Waving from Covington, Louisiana

Greetings to the list!  I purchased and started two raised garden beds last year.  But I knew nothing about Square Foot Gardening!  Probably because I do not own a television - gave it up years ago in favor of online gaming and crafts for recreation.  Prior to this, I had only gardened a little, many years earlier (I'm 60 now).  Long story short, my beds worked well except I did not have the right type of soil in them.  All of my plants grew, but very skinny, very tall, and with teeny tiny fruits/veggies.

Late last summer I picked up the new Square Foot Gardening Book (saw it on a magazine rack at Lowe's or Home Depot) and quickly saw what my problem was last year (wrong dirt, lol). 

I began plotting for this year.... 

I dug out half of the soil so I have 6 inches of dirt space to fill with the right stuff!  I had seen this forum, but hesitated to join it initially.  Today I was browsing the net researching the ingredients in various commercially available composts, as I haven't had enough time to generate enough of my own compost.  I ran across the forum again and decided it was time to jump in all the way and join. 

Looking forward to this year's gardening adventures! 

Welcome Yashila from the Toledo Bend area of Louisiana.

Hello fellow Newbie. This is a friendly place!

Yashila and FRED from South Dakota!

Yashila - I found the ANSFG book in December 2010 while browsing through Menards - I was immediately hooked and have never looked back!

Welcome to the forum Yashila!

Others have done what you have done, taking six inches of soil out. But before you add Mel's Mix, if you haven't already, it would be good to put down weed cloth to prevent the two soils from mixing and kind of diluting your MM. If you don't have some sort of separation, when you dig or harvest, they will definitely get mixed together. Then you will cry (well I would)!

Ask many many questions and have fun reading posts and looking at the pictures!

Triciasgarden wrote:  Welcome to the forum Yashila!

Others have done what you have done, taking six inches of soil out.  But before you add Mel's Mix, if you haven't already, it would be good to put down weed cloth to prevent the two soils from mixing and kind of diluting your MM.  If you don't have some sort of separation, when you dig or harvest, they will definitely get mixed together.  Then you will cry (well I would)!

Ask many many questions and have fun reading posts and looking at the pictures!

That's interesting.  I have weed block down now on top of it, to keep other things from getting into it! 

Welcome to the forum. Just tread carefully cause boxes tend to multiply every year.
And I second the thought about putting weed cloth between the old dirt and mel's mix.

Yashila,  Welcome to the Forum from California! Ditto on the weed cloth.  There are a lot of SFG addicts here!  

Hi Yashila.  Welcome from  Atlanta, GA! 

I was in Covington a couple of years ago.  Nice looking place!  Stopped in at the Café du Monde for beignets & coffee. 

Gotta agree on the weed cloth.  Or a thick layer of newspaper/cardboard...  Or all of the above!

Yashila from The Great White North. (Canada)

Glad you decided to jump in.  I love it here and everyone is so helpful.

Kelejan from British Columbia

Welcome Yashila from Baton Rouge, LA.  Here is a good document from the LSU AG Center for general planting information for our area, "Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide" . I just finished prepping my beds for this year and will hopefully plant after next weekend. Post pictures of your garden and progress when you can.  Good luck!

Ryan

Greetings from St. James  Parish.  down da river from yall.  Gardening is a wonderful hobby can supliment ya grocery bill and is great fun.  Square footing is a wonderful tool to help ya and though I do not follow it to the letter I learn and adapt from it.  Have fun.

Thanks all!

@ NAR56 - eh eh, I already had that Guide saved on my gardening thumb drive.

@ Cajun Cappy - and another one who understands our marvelous environment here!

Yeah, I'm pretty psyched.  This weekend I will be filling my beds, building my grids, building my covers, and also my climbing trellis.  Then on Easter Weekend I'll plant!

Up, up, and away!  Happy Spring!! 

On your favorites list right next to this forum put the LSU ag center.  In your email put Dan Gill's email addy.  These 2 will help ya immensely and yes Dan and his staff answer all emails he really is a nice guy and wonderful resource.  Do not forget your local county agent you pay him with your taxes.  Lastly this is a wonderful article and most feed and seed stores have it printed for ya for free or ya can print it yourself.
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/NR/rdonlyres/46F14CF6-CA36-44E4-95B9-6856552C94EC/100170/pub1980VegetablePlantingGuide2014.pdf

I don't see where to make the LSU Ag Center a favorite.  I don't have anything to the right of the forum.  I looked at my Profile using the links above, and there's a think for favorites, but it's favorite forums.  I'll keep looking.

I met Dan Gil at the Covington Garden Show a couple of years ago I think.

Thanks for the 2014 link.

Welcome from Bossier City, LA!

yashila wrote:I don't see where to make the LSU Ag Center a favorite.  I don't have anything to the right of the forum.  I looked at my Profile using the links above, and there's a think for favorites, but it's favorite forums.  I'll keep looking.

I met Dan Gil at the Covington Garden Show a couple of years ago I think.

Thanks for the 2014 link.

(doh)!  Figured it out.  Wow, I guess it was busier at work today than I thought!  I have the LSU site bookmarked.  Don't have Dan Gil's email.  Have no idea who my local parish agent might be.  But there's time to learn.