hello from the garlic capitol of the world!

Hello all. I Just moved to Gilroy, Ca (garlic capitol of the world). I moved from a big city apt. to a nice big place out in the country. I am now surrounded by orchards and farm with the constant, sometimes overbearing sent of garlic in the air. I am a begginer at gardening and now that I have some open space I want to try out my green thumb! A friend told me about the square foot method and a quick search on the web leed me here! Great site! the first problem I have found is the soil here. It is HARD packed clay! any suggestions on how to loosen it up a bit? Talk you yall soon!!!

That's the beauty of SFG, you don't have to worry about your native soil, you just follow Mel's recipe from the book! I was lazy as heck about my gardens this year and I still managed to get some beans and peppers, not to mention a handful of tomatillos

I am defenitly going to use Mels plan for the beds. But i would also like to plant some fruit trees around the yard.

I just KNEW you had to be in Gilroy as soon as I read the thread title! When I lived out in CA I always wanted to go to the Gilroy Garlic Festival sometime but just never made it. Now that I am 2000 miles away...................

GG

screech wrote:I am defenitly going to use Mels plan for the beds. But i would also like to plant some fruit trees around the yard.

I live in the Uk slightly different but also a similar problem was overcome by my father .
When I was child many many moons ago I lived in an area where we had very deep clays that had all nutrients but little or no water .

My dad used a pickaxe and shovel to make his fruit tree planting holes some five feet deep and seven feet round ,then backfilled the holes with a mix of well composted manures & veg waste , sharp sand ( coarse grit ) and some of the clay he'd removed . He then dug out a tree planting hole and trod the trees into them , staked the trees & added an 18 inch clay pipe to be just proud of the finished soil level ( for deep watering ).
He then back filled the hole then placed an old thick weighted at the corners hessian corn bags around the tree to keep the moisture in .

He called this idea his " Pit Pots "

We had fantastic plums and apples for years. He dressed the area around each tree in the autumn with a similar composted mix to a depth of 3 inches.

GAWD, now I want artichokes! Welcome to the SFG Forum! First thing about SFG is the box, second thing is the grid, third and probably most important is you don't use dirt but instead plant your seeds in Mel's Mix; get a hold of a copy of the 2006 book, it will answer so many questions!

Goosegirl wrote:
I just KNEW you had to be in Gilroy as soon as I read the thread title! When I lived out in CA I always wanted to go to the Gilroy Garlic Festival sometime but just never made it. Now that I am 2000 miles away...................

GG

Like you, GG, I also knew as soon as I read the title that it was Gilroy as we had passed through there in the '80s on our way to Pasadena to vist relatives. At that time they had just had the Garlic Festival so the place was pretty quiet. We had a great meal in a family style restaurant that served only one choice, take it or leave it. But just about every local person was there and the meal was delicious, and very inexpensive. Just real home cooking and the people were very friendly. I drew the line at garlic icecream.

Anyway, screech, and do please use Mel's Mix, you will never regret it.

Welcome aboard screech. You have good friends suggesting the Square Foot Garden method! Now pick up the book and you will be on your way

Ill pick up the book tomorrow and start putting things together! I am loving it out here in gilroy. I found a mushroom farm out here that gives organic mushroom compost to resedents and im planning to grab a few truckloads and till it in to entire property. I hope it loosens up the clay so maby next year i can make the area around my SFG pretty!

Lucky you to able to the mushroom compost screcch. But please be aware not to overload your compost by using too much of one ingredient.

There are several good threads about composting here so take the time to read up on them and ask questions. You will get tons of knowledgeable answers.

thanks for all the help! im looking foward to giving SFG a try1 ill keep yall posted!

screech wrote:Ill pick up the book tomorrow and start putting things together! I am loving it out here in gilroy. I found a mushroom farm out here that gives organic mushroom compost to resedents and im planning to grab a few truckloads and till it in to entire property. I hope it loosens up the clay so maby next year i can make the area around my SFG pretty!

I have a cousin that used to have a mushroom farm in Morgan Hill, just up the road from you! Not sure if he and the family are still running it, as our family tends to get together and catch up about once every 20 years - so not due for an update for at least another 2 or 3 years!

My local fabulous nursery told me they only use mushroom compost a few years ago, and now I know why. Ours comes from near Canada, and I've never had such sweet vegetables, or so many healthy ones. Roses, perennials, annuals, and bushes, too.
I have the opposite situation, with all sand and gravel, but it provides wonderful tilth. Sweetest berries ever, too. You'll love it!
Make sure it isn't stinky, but earthy smelling before you plant in it. That indicates that it's 'done.'
j

Re: the trees. You could use a version of SFG for them too. A 4X4 higher (1 foot or more) raised structure (say pretty brick, stucco or other attractive wall material) and fill with Mel's Mix. In time, and with worm activity, enough water, and good microbes, by the time the tree works its way into the native part of the soil it should be mellowed somewhat. The raised beds would also allow for more focused watering thus making your watering more efficient.

Although it sounds like you have a lot of space, there is a 'movement' or scheme called Backyard Orchard that recommends keeping trees pruned small so that a person who is caring for trees themselves in a small space with just personal needs to meet can successfully have a large variety in a small space. They might have some good ideas.

screech

We are glad to have you join us and look forward to hearing about your progress with your SFG. You will find following the ALL NEW SQUARE FOOT GARDENING method will make your gardening easier, and very productive. Enjoy!

I found this guy next to my back fence. Its a christmas cactus that just bloomed. I took the picture just after a light rain. Best looking flower ive ever seen! I love my new place!

Absolutely beautiful, screech! Lucky you!