Square Foot Gardening Forum
[table bgcolor=#000000 height=275][tr][td]
Hello from Richmond Toplef10Hello from Richmond 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.

Hello from Richmond I22gcj10Hello from Richmond 14dhcg10

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

Join the forum, it's quick and easy

Square Foot Gardening Forum
[table bgcolor=#000000 height=275][tr][td]
Hello from Richmond Toplef10Hello from Richmond 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.

Hello from Richmond I22gcj10Hello from Richmond 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 OhioGardener Today at 9:25 am

» Bokashi
by OhioGardener Today at 8:13 am

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

» Compost bins: Open vs. closed
by Scorpio Rising Yesterday at 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

Hello from Richmond

5 posters

Go down

Hello from Richmond Empty Hello from Richmond

Post  maryasoroka 3/27/2017, 12:20 pm

Hi There Everyone!  

My name is Mary Soroka and I'm in Richmond, VA.  New to the Forum and new to Square Foot Gardening.  My Stepmom has the book and I started flipping through it the other day.  Super excited to really dig in and learn all the ins and outs.  I'd like to try it on my 6'x25' raised bed this year.  

My first garden was last year and we had huge success with it.  Moved into a new home and the previous owners had GREAT soil.  I didn't do anything to it.  I just stuck stuff in the ground and it grew BEAUTIFULLY!  I had no plan/rhyme or reason to the layout though, other than a little advice from a family member.  

I'm concerned that I stripped the soil of all it's nutrients last year and I don't know how to replenish it so that I have a great crop this year.  I read up on Mels Mix but that seems reserved more for a brand new bed.  I'm not sure what I should concentrate on adding to the soil that is already there.  Should I do a blend of different composts?  Should I add some peat moss to mix in as well?  I'm just not sure.  Anyway, happy to be here and learn.  Thanks!

Mary Soroka
maryasoroka
maryasoroka

Female Posts : 1
Join date : 2017-03-27
Location : Richmond, VA

Back to top Go down

Hello from Richmond Empty Re: Hello from Richmond

Post  yolos 3/27/2017, 8:33 pm

Definitely do the blended compost.  Neither peat moss nor vermiculite adds any nutritional value.  They help with water retention and structure of the soil.  Some of my beds started out with just soil.  The first year I added lots of compost and then added a little peat and vermiculite each year until I was satisfied with the structure of the soil.  Most of my beds are Mel's Mix but a few are soil with added compost, vermiculite and sometimes peat moss.
yolos
yolos

Female Posts : 4152
Join date : 2011-11-20
Age : 74
Location : Brooks, Ga Zone 7B/8A

Back to top Go down

Hello from Richmond Empty Re: Hello from Richmond

Post  sanderson 3/28/2017, 3:36 am

yolos wrote:Definitely do the blended compost.  Neither peat moss nor vermiculite adds any nutritional value.  They help with water retention and structure of the soil.
At least 2" of blended composts (not soil amendments).

Here is just a crazy idea. Use cheap 2" x 4" studs to frame in the planting areas. That would make them 3 1/2" tall, too short for real SFG boxes but would do the trick for you. If you are happy with the existing soil, and don't want to go full SFG, just add 2" of blended compost in the boxes. For mulch, you can top with chopped bedding straw to keep the roots cool in the summer and reduce surface evaporation. Why boxes? They will be where you plant and never walk, never trampling on the microorganisms and their little underground cities, the worms and other never-seen critters that are so important to feeding the plants. The isles become the areas you can tromp around on with your wheel barrow full of blended compost. Make the isles 3' for your comfort. Cover the isles with cardboard and bedding straw for weed-free isles. The most recent book is All New Square Foot Gardening where dirt is NOT used. But, there are great ideas in the book that you can incorporate.

____________________________

Find more about Weather in Fresno, CA
Click for weather forecast
sanderson
sanderson

Forum Administrator

Female Posts : 21495
Join date : 2013-04-21
Age : 75
Location : Fresno CA Zone 8-9

https://connect.xfinity.com/appsuite/#!!&app=io.ox/mail&

Back to top Go down

Hello from Richmond Empty Re: Hello from Richmond

Post  AtlantaMarie 3/29/2017, 6:25 am

Hi Mary. Welcome from Atlanta, GA. Glad you found us!

Both Yolos & Sanderson have some great ideas there.
AtlantaMarie
AtlantaMarie

Certified SFG Instructor

Female Posts : 5600
Join date : 2014-03-18
Age : 60
Location : Buford, GA - Zones 7B/8A

http://www.defensivespecialties.com

Back to top Go down

Hello from Richmond Empty Re: Hello from Richmond

Post  BeetlesPerSqFt 3/30/2017, 6:45 pm

Hi Mary, Welcome to the forum!

I agree with Yolos - add some blended compost. Just mix it into the top 1/2" to top few inches - if your soil structure is good, you don't need/want to mess with it by digging. Peat moss doesn't really contain any nutrition, so if your soil worked last year, and you are only worried about replacing some of the nutrients, peat moss isn't needed.

I did something similar to what Sanderson suggests for the parts of my garden that aren't raised beds - but I used 1"x2" pieces to frame and yarn + nails to grid. They aren't holding up well but they did what I needed. I used 1"x4" pieces for another section, this worked better. I love the grids of SFG because I love to plan, and I like to be efficient as possible with making use of my limited garden space.
BeetlesPerSqFt
BeetlesPerSqFt

Female Posts : 1440
Join date : 2016-04-11
Location : Centre Hall, PA Zone 5b/6a LF:5/11-FF:10/10

Back to top Go down

Hello from Richmond Empty Re: Hello from Richmond

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