new just planted SFG

Hi, I am Samantha and My Husband is Matt. We just planted our first SFG, and we are new to both SFG and gardening in general. We used 2 blocks. Each is 4x4. We actually bought a raised garden bed kit at home depot that worked really well, was the perfect size. We used string to mark our square feet. And we planted a bunch of seeds we bought according to the instructions in the book. The only thing we didn't do like the book, we couldn't find vermiculite. So we mixed bags of garden soil, cow manure, and peat moss :/...I really hope it still turns out ok. Hope everyone is well!

-Samantha

If you check out the vermiculite database on the home page of this site you should be able to locate some. I buy mine at Menards in the insulation dept. Did you use 5 different composts as well? So happy you have joined us on the forum! Have fun watching you sprouts pop up, and happy gardening!

samanthals wrote:Hi, I am Samantha and My Husband is Matt. We just planted our first SFG, and we are new to both SFG and gardening in general. We used 2 blocks. Each is 4x4. We actually bought a raised garden bed kit at home depot that worked really well, was the perfect size. We used string to mark our square feet. And we planted a bunch of seeds we bought according to the instructions in the book. The only thing we didn't do like the book, we couldn't find vermiculite. So we mixed bags of garden soil, cow manure, and peat moss :/...I really hope it still turns out ok. Hope everyone is well!

-Samantha

Welcome Samantha and Matt!
I built sfg beds this year too and had difficulty finding vermiculite initially. I finally found some at Menard's. It is in the home insulation area and is made by Sunglo. It is coarse and in 3sf bags. It is agricultural and perfect for your MM.
Good luck with your sfg!
Evelyn from zone 4 Wyoming

Welcome to the SFG community. I'm new this year, too. I've found a lot of info - help and encouragement in the forums.

Check out your regional forum, too. It has updates specific to your geographic area.

Welcome to a fellow tarheel. The vermiculite database shows several placed in Raleigh, Clayton, and Garner to obtain vermiculite.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkxGrCEb40U2dExrM09fbk9zWnE4cC1Gb2oyamVOMVE&hl=en#gid=0

Manards is a Midwest company and not available in our area. However, after this growing season, you probably should consider remaking your beds using 5 composts, peat and vermiculite. If you have growth troubles with your current soil blend, use additional compost, compost tea or even miraclegro this year. Then you can rebuild during the winter.

We are lucky to be in a distribution area for all the Black Kow products, Black Kow, Black Hen and Black Velvet mushroom composts. These can be a real workhorse basis for your MM. I used those plus a few others I find at the box stores.

In the meantime, check out all the great topics on the forum.

Kay

Congradulations to both of you for taking the SFG plunge; I think in time you will find it very rewarding over time.

I started mine around the same time last year and used the same components to get started. Then in the fall I had found all the necessary ingredients for Mel's mix and put a 6 inch layer on top of my SFG, which is 12 inches deep, and am seeing the difference.

You should check this forum for advice on starting a compost pile this summer of fall so you will have some good compost for next spring.

Now the vermiculite is important but can be difficult to find some times. There is a data base to see if there is a store in your area. I am in Pa. and found some at an Agway, meduim grade but works fine, or perhaps a Southern State may have some. They tend to get it in the spring for nurseries but you may find a few 4 cu. ft. bags left.

Some one is always around to help...a good and fun forum