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Starting my boxes
+6
Too Tall Tomatoes
tomperrin
januaryX
plantoid
curio
kesugeo
10 posters
Page 1 of 1
Starting my boxes
So the weather finally allowed for me to go look at the local garden places for dirt components.
I found 1 place that has the vermeculite (will take name and price for the spreadsheet next time there), peat moss, and 3 of the 5 types of compost (leaf, mushroom, cow). Is that enough to at least get my boxes going or do I absolutely have to have all 5 types. Seems like worm casings / poultry is a pain to find here (weird since we are in Perdue/Tyson central).
Let me know because I would love to get my gardens working this weekend.
I found 1 place that has the vermeculite (will take name and price for the spreadsheet next time there), peat moss, and 3 of the 5 types of compost (leaf, mushroom, cow). Is that enough to at least get my boxes going or do I absolutely have to have all 5 types. Seems like worm casings / poultry is a pain to find here (weird since we are in Perdue/Tyson central).
Let me know because I would love to get my gardens working this weekend.

kesugeo- Posts : 25
Join date : 2011-12-27
Location : Greenbackville
how many different composts
The best case scenario is to have all five. Each of them brings something different to the chemical makeup of the mix. I've read several times where people have skimped on this, and have not been as successful as they should be.
Check the feed stores and farm supply stores to see if they have anything, or can order it for you. Chicken manure compost is one, plant based organic is another (without peat).
Check the feed stores and farm supply stores to see if they have anything, or can order it for you. Chicken manure compost is one, plant based organic is another (without peat).
curio- Posts : 388
Join date : 2012-02-22
Location : Maritime Pacific Northwest zone 8A/B with ugly heat scale
Re: Starting my boxes
Well put Jan you've saved me typing a book .
Kesugo.. the five way compost initial mix for the sfg is known as the back bone of the ANSFG
There is a running thread " How strong is your back bone " .
I feel you will save yourself a lot of heartache & long term cost if you read it right through , you'll see why it is so important to get it right first time .
Kesugo.. the five way compost initial mix for the sfg is known as the back bone of the ANSFG
There is a running thread " How strong is your back bone " .
I feel you will save yourself a lot of heartache & long term cost if you read it right through , you'll see why it is so important to get it right first time .
plantoid-
Posts : 4095
Join date : 2011-11-09
Age : 72
Location : At the west end of M4 in the UK
Struggling to follow directions
I've been mixing MM for a couple of weeks for a dozen new squares in my garden. Every so often, I have to go out and scrounge for different varieties of compost. Every time I do this, it's a real mental struggle to follow the directions in ANSFG. I'm really used to doing things my own way, and marching to the sound of my own drum, not anyone else's. It would be so much easier just to do one, or three, or whatever different kinds of compost, but five, it's just too much. But then I get the five different bags on the ground, and open them up, and each time I'm reminded that not all compost is equal. One bag I bought today had a composition label on it that differed according to the part of the country where it was packaged.
So I'm not sure which is really more difficult: My own mental status in not willing to follow directions, or being resourceful enough to find five or more different kinds.
What I have found out these past few weeks is that not a single nursery, landscape supply, grower supply or box store in my area has any idea what square foot gardening is all about. Too bad for them.
Tom
So I'm not sure which is really more difficult: My own mental status in not willing to follow directions, or being resourceful enough to find five or more different kinds.
What I have found out these past few weeks is that not a single nursery, landscape supply, grower supply or box store in my area has any idea what square foot gardening is all about. Too bad for them.
Tom
tomperrin-
Posts : 350
Join date : 2011-03-20
Age : 81
Location : Burlington, NJ Zone 7a (2012 version), in the hollow, surrounded by trees.
Re: Starting my boxes
So after much searching around we were finally able to find most of our dirt.
[img:9cca]https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/
[/img]
Should be able to get the worm castings middle of this week.
[img:9cca]https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/

Should be able to get the worm castings middle of this week.
kesugeo- Posts : 25
Join date : 2011-12-27
Location : Greenbackville
Re: Starting my boxes
kesugeo wrote:Should be able to get the worm castings middle of this week.
It's a shame that worm castings are so expensive. I would love to get some to add to my gardens.
Too Tall Tomatoes-
Posts : 1069
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 53
Location : Pennsylvania, Zone 6A
Re: Starting my boxes
Sounds like the perfect excuse to start a worm bin.
At least that's what I told myself.
Kay

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 : 80
Location : wilmington, nc zone 8
Re: Starting my boxes
My local place got them in this afternoon with a quoted price of $5.99/4.5 lbs .. $23.99/15 lbs.
Anyone have an idea how to convert lbs to cuft?
Now that I think about it isn't usually the case the smaller more convienent the product the more expensive. By the above price I could get close 18 lbs buying the small bags for the same price as the big bag. Odd
Anyone have an idea how to convert lbs to cuft?
Now that I think about it isn't usually the case the smaller more convienent the product the more expensive. By the above price I could get close 18 lbs buying the small bags for the same price as the big bag. Odd
kesugeo- Posts : 25
Join date : 2011-12-27
Location : Greenbackville
Re: Starting my boxes
Ok, my dirt buying is finally complete I think. All my boxes filled and in process of being planted. So far we have radishes, carrots, peas, lettuce, and strawberries in the ground.
For the 1 sq ft divisions we tried buying a $13 venetian blind from Walmart ... big mistake. The vinyl was so cheap it practically broke just looking at it the wrong way. Now will be slowly buying the little bit of wood lathe we finally found a Lowes. About $2/4ft stick. Looks and should last much longer.
Heres a couple pics.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/
For the 1 sq ft divisions we tried buying a $13 venetian blind from Walmart ... big mistake. The vinyl was so cheap it practically broke just looking at it the wrong way. Now will be slowly buying the little bit of wood lathe we finally found a Lowes. About $2/4ft stick. Looks and should last much longer.
Heres a couple pics.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/

kesugeo- Posts : 25
Join date : 2011-12-27
Location : Greenbackville
Re: Starting my boxes
walshevak wrote:Sounds like the perfect excuse to start a worm bin.At least that's what I told myself.
Kay
I would like to but there's no where in the house I can keep it during the winter
Too Tall Tomatoes-
Posts : 1069
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 53
Location : Pennsylvania, Zone 6A
Re: Starting my boxes
kesugeo....If you have a Salvation Army store or other used clothing and furniture store, they usually have old blinds for a buck a piece.
quiltbea-
Posts : 4712
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 81
Location : Southwestern Maine Zone 5A
Re: Starting my boxes
kesugeo wrote:For the 1 sq ft divisions we tried buying a $13 venetian blind from Walmart ... big mistake. The vinyl was so cheap it practically broke just looking at it the wrong way. Now will be slowly buying the little bit of wood lathe we finally found a Lowes. About $2/4ft stick. Looks and should last much longer.
Head to the dollar store. You can often find bundles of 5-6 bamboo sticks for $1-2 that are about 5' long. That's what I plan on using anyway... last year I used them as stakes for my eggplants: they held up really well considering I cut them to size with a steak knife.
eflan- Posts : 29
Join date : 2012-01-08
Location : SW Ontario, Zone 6b
Re: Starting my boxes
I use hook hangers and cotton string to lay out my grid
super cheap and compostable



» Starting plants with seed starting kit
» new and did it wrong
» And so it begins....
» Fancy looking gardens?
» Purple Boxes in the Trees?
» new and did it wrong
» And so it begins....
» Fancy looking gardens?
» Purple Boxes in the Trees?
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