New from Michigan

Hi all!

Been growing veggies for a few years, mainly tomatoes and peppers in pots and had some success with carrots and broccoli. I even had a raised bed a few years back but dismantled it. So I have stuck with the pots.
Decided the other week to have a go at raised beds again and stumbled across the Square foot method. I have made a few plans but had to keep adjusting after watching the sun in the garden. Where I WANT the beds is not the best for sun! The best place for sun is by the pool and I've had plants sabotaged by flying volley balls and the like.......... so. maybe I will save the pool area for the potato boxes I plan.

I have one bed marked out ( turf removed , I needed it for other garden areas) so I double dug the soil even though with this method it is not necessary. hey ho. No big problem. Today I will build the boxes as I still have to wait for some soil supplies.

Got off to a great start with 7 cubic foot of free compost this morning! Just need to mix the peat moss and Vermiculite now and raring to go.

I already have tomato plants doing great under lights and some lettuce too. The rest will be sown directly in the soil or bought as transplants.

kbb964!

Have you had a chance to read the All New Square Foot Gardening book (2006) by Mel Bartholomew yet?

Sounds like you had a compost SCORE! I'm so jealous! Is it like homemade compost and comes from multiple sources?

Feel free to check out the topics from the homepage that interest you and peek into your regional forum! For specific questions, you can always use the search bar at the upper left of this page and of course, feel free to ask questions of the members! Keep us posted on your progress...we love pictures!

Welcome to the forum. Its a great place to ask questions, give advice, post pictures for us all to enjoy and just enjoy the gardening experience. Good luck.

Thanks for the welcome. No I have not had chance to read the book yet but I am going to get a copy this week. I am really excited about trying this method.

Yesterday got one bed finished outside with the glorious weather. Today it snows

The compost was from a municipal recycling place. Made from leaves and grass clippings, Might not be the most organic stuff but it was free if we shoveled it. It has a PH of 8.1, similar to Michigan soils but I am sure the addition of the peat moss will lower that. I have some organic compost to mix in too.

I have one more box to build and will place this on top of the grass so no digging, my back is thanking me already! I am taking pics as I go along and will post later.

sorry I really do not have the time to find out where to ask this, I hope you guys dont mind m,e tagging it on here.
I was reading a post that mentioned wetting and fluffing the peat moss before measuring.... I dont have the book yet.... is this what I should do????????? I am planning to mix today.

Absolutely. Fluff and please Read The Book before you fill that box. This is the friendliest and best advice anyone on this forum can give to you. So many others have not followed the book and regret the poor results. The book is important to your successful efforts that it cannot be overemphasized. And welcome to square foot gardening!

Hi kbb964

Welcome to the world of ANSFG .. it's a lot different from mother earth based soil gardening . When you get the chance read the link a the top right of the home page for " experienced gardeners " .

I've 45 yrs of gardening under my belt and only about seven of them with square foot of which the last six months have been using Mels 2006 edition book ..

It's a big learning curve that is very interesting .

If you notice strange things happening in your beds please don't decry Mel's book or ideas , for millions use them sucessfully .

Consider the municiple compost supply source ... they compost any old thing thats dumped on them , with or without weed killers and growth supressors on them , along with all sorts of chemically tainted matter & liquids .

Thanks Plantoid !
I did consider the municiple compost. sigh. I am using it sparingly and if other sources come available might not have to use it at all. The source is highly reputable and they are pretty strict in accepting only grass and leaves for the compost. They cook it, screen it 4 times and then cook some more for about a year or more. I researched that pesticides and the such would have dispersed in that time. It looks, feels and smells healthy but I appreciate your concerns.
worst comes to the worst I shall dump it on the lawn !

kbb..where in Michigan are you? You can get a discount book from me if you wish.

You can also attend one of my classes coming up.. here's the list,

Saturday, March 31st, 2012 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at the Inkster Public Library, 2005 Inkster Rd. Inkster, MI 48141. Register at the Library or call 313-563-2822. COST: FREE

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
at the Caroline Kennedy Library, 24590 George St. Dearborn Heights, MI.
48127 Register at the Library or call 313-791-3800. COST: FREE

Saturday, April 14th, 2012 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Wayne Public Library, 3737 Wayne Rd., Wayne, MI 48184. Register at the Library or call 734-721-7832. COST: FREE

Saturday, April 21st, 2012 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at the Belleville Public Library, 167 Fourth St., Belleville, MI 48111. Register at the Library or call 734-699-3291. COST: FREE

Thursday, April 26th, 2012 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.at
the Farmington Community Library, 23500 Liberty Street, Farmington, MI
48335. Register at the Library or call 248-553-0300. COST: FREE

Square Foot Gardening 201: Hands-On Workshop and Application 3 hours.

Saturday, April 28th, 2012 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Garden Fantasy Florist, 10501 Haggerty Rd., Belleville, MI 48111. COST: $15.00 single, $25.00 couple. Please visit the registration page to register for this course.

Saturday, May 12th, 2012 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Community Garden at Van Buren Park, 50901 S. I-94 Service Dr., Belleville, MI 48111. COST: $15.00 single, $25.00 couple. Please visit the registration page to register for this course.
We also have a couple of courses coming soon in Ann Arbor. These will be sponsored in part by Project Grow and the Leslie Science Center..

Hey there James!

I am in Rochester Hills. You won't believe it but I can't make any of those places or dates. Farmington looked promising till I realised it is hubby's soccer night UGH.

Kbb, call the Rochester Library and ask the adult services director to host a class! I tried already, but they haven't gotten back to me yet. There are others in that area who would like to take the class as well..







sheila.konen@rhpl.org



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248.650.7132

will email them

done and dusted

Dusted? Meaning, they shut you down?

LOL - I thought that was the coolest idiom so I had to look it up - apparently "done and dusted" means "successfully completed" - I am definitely adding that to my vocabulary! Thanks kbb964!

LOL sorry ! I am an exiled Brit and occasionally I forget where I am and use a word or saying that comes from deep within.
Been here 14 years this month
Kay

Excellent. Did they say when they would host it?

kbb964 wrote:LOL sorry ! I am an exiled Brit and occasionally I forget where I am and use a word or saying that comes from deep within.
Been here 14 years this month
Kay

Welcome to another Kay. I lived in England for almost 3 years and loved it.

Kay

every Saturday I work. An workin afternoons don't help either.