Hello from Caldwell, Idaho

Hi, I am Kathryn and just starting my Square Foot Garden endeavor.  We have a large garden area in the front yard but I am disabled and unable to go in that garden area.  I have a 4' x 8' planter that I may expand to 4' x 12' in my backyard.  It is probably all that I am able to do at this time.  I am unable to buy Mels Mix due to cost.  I really wish that I could though.  Mel suggested that I get a bale of Peat Moss and 1 Cubic Yard of compost.  Much more doable at this time.  So, that is probably what I will do for now.  Next year I should be able to buy some of the Mels Mix  and will be so happy.  The Vermiculite is just so expensive!  I will be growing a lot of Bell Peppers, Leaf Lettuce, Greens, Onions, Herbs, Ginger Root, Flowers,Snow Peas, Green Beans, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Spinach, Cabbage, Kiwi, Jalapeno, and summer squash/Cucumbers, and Kale, Collard Greens, Beets, Radishes and, other misc. items.  I have a hanging Strawberry planter as well.  I am going to be busy.  I sure am looking forward to this and even though it is not all put together yet I am very excited to be embarking on this SQ.FT. Garden adventure.

               
Katmarcol

So glad you joined the forum.

I am very excited to get it all going.  This forum will be a great help  

katmarcol

Katmarcol wrote:I am very excited to get it all going.  This forum will be a great help  

katmarcol

to our World, Katmarcol From Next-door Canada.
I am Kelejan from British Columbia.

You might try making a TT, which in our  version of English stand for Table Top SFG.
Many of us have them and it is great for disabled and older people.  I know eventually I will turn some of my ground beds into Table Tops as the ground bed wood decays over time.
You would have a jump on me as you will be starting from scratch.

Anyway, ask as many questions as you want, and  enjoy our World.

Welcome to a wonderful, informative, friendly forum.  May you have lots of fun with your garden.

Katmarcol, Welcome to the Forum from California! Glad you were able to get help from Mel.

Vermiculite is expensive. For my first box I used cheaper perlite instead of vermiculite. It did tend to float to the surface when I watered, but when I amended the mix for the next crop it was blended back in.

Hi Katmarcol.  Welcome from Atlanta, GA!  Glad you've joined us.

+1 on Kelejan's suggestion for using a TT.  Wish I had raised mine a bit.  But it's all a learning process.  Thankfully it's mostly a fun one too...!

Thanks to your suggestion about TT.  Mine is on the ground at the moment. I should get the one table that we have for outdoors and put one of them on it (It can be either two 4' x 4' or one 4' x 8' (but I had thought that I could easily expand it to a 4' x 12').  That would be so much easier! 

katmarcol

Welcome Katmarcol from Montana!  Gardening is for sure in the air with this early spring.  I keep expecting a true winter storm to hit, just as soon as I plant peas (planned for this Friday).

When you mix your cubic yard of compost and bale of peat moss get a feel for if it wants to be too compact.  The looseness to make easy working is pretty nice and puts away shovels, that is what vermiculite or perlite gives you.  But they are expensive so I use a lesser amount of sand.  The sand is too heavy for table tops but does fine on the ground.  The compost will be the most important part of your mix so try to get as good as possible, no forest products unless you cut out the peat.  If you find that the mix is not as rich as the plants need do not be ashamed to scratch in some Garden Tone organic fertilizers top dress with rich composts or even spray with Miracle Gro.  It is an ongoing process that can take more than a few years to reach.  The bagged Mels Mix is still unproven, it has had poor compost problems in the past, hopefully Mel is working that out.  BUt starting your own composting is a big help.

I find 4 x 8 beds too wide to easily reach into, especially if I have a trellis along one long edge.  So most of my beds are 3x 8.  In our arid climate watering is a real neccessity and hand watering is not enough.  I use soaker hoses and an over head sprinkler all on an automatic timer.  Maybe this is hte year I will get every thing into soaker hoses.  Lots of mulching is a huge help too.  I use grass clippings mostly.  As they lay on top of the mix they slow evaporation and keep the mix cool and as they slowly decompose they feed the soil and plants.

Again Welcome!  Let us know how it goes and ask any questions.

Kat,  A 4' x 4' box weighs quite a bit, probably more so for you without any perlite or vermiculite.  Please keep that in mind when you consider using the table.  Here is a 2' x 8' and a 2 1/2' x 4' that my husband made into table tops.

Welcome to the forum Katmarcol!