Hi from the Banana Belt of Southern Colorado

Just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. I lived north of Denver for most of my life and where I had the good old fashioned square foot garden and I loved it. I moved down here to the the banana belt of southern Colorado about 10 years ago and Ive tried my hand at gardening here with a lot of frustration. I know, I know its all in the soil. and the soil I have to work with here is sand. Ive added leaves and compost but its still sandy. Ive mostly given up and decided on container gardening, mostly because I dont have as much money to shell out for soil amendments and getting older so the heat here (yep those bananas) really affects me. I start most of my plants from seed and now that the days are getting longer am dreaming about getting out there and having a beuatiful garden. I will be looking for Mr. Bartholomew's new book too.

Lilly

Read Mel's book: All New Square Foot Gardening Book if you haven't already done so. It saves a lot of time and other resources.

I would forget amending the soil. Heck, forget the soil altogether and just focus on using Mel's mix. It is the difference between years of frustration and a lot better odds of a really successful growing season.
Raised beds are easier on the back also.

I agree with Dadoo and your previous success. It sounds like you are having some difficulties and you are the one who knows what you are able to do. If you are able, maybe you can make up small batches of Mel's Mix using a small container to measure out one part of each: compost, vermiculite and peat moss. With the compost, you need five different types in your compost mix. Some people cannot get vermiculite and peat moss and they use straight compost. Good luck and let us know how you are doing!