Community Garden Moving in fall Soil

[mschaef]

Not sure how is the best way to "fix" the community garden soil for planting my garden this year. I have a plot in the community which just open a site down the street from my house. They are going to till up the ground and that is it. I'm not how to adjust the soil before starting to grow crops: should I just add compost? or should I add peat moss? or vermiculite? or non of it? I'm going to mark my square with dole rods and string and since I'm the only one doing the square foot gardening method in the community garden I really want it to work. I just can't afford to build the boxes and fill them just to have to leave them in the fall. Thanks for the advice!

[audrey.jeanne.roberts]

If you have room to store the soil in something like trash cans for the next year, I might use landscape cloth stapled to the bottom of a frame with a standard Mel's Mix inside of it placed on top of the ground. When the season is over, you could take your soil and lumber with you.

[mschaef]

I'm moving across the country in the fall and the movers wont move soil so don't want to spend the money on the mel mix just to have to leave it.

[donnainzone5]

How many SFG beds do you have?

Do you have a truck or U-Haul?

You may be able to utilize a previous suggestion and take your beds with you.

[audrey.jeanne.roberts]

I'm moving across the country in the fall and the movers wont move soil so don't want to spend the money on the mel mix just to have to leave it.

Gotcha! Maybe a more experienced gardener will chime in and give you suggestions - I'm afraid I'm a rookie and haven't gardened directly in the ground except for flower gardens. For that I've just mixed heavy amounts of compost dug into the garden and it's been adequate - but so much depends on what the soil is like to start.

[camprn]

Compost and composted manure are your best friends in amending the soil. Look for free or inexpensive stuff on craigslist or freecycle.

Making raised beds could be as simple as placing boards on the lengths of your bed and pounding in retaining stakes. In the fall these stakes can be pulled up and the boards removed.

If you want to set up a new garden in your new place next year, at least you have a head start in that you know the basics of SFG and how to make Mel's mix.

Good luck with your garden and post some photos when you can.

[mschaef]

My husband is being very amendment about not moving the boxes or soil so I'm planning on just using dole rods and string to make my squares in the community garden plot. The house we are moving to has 5-6 4x4 already there so I just need to to deal with the untreated community garden soil this summer. Thanks for the thoughts and advice its greatly appreciated!!!

[WI FarmChick]

Hi mschaef,

Can you just add a bunch of compost right on top of the "garden" area and then just plant in that and don't mix it in. not sure how deep but thinking 6" or so. can you find a whole lot of compost?

[mschaef]

The garden does not officially open until next Saturday but since my boys insisted on going over there yesterday and today just to watch them section off the areas for everyone they said we could start today. My boys and I were excited to go and start getting square sectioned off in our area and get to work. But boy did I not realize how little they did for us. All they did was till up the area: grass, flowers, weeds, and rock included. I think it is going to take us a week just to get it ready to plant. Shesh. I will try to get some picture up so you guys can see. I just need to find the camera...wonder were the boys put it...hhmm.

[mschaef]

My son helping to get the rocks out of our garden plot.


I made my square using dole rods and string. I made 4 "boxes" and just added compost to those sections. Here are pictures of the square marked and planted.


The plants that are planted are: 2 tomatoes, 3 jack be little pumpkins, 1 basil, 2 parsley, 1 thyme, 1 oregano, 6 peppers and 6 different types flowers and lots of marigolds. I have seeds/ starts of 3 sqs. carrots, 2 sq garlic, 3 sq onions, 4 sq. bush green beans, 1 of each of the following: chard, lettuce, radish, parsnips, rainbow chard and kale.

Now my question:
I planted everything on Saturday. The last two nights we have loads of rain as well as all day yesterday. Should I reseed my carrots and other seed? I'm wondering if the rain would have washed them away. Any thoughts?

[mschaef]

I am one happy camper I have converted at least 3 people to give the square foot gardening method a try in the community garden and let me tell you theirs looks so much nicer than mine. Granted I dont have much extra money to spend on wood and mulch and stuff.

[Triciasgarden]

I think sometimes you have to do what you can do and you really don't have any other options! At least you will have some fun growing, harvesting and eating this year and when you get settled next year, you can grow your sfg for real!

[mschaef]

Thanks trica I know that I will one day have my own home and yard to have sfg in but now I will just be content with the community garden. Also the military has changed their mind they will not be moving us in the fall like we had been told.

[Kelejan]

Quote from mschaef. . .
I made my square using dole rods and string. I made 4 "boxes" and just added compost to those sections.
Unquote.

That was a really sensible thing you did there.

And kudos to you for converting three others; great support for each other.

[Triciasgarden]

Thanks trica I know that I will one day have my own home and yard to have sfg in but now I will just be content with the community garden. Also the military has changed their mind they will not be moving us in the fall like we had been told.

That is annoying that they can move you so easily! I hope you garden does well!

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