2nd yr SFGer from Twin Cities, MN

Hello everyone! This is my second year with my SFGs. Last year we had two 4x4 boxes and this year we are adding two more. I have my first two boxes almost ready (need to add trellis and grids), but still need to build my other two. I look forward to learning as much as possible from all the other SFGers out there!!

Jenny

Many welcomes Jenny!

welcome and hope ya have fun!

Hi Jenny

I am a MN gardener too......okay, not a true gardener yet as this is my first yr of SFG'ing.
I am starting out with 2 boxes.

I haven't seen any garden centers that are up and ready to go yet......what about you?
Of course, you are ready to go I assume. I still have to buy compost.

Good luck and hope to see lots of photos from you!

new2this - you are a "true gardener" - there are no rules for qualification!

Welcome, Jenny!

new2this-
I haven't seen any of the flower/garden marts open, only the bigger places, ie, linders, gertners. I'm no where near ready to go! Have lots to do and little time to do it in! That's okay though, it will all get done eventually. It is only the beginning of April AND Minnesota!

Jenny

Hi, I'm in the HOPKINs area of MN and though I gardened for a long time this is my first time doing the square foot garden. wondering though where to find the soil stuff. My local Tonka dale doesn't carry any of the ingredience and Gertains is too far away.

j- last year, I bought my peat moss and vermiculite at Linder's in St. Paul. They don't sell it at the flower marts. You can get peat moss at menards or home depot, but it is in the smaller sizes. Linder's would be a drive for you, but their vermiculite is $17.99 for the big bag (can't remember the size!) Their 3.8 cu ft bag of peat moss is $14.99. They only have cow manure compost, no other varieties, 40# bag for $4.99. I've seen mushroom compost and maybe one or two other varieties at walmart, menards and home depot. Part of the problem is that a lot of places just don't have all their stuff out yet!
Are there any other local garden centers that are closer to you that might have some of the supplies? Maybe call Bachman's and see if they have any of the supplies? They have a few locations much closer to you. Good luck to you! I look forward to seeing your garden grow!!! Ask if you have more questions, there are plenty of knowledgeable people on this forum!!

Jenny

J -
I am in se MN....not too far from you; Rochester area.

I found Micaflake (vermiculite) at Menards...$20.99/bag. I do not think it's the course ground stuff, but others from this board have purchased it and say it's fine. It is made by a horticulture company -so it should be fine.

I also bought my Peat from Menards. I've seen it at Lowe's and probably just about any garden center will have it.

Just yesterday, while at Lowe's I purchased a few different kinds of compost. Compost + cow manure, Mushroom compost, and another brand.

If you are willing to look a bit, you should have no problem finding what you need.

Good luck.

shocks20 wrote:Hello everyone! This is my second year with my SFGs. Last year we had two 4x4 boxes and this year we are adding two more. I have my first two boxes almost ready (need to add trellis and grids), but still need to build my other two. I look forward to learning as much as possible from all the other SFGers out there!!

Jenny

Jenny:

I have a SIL whose dental practice is near the airport in the cities and my wife is from Fergus Falls.

We have Square Footed 2 years now in Virginia and really like it. What will you be planting this year and are you planning on building any Table Top SFG's?

God Bless, Ward.

Ward- no tabletop SFGs, although I was contemplating making a few fence boxes, just not sure how they would hook to the fence! I am hoping to plant the following: cilantro, basil, spinach, mesclun, little caesar lettuce, broccoli, bush beans, zucchini, cucumber, carrots, sweet corn, bell peppers, jalepeno peppers, green onions, snap peas, and tomatoes! I'm also going to try growing some periennals, not sure if they will go in my SFGs though!
I'm starting every thing from seed and don't have a heat mat or grow lights (don't have room for them either), so not sure if everything will still grow!

Jenny

Good morning all you MNs and welcome Jenny!

Don't forget to check in on the Regional Forum. I'll be looking for pictures, weather reports and seedling/transplant stories.

Happy Gardening everyone. Our flowering trees are blooming here in Ohio so I know its time to go play in the dirt (oops, I mean soil)!

I am going to check out Lowes and Home Depo today. When you have made your boxes are you using wood or something else? I am thinking of seeing if there are any 2x8 and hope to get my fabric soon for the bottom. I was out in my garden area yesterday leveling out the area as I had hilled it last year and so it is clean up time. and I need to get my seeds planted indoors of course. Barbara

Barbara-
I got my wood at Home Depot. I got 2x6s and 2x8s and will make one box of each height (I just got the treated stuff and will put plastic around the inside of it, so nothing seeps into the garden). I had them cut the wood in half at the store, so I just needed to drill the holes for the screws at home! I still need to plant my seeds too!!

Jenny

Hi!! Also in the Twin Cities area and I am converting some of my row gardens to SFG this year. Menards currently has the course vermicilulite for 12.50 (4 cu. ft) Just picked up two bags today. I can't wait to get planting. I have strawberries, rhubarb, potatos and onions that need to go in. And since I didn't til last fall, my son found a bunch of baby lettuce plants popping up in the garden that I will transplant in as well.

Rebecca

It was in the gardening section. It must be new because there wasn't even a SKU number for it at the checkout. For now I am doing 6 4x8 beds....and two other row gardens (one large corn garden and another large garden with all my vine crops)

Rebecca