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Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
+9
Patty from Yorktown
WardinWake
miinva
BackyardBirdGardner
walshevak
sfg4uKim
braim5
camprn
Rhianna78
13 posters
Page 1 of 1
Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
I've just signed up for the forums. I got my own copy of SFG for Christmas (after hinting at it for months after reading the library's copy).
I tried it last year ... um, well sorta. It was late in the season & I didn't have access to everything so I somewhat butchered it (hehe). It was doing fine in July but come August we went home to Texas & there was an earthquake & a flood so my poor little garden died a miserable death.
I've been container gardening for the better part of a decade (comes with the military life I'm afraid) but I think we may finally be settling somewhere for more than 2-3 years. A lot of medicinal herbs, culinary herbs, & flowers. I grew up gardening with my grandfather (who was a trained botanist & chemist) so I think I was well educated in the ways of plants though I'm sure I've forgotten more of what my Pop taught me than I remember.
Going to do a 4x4 this spring with the full deal. The only problem is we flood - A LOT. So I'm curious if anyone else has to deal with tidal & hurricane induced floods. If so, how do you counter the water? With the depth only 6" or so, that can be a good 4' below the flood zone. In a twisted, Mother Nature's favorite joke, kind of way the sunniest, healthiest part of my yard also happens to flood really easily.
I'm also trying to convince the husband to allow me to get a couple chickens but that's an uphill battle.
I tried it last year ... um, well sorta. It was late in the season & I didn't have access to everything so I somewhat butchered it (hehe). It was doing fine in July but come August we went home to Texas & there was an earthquake & a flood so my poor little garden died a miserable death.
I've been container gardening for the better part of a decade (comes with the military life I'm afraid) but I think we may finally be settling somewhere for more than 2-3 years. A lot of medicinal herbs, culinary herbs, & flowers. I grew up gardening with my grandfather (who was a trained botanist & chemist) so I think I was well educated in the ways of plants though I'm sure I've forgotten more of what my Pop taught me than I remember.
Going to do a 4x4 this spring with the full deal. The only problem is we flood - A LOT. So I'm curious if anyone else has to deal with tidal & hurricane induced floods. If so, how do you counter the water? With the depth only 6" or so, that can be a good 4' below the flood zone. In a twisted, Mother Nature's favorite joke, kind of way the sunniest, healthiest part of my yard also happens to flood really easily.
I'm also trying to convince the husband to allow me to get a couple chickens but that's an uphill battle.
Rhianna78- Posts : 45
Join date : 2012-01-08
Location : Poquoson, VA
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
Greetings Rhianna and to the SFG Forum!
43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
You could try building tabletop(s). Here is a link to a thread where Boffer outlines a great way to construct them.
Boffer's thread on building a tabletop
That would definately help prevent them being destroyed by flooding and you could put them anywere. Good luck with your first SFG and welcome to the forum! I am getting all fired up for spring. I only learned of the technique late last summer, so I've experimented some with a fall garden, but it feels like Spring will never get here now!
Boffer's thread on building a tabletop
That would definately help prevent them being destroyed by flooding and you could put them anywere. Good luck with your first SFG and welcome to the forum! I am getting all fired up for spring. I only learned of the technique late last summer, so I've experimented some with a fall garden, but it feels like Spring will never get here now!
braim5- Posts : 49
Join date : 2011-08-21
Location : North Central Arkansas-Zone 7a
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
LOL If/when you do PCS, I'd put your Mel's Mix in storage or in your household goods shipment. Just kidding . . . sort of.
I have seen women looking at jewelry ads with a misty eye and one hand resting on the heart, and I only know what they're feeling because that's how I read the seed catalogs in January - Barbara Kingsolver - Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
sfg4u.com
FB: Square Foot Gardening 4 U
FB: Square Foot Gardening 4 U
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
I'm just a little South of you between the Pasquotank River, the Albemarle Sound and the Little River. And we are hurricane prone too. The edges of my yard flood in a heavy rain, but the soil is sandy and drains rapidly.
I swear by my tabletops because of my knees, but they also would be above any flooding. Made them a little deeper because of the heat and plan a new double depth one for root veggies this spring.
Kay
I swear by my tabletops because of my knees, but they also would be above any flooding. Made them a little deeper because of the heat and plan a new double depth one for root veggies this spring.
Kay
A WEED IS A FLOWER GROWING IN THE WRONG PLACE
Elizabeth City, NC
Click for weather forecast
walshevak
Certified SFG Instructor- Posts : 4374
Join date : 2010-10-17
Age : 81
Location : wilmington, nc zone 8
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
Even though you don't feel like you logged a full season last season, you likely learned a ton from the experience. Now, you are likely more prepared going into this year.
Study his charts in the back about when to plant what and look up your frost date so you can plan. Then, work backwards with how much time you think you will need to build and fill your SFG....keeping in mind the searching it may take to get all 5 sources located. As the book says, don't skimp on the compost. And, if you haven't read this article, do so.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t7451-mel-s-mix-how-strong-is-your-backbone
Welcome aboard!!
Study his charts in the back about when to plant what and look up your frost date so you can plan. Then, work backwards with how much time you think you will need to build and fill your SFG....keeping in mind the searching it may take to get all 5 sources located. As the book says, don't skimp on the compost. And, if you haven't read this article, do so.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t7451-mel-s-mix-how-strong-is-your-backbone
Welcome aboard!!
BackyardBirdGardner- Posts : 2727
Join date : 2010-12-25
Age : 50
Location : St. Louis, MO
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
Thanks for the 2 article links. Lots of info there so I'm sure I'll be referencing them more than a few times. I hadn't thought of the TTSFG so I'll give one of those a try & see what I can get going. Thanks for the welcome as well.
Rhianna78- Posts : 45
Join date : 2012-01-08
Location : Poquoson, VA
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
Rhianna I love your avatar!
43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
Thanks. I actually have a poster of her I got at Pompeii. She's one of my favorites.
Rhianna78- Posts : 45
Join date : 2012-01-08
Location : Poquoson, VA
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
Rhianna:
Welcome. Just to let you know there are a couple of "seasoned" SFGers just north of you. "Patty in Yorktown" and WardinWake. As you might guess, Patty and her family are in Yorktown, VA and Ward and his wife are in Wake, VA (Middlesex County) near the Rappahannock River.
God Bless,
Ward and Mary.
Welcome. Just to let you know there are a couple of "seasoned" SFGers just north of you. "Patty in Yorktown" and WardinWake. As you might guess, Patty and her family are in Yorktown, VA and Ward and his wife are in Wake, VA (Middlesex County) near the Rappahannock River.
God Bless,
Ward and Mary.
WardinWake
Certified SFG Instructor- Posts : 935
Join date : 2010-02-26
Age : 73
Location : Wake, VA
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
Hi,
I am checking in as well. I live a stones throw from you. Our frost free dates are tax day (April 15th), if you want to be safe and April Fools day if you want to risk it. Our first frost in the fall is about Halloween, but warm years it can be Thanksgiving, this years December 21st was not normal. Crops that winter over in the area are onions, garlic, carrots, spinach, and swiss chard. They do not mind being snowed on. A cold frame will winter over lettuce if you are careful. Please feel free to contact me off line for a garden tour or local help. Happy Gardening.
Patty from Yorktown
I am checking in as well. I live a stones throw from you. Our frost free dates are tax day (April 15th), if you want to be safe and April Fools day if you want to risk it. Our first frost in the fall is about Halloween, but warm years it can be Thanksgiving, this years December 21st was not normal. Crops that winter over in the area are onions, garlic, carrots, spinach, and swiss chard. They do not mind being snowed on. A cold frame will winter over lettuce if you are careful. Please feel free to contact me off line for a garden tour or local help. Happy Gardening.
Patty from Yorktown
Patty from Yorktown- Posts : 350
Join date : 2010-03-05
Location : Yorktown, Virginia
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
Hi Rhianna78,
As you can see, we are a friendly bunch around here. Surf around the site but do pls make the Middle South your home . Although we break up the welcoming duties into regions, you can see that lots of people will stop by from all over the country to say hi.
Check out our region here...
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/f9-middle-south
You will find a "sticky" in the sub forum Middle South that has lots of important info for planting dates etc to supplement the great info in Mel's all new SFG book
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t9648-frost-seed-and-regional-planting-dates-vital-info
In answer to your question, I would point you to (like others have) the Table Top version of SFG'ning.
Let me know If we, or I, can help you in any way and let me also extend a warm welcome from a very mild winter thus far in the Mid-south
As you can see, we are a friendly bunch around here. Surf around the site but do pls make the Middle South your home . Although we break up the welcoming duties into regions, you can see that lots of people will stop by from all over the country to say hi.
Check out our region here...
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/f9-middle-south
You will find a "sticky" in the sub forum Middle South that has lots of important info for planting dates etc to supplement the great info in Mel's all new SFG book
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t9648-frost-seed-and-regional-planting-dates-vital-info
In answer to your question, I would point you to (like others have) the Table Top version of SFG'ning.
Let me know If we, or I, can help you in any way and let me also extend a warm welcome from a very mild winter thus far in the Mid-south
staf74- Posts : 554
Join date : 2010-11-24
Age : 49
Location : York, SC
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
Glad to see you staf. I was actually thinking I was somewhere between the middle & high south. Good to know I'm in the middle.
I've actually started sourcing different supplies for my MM. I've also started comparison shopping for the parts to build a (possibly 2) 4x4 bed. I'll be using cinder blocks for the supports under the table at a height a few inches above the highest flood level. Rather plan for the worst & have it not come to pass than hope for the best with no preplanning.
I've actually started sourcing different supplies for my MM. I've also started comparison shopping for the parts to build a (possibly 2) 4x4 bed. I'll be using cinder blocks for the supports under the table at a height a few inches above the highest flood level. Rather plan for the worst & have it not come to pass than hope for the best with no preplanning.
Rhianna78- Posts : 45
Join date : 2012-01-08
Location : Poquoson, VA
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
It looks like, geographically speaking anyway, that you are in the middle south but I would certainly check in both with the upper and lower south forums. With you being on the coast, I'm sure depending on which way the wind is blowing, you might end up in all three of our regions at some point during the growing season.
staf74- Posts : 554
Join date : 2010-11-24
Age : 49
Location : York, SC
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
Welcome, Rhianna,
Nice to "meet" you. I am originally from DC and Northern VA, but have wandered thru Omaha, NE and then on to Oregon's Willamette Vally and Umpqua Valley before settling on the Southern Oregon Coast.
Hope you are able to try out those Table Tops. Your reasons are different from mine as I am not trying to avoid floodwaters, but need to find a way to continue gardening with physical limitations.
If you have not yet had an opportunity to read HOW STRONG IS YOUR BACKBONE? please check it out before you get your composts. This thread discussses how to select and why you need five different sources of compost.
Again, Welcome and please keep us posted on your progress acquiring the ingredients for Mel's Mix and creating your Table Tops.
Nice to "meet" you. I am originally from DC and Northern VA, but have wandered thru Omaha, NE and then on to Oregon's Willamette Vally and Umpqua Valley before settling on the Southern Oregon Coast.
Hope you are able to try out those Table Tops. Your reasons are different from mine as I am not trying to avoid floodwaters, but need to find a way to continue gardening with physical limitations.
If you have not yet had an opportunity to read HOW STRONG IS YOUR BACKBONE? please check it out before you get your composts. This thread discussses how to select and why you need five different sources of compost.
Again, Welcome and please keep us posted on your progress acquiring the ingredients for Mel's Mix and creating your Table Tops.
Furbalsmom- Posts : 3141
Join date : 2010-06-10
Age : 77
Location : Coastal Oregon, Zone 9a, Heat Zone 2 :(
Re: Howdy Y'all from SE VA!
You might be interested in this thread with posts from Nancy & Miss M for experiences with planting in flood prone areas. It's is a long thread but well worth reading thru.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t929-don-t-laugh
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t929-don-t-laugh
Lindacol- Posts : 777
Join date : 2011-01-23
Location : Bloomington, CA
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