How deep is everyone's sfg?

Mastiff07 3/25/2012, 8:24 am

I was planning on 12 in depth but the book has me convinced on 6 in depth. Can I grow carrots in it?

**walshevak** 3/25/2012, 9:05 am

We have a carrot week contest starting on Apr 15. Last year folk grew some weird stubby carrots in 6 inches of MM. But for long straight carrots you need to add a "high hat" around the carrot squares. This is a 1x1x6" mini box that sits on top of your existing soil and entends the MM to 12". Nice thing about it is that you can relocated it to any square that needs a bigger depth without going to the expense of really deep (read expensive) beds and still have your deep pockets of soil. You can make however many you need.

Kay

Too Tall Tomatoes 3/25/2012, 9:05 am

Mastiff07 wrote:I was planning on 12 in depth but the book has me convinced on 6 in depth. Can I grow carrots in it?

You could probably grow the short varieties.....look for those varieties that don't grow any bigger than six inches.

Goosegirl 3/25/2012, 9:13 am

If you have a bottom on your 6" box, grow the shorter varieties of carrots. If you do not have a bottom on your box, the longer varieties will use what soil is available and if they hit harder soil they will just grow a different direction (L-shaped carrots are cool)! Also, a box with no bottom will attract the local wormies and even hard soil underneath it will become better over time - I noticed this when I was doing my sheet composting before SFG. Or, like Walshevak says, make a little top-hat carrot collar.

All of my boxes are 6", but because of the former sheet composting I have soft soil underneath them and have no qualms about planting any crops that may take up more root space. So far nothing has needed more than the 6", but I just may try some bomber-sized carrots one of these days!

GG

**RoOsTeR** 3/25/2012, 9:14 am

Welcome mastiff, here is an example of a "top -hat".

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/accessories/top-hat-box-for-carrots-leeks-potatoes/

Too Tall Tomatoes 3/25/2012, 9:20 am

All of this time I thought that even though I don't need 12 inches of MM, I should still go with that depth just because I want to. I was reading the book last night and now I'm thinking that I should just go shallower and save money because the cost of the vermiculite alone is going to kill me.

I'll just have to fill in the bottom of my boxes with more dirt.

floyd1440 3/25/2012, 9:22 am

What did you make your grids out of? I have 4x8 grids and all I can find are 1x2 pieces of wood

**RoOsTeR** 3/25/2012, 9:34 am

Too Tall Tomatoes wrote:All of this time I thought that even though I don't need 12 inches of MM, I should still go with that depth just because I want to. I was reading the book last night and now I'm thinking that I should just go shallower and save money because the cost of the vermiculite alone is going to kill me.

Lol. There was several times in another thread the other day that I tried to make that point clear. You don't need more than 6". Filling a box with 12" of MM is like filling two boxes. I would rather fill two boxes and grow more...just sayin cherry

**walshevak** 3/25/2012, 10:38 am

I admit I cheated. Razz

My bed kits were 8" high and I filled to 7" which settled to a very nice 6".

Kay

**walshevak** 3/25/2012, 10:42 am

floyd1440 wrote:What did you make your grids out of? I have 4x8 grids and all I can find are 1x2 pieces of wood

I used mason's string and stapled to the edges.

Kay

**camprn** 3/25/2012, 10:50 am

Mine are about 8" deep and I used cotton string to make the grid. When I planted a whole 4x6 with garlic I filled the boxes with the boosted Mel's Mix (added compost after the summer growth), I leveled off the mix at the top of the box and took a board on end and pressed into the fresh mix to make the grid.
How deep is everyone's sfg? 17111

Too Tall Tomatoes 3/25/2012, 11:08 am

RoOsTeR wrote:
Too Tall Tomatoes wrote:All of this time I thought that even though I don't need 12 inches of MM, I should still go with that depth just because I want to. I was reading the book last night and now I'm thinking that I should just go shallower and save money because the cost of the vermiculite alone is going to kill me.

Lol. There was several times in another thread the other day that I tried to make that point clear. You don't need more than 6". Filling a box with 12" of MM is like filling two boxes. I would rather fill two boxes and grow more...just sayin

I remember that Rooster....I just had it in my mind that I wanted 12 inches of MM in my boxes. The Pope himself could've told me that 12 inches was a waste but I just thought I wanted 12. Once I get an idea in my head, it's difficult to get that out. What a Face

Anyway, the wood is ordered, partially paid for, and it's coming this week. I can't really change the dimensions of the box, so I'll just have to fill in the bottom with more topsoil.

I am going to grow carrots and maybe potatoes. Instead of those high hats(I don't really care for those too much and I don't want to order any more wood), I'll just have an even 8 inches of MM across the boxes.

**sfg4uKim** 3/25/2012, 11:27 am

Mine are 6" with "top hats" on needed squares. But I hope to build a "salad table" that will only be 4".

**RoOsTeR** 3/25/2012, 11:38 am

I just had it in my mind that I wanted 12 inches of MM in my boxes. The Pope himself could've told me that 12 inches was a waste but I just thought I wanted 12. Once I get an idea in my head, it's difficult to get that out.

I can relate TTT thinking

Icemaiden 3/25/2012, 11:39 am

I have two 4x4 which are 6" and two which are 12". I prefer the extra height, nicer to weed and sow in and I think easier to keep hydrated.

Too Tall Tomatoes 3/25/2012, 12:35 pm

sfg4uKim wrote:Mine are 6" with "top hats" on needed squares. But I hope to build a "salad table" that will only be 4".

I do have room for a salad table in the back of my house. I don't want to build it now but maybe I could do that once the fall growing season hits.

yolos 3/25/2012, 12:49 pm

I also want to build a salad table. Check out this plan for a salad table. I really like the one on wheels with braces on the legs.

http://growit.umd.edu/saladtablesandsaladboxes/Step%201%20-%20Build%20a%20Salad%20Table%20or%20Box.cfm

http://growit.umd.edu/SaladTablesandSaladBoxes/7_ST_options/

Mastiff07 3/25/2012, 3:36 pm

I like that top hat idea. I'm going to have a little mix left and can use it for that.

wncsohn 3/25/2012, 5:00 pm

My 4x4's are made of cinderblock so they're 8" deep. Haven't filled them yet though and am thinking of filling them an inch shallow and letting it "settle" in. My 4x8's are also 8" deep and will fill them the same way. (the 4x8 are built out of wood though).

Our chainsaw mill has been ordered and it should be here in a couple of weeks, so we're going to be able to rough cut our cedar and pine wood. I'm using all those wonderful slabs for chicken coops and garden beds!

Unmutual 3/25/2012, 6:49 pm

All my beds are 6" of MM on top of my soil. I used sheet mulching to take care of grass and weeds(which mostly works, but I have a few issues which are not that big). I grow carrots and potatoes without the use of a top hat.

floyd1440 3/25/2012, 6:56 pm

walshevak wrote:
floyd1440 wrote:What did you make your grids out of? I have 4x8 grids and all I can find are 1x2 pieces of wood

I used mason's string and stapled to the edges.

Kay

Last year I built my garden a little late and used string as well. But this year I decided to upgrade and built the with wooden lath and it looks much better. However I didn't screw the edges down just corner nailed them so I can remove them in the winter.

Will send a picture tomorrow and you can judge.

How deep is everyone's sfg? 3170584802

floyd1440 3/26/2012, 5:03 pm

These are the wooden grids I made yesterday. Had to use 1x2x8s for the lenght and latis for the 4 foot sections and 8 foot strips would not suppost the span.

I just toe nailed the 8 foot pieces in for removal and will put dowels in later so I can remove and store in the winter.

**camprn** 3/26/2012, 5:15 pm

Lookin' GOOD! How deep is everyone's sfg? 418730

shannon1 3/27/2012, 6:45 am

One box is just shy of 6" and the other is ten just because that is the size of the free wood I got.

**llama momma** 3/27/2012, 6:50 am

...sorry to derail...Shannon while I see you here I wanted to let you know I answered your pm question days ago, be sure to check you PM box!

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