New to SFG

Brenda 2/25/2012, 11:38 am

Just want to say hello! My dad is an awesome gardener complete with tractor and 3 acres. Not me! But I'm eager to learn a new way to grow and have fun without being overwhelmed as in the past. Can't wait!

**walshevak** 2/25/2012, 12:01 pm

You picked the right method. Get and follow the instructions in THE ALL NEW SQUAREFOOT GARDENING book and you will will on your way to an easier and productive garden.

Kay

rrsmith60 2/25/2012, 3:22 pm

Welcome Brenda,

SFG is addictive in a good way.

May advice (as well as that of Kay) is to make it simple in the beginning and grow easy stuff to start with.

Have fun..
Ron

plantoid 2/25/2012, 5:27 pm

hi brenda,

Welcome hope you really get this All New Square Foot gardening bug .

Your dad will think you are stark raving bonkers over some of the things you'll be using & learning to do by the guidance of book & a few guys 'N' gals here on site

But the last laugh will be yours when you are in your third year & you show him better & bigger crops out of you square foot beds.

Without being pushy etc. etc.

What every you do , follow the making of MM to the letter in the 2006 edition of the book , do the same with making your replenishment compost ... that way you'll have success right from the start .

If you have so much as a doubt on whether a commercially available bagged product etc. is good for your Mel's Mix in the inital bed setting up , ask here on site to save yourself wasted money, time and effort by getting it correct first time.

**sfg4uKim** 2/25/2012, 5:42 pm

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

rrsmith60 2/25/2012, 6:14 pm

Brenda,

Plantiod is "dead on" regarding making your soil per Mel's SFG book. One can loose a whole growing season, ending in frustration if you don't. I've tried both ways and now there's only one way, the MEL'S MIX way...

You may think, I'm just going to use one kind of composted/manure and not use five, use five. You’ve gotta use the vermiculite. It's out there, don't go to Lowe's or Home Depot, go to your local commercial seed supplier (maybe your Dad can help there) and ask them if they have it or if they know where to get it. If they don't have it, check your nursery and see if they will sell it. You can also check with your local custom pool (concrete) builders as they also use Vermiculite.

Good luck.....

**walshevak** 2/25/2012, 8:57 pm

Also search the vermiculite database located on the homepage of the forum.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkxGrCEb40U2dExrM09fbk9zWnE4cC1Gb2oyamVOMVE&hl=en#gid=0

If you are able, start your own compost pile ASAP. If not consider starting a worm bin for worm castings to augment commercial composts. The book talks a lot about composting and there are several threads on the forum about worm bins.

Once established, a square foot garden is super easy to maintain.

Kay

Brenda 3/2/2012, 4:36 pm

Thanks everyone for making me feel so welcome on this site.

I finished my first 4 x 4 box, added the Mel's Mix (homemade), and started filling my squares. Looking forward to an interesting gardening year!

efirvin 3/2/2012, 5:53 pm

Welcome Brenda! I'm new here too and will build my 1st sfg garden this spring! I'm eager to get started but live in WY so can't plant until mid to late April! Happy gardening to you!

**Furbalsmom** 3/2/2012, 8:30 pm

Brenda, Congratulations on your first SFG box of MM. Glad you are able to start planting so early.

Good luck and hoping for a successful growing season.

shannon1 3/3/2012, 3:34 am

Brenda wrote:Thanks everyone for making me feel so welcome on this site.

I finished my first 4 x 4 box, added the Mel's Mix (homemade), and started filling my squares. Looking forward to an interesting gardening year!

Welcome, the hardest part is done, well unless your neighbors can see your garden. Mine is the front yard and all table top beds and pots. all last summer I had people telling me it's not deep enough, you cant plant those so close together, what do you mean there is no soil in there....

By the end of summer 3 neighbors had converted to SFG:lol: have a great time with your garden.

efirvin 3/4/2012, 2:36 pm

shannon1 wrote:
Brenda wrote:Thanks everyone for making me feel so welcome on this site.

I finished my first 4 x 4 box, added the Mel's Mix (homemade), and started filling my squares. Looking forward to an interesting gardening year!
Welcome, the hardest part is done, well unless your neighbors can see your garden. Mine is the front yard and all table top beds and pots. all last summer I had people telling me it's not deep enough, you cant plant those so close together, what do you mean there is no soil in there....

By the end of summer 3 neighbors had converted to SFG:lol: have a great time with your garden.

I guess "Seeing is believing"! Glad you have some new converts in your neighborhood!

shannon1 3/5/2012, 2:43 am

Yes it is nice. So many people have never tasted a vegtable fresh from the garden that was bred for flavor instead of shelf life. They are hopelessly hooked right from the start and must garden. Funny thing is the older style gardeners are so much harder to convince. It takes a whole season, they just don't want to believe it can be so simple and easy.

**bakermtb** 3/5/2012, 9:26 am

Welcome: I agree with shannon1. My neighbor saw my 6 boxes and got converted to SFG and became a certified teacher. 6" is all you need and make sure you mix your soil correctly. That's the key to a great SFG.

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	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.