Location : Columbia, SC

Back to top Go down

Starting SFG in Memphis Empty Re: Starting SFG in Memphis

Post  cheyannarach 2/20/2013, 10:01 am

glad you\'re here to the forum!! Glad you are getting started on your new SFG! Keep us posted on your progress!
cheyannarach
cheyannarach

Female Posts : 2037
Join date : 2012-03-21
Location : Custer, SD

Back to top Go down

Starting SFG in Memphis Empty weed mat between MM and soil?

Post  nosmok 3/3/2013, 10:50 am

Each of my raised beds now have 18 inches of a local garden mix (sand, soil and compost). I plan to top off wth 6 inches of MM. There is weed mat and chicken wire beneath the garden mix ( 24 inches from the surface). Is it still advised to place another layer of weed mat directly beneath the MM? I'm tempted to just allow the roots access, to go deeper and nourish from the deeper garden mix. It would help my carrots and onions. Or maybe just lay newspaper that will degrade over time? Not sure if any seeds that may be in the garden mix, will ever see the light of day?
nosmok
nosmok

Male Posts : 55
Join date : 2013-02-18
Age : 66
Location : Memphis, TN

Back to top Go down

Starting SFG in Memphis Empty Re: Starting SFG in Memphis

Post  camprn 3/3/2013, 11:26 am

An excellent question! The news paper is probably all you need, but I personally would not feel the need to do even that. Very Happy

____________________________

43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost

There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books



Starting SFG in Memphis WxBanner?bannertype=wu_clean2day_cond&airportcode=KEEN&ForcedCity=Keene&ForcedState=NH&zipcode=03431&language=EN
camprn
camprn

Forum Moderator Certified SFG Teacher

Female Posts : 14169
Join date : 2010-03-06
Age : 61
Location : Keene, NH, USA ~ Zone 5a

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-week

Back to top Go down

Starting SFG in Memphis Empty Re: Starting SFG in Memphis

Post  Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top


 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum