just read ANSFG (mostly)

otherguy 6/19/2012, 2:51 pm

Over vacation I just read most of the ANSFG and have a couple of questions.

1.) if I want to make my box taller, but not deeper I can put a bottom on it so i still only have 6" of mix but it will be at a better working level. My qusetion is about the bottom, I know to drill holes and put fabric down but what about rot, will the bottom just rot out sometime and give way?

2.) can corn be grown, I don't remember it be discussed in the book, not that he can discuss everything, but I was just wondering.

3.) is mulch needed over the mix after plants come up?

I had to the book back to the library but I going to order a copy very soon, can't wait to build the boxes this fall. Thanks for any help.

tinakocher2000 6/19/2012, 3:08 pm

I will offer my opinions here, hopefully they will be helpful. Welcome to the wonderful world of SFG!

1. I think it says in the book somewhere if you want taller boxes you can fill with sand, and finish up with MM, then you don't have to worry about bottoms rotting. There is a section in there that talks about that, and that talks about building them on a table or sawhorses, and explains how to do the bottom there as well.

2. People grow corn in the boxes, and just use a cow/livestock panel horizontally at knee height or so to keep the stalks from falling over. The corn just grows up through. I have seen several photos on here of that demonstrated.

3. No mulch is needed, the vermiculite in the MM along with the peat moss help to retain moisture. You would be surprised how moist the soil stays under the top layer with regular watering.

Chopper 6/20/2012, 3:03 am

+1 with a few added tidbits.

I have grown corn it what was more like 4" of MM and had no problems with it staying upright. Just FYI.

Although mulch is not needed, you can use it. I think some in the more arid areas do. And after all, today's mulch is tomorrow's compost.

**rowena___.** 6/20/2012, 10:34 am

my little girl grows corn in her SFG every year and has never put up any kind of support for them. she just lets the beans hold them in place. you'll never see a commercial farmer put up supports for corn, which says all i need to know about whether or not it is necessary.

we do add mulch because it gets hot enough in nashville during summer to require twice daily watering in august.

otherguy 6/25/2012, 11:36 am

thanks for the feedback, I can't wait to start building the gardens this fall to be ready by next spring, I hope.

Last one, I was looking at some squash seed (don't remember which) but it stated that the rows/hills needed to be 6 feet apart, do you have to build a longer bed or can you just grow them up and spread them out over the vertical support?

I was thinking that you could go up and over and maybe up over again if they need it, then you could get 2 plants in one row next to the fence?

ramarks 6/25/2012, 1:01 pm

I don't have the book in front of me - but I think the book says 2x2 for squash and zucchini. I have a bed with 2' grids and planted my squash in those 2x2 sections.

**rowena___.** 6/25/2012, 1:35 pm

i grow squash on a trellis, plants spaced 1 foot apart.

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