Hello from Germany

Hiya!

I'm new to this forum. I am about to build my SFG. I used to have a traditional garden several years ago but already stayed away from rows and sowing large amounts of seeds. I stopped gardening when my father intervened in the traditional way. Now, my father is about to give up "his" garden and my chance has come (again) and now I am going to build a SFG

As everything is so logical and looks very efficient I have my husband's support this time (he hates to have lettuce 10 times a week ).

Many greetings from rainy Germany,

Astrid

Guten Morgen Astrid und willkommen zum Forum!

Where in Germany are you? I've lived in Stuttgart (1998-2001) and more recently Berlin (2007-2010).

Have you had the chance to read the All New Square Foot Gardening book? If not, it's available on amazon.com and amazon.de.

Again, welcome!

Kim

Hi Astrid ,
Welcome to the family. I'll bet pappa will be twisting his chin when you produce better crops with less effort .
Roughly where are you in Deutscheland ? Nord ,West , Ost oder Sud ?

Do start making you own compost as soon as you can , it is the heart of the system .
You are getting close to the end of this years sowing / planting season if you are in the North or the Ost /Sud mountains .

In Mel's , " All New Square Foot Gardening " book 2005 edition page 260 onwards there is some very handy schedules especially for sowing /planting before the usual first and last frosts of the year

Welcome to the forum....love to hear from other parts of the world .....I have used this system from the original book.....at one time my whole back yard was flowers and veggies.......now at 87 yrs.....cant bend anymore....I do tabletops......and loving it still.....
Chula Vista California is on the west coast of the United States.....near the bay....and 8 miles from the Mexican border.......lucky us we can garden all year long.....all kinds of compost...is the vitamins that the plants need.....Happy Gardening.....Ruth

Thank you all for the warm welcome

I live in a small village northwest of Frankfurt (West) - in a hilly landscape, very idyllic .

I have just finished reading the book and I love the simplicity of it. My parents have been complaining about weeds and voles this year - and of course the harvest was not worth the effort.

When I usually started the garden I already kept to small spaces as I did not like planting/seeding in rows (without knowing about SFG). So I am really happy that I have finally found a book about gardening that goes even further in simplifying things

As the summer is very rainy this year I think I might start with a fall box. We've had so much rain this summer that I am quite confident the weather will be much better in fall. And I can't wait to show my parents that there is another way to garden We usually have the first frost in November so there's still some time left. And before Mid-May there's no chance to plant anything outside because of a usual frost period in May.

My parents have already started a compost - so I'm on the lucky side. I haven't yet found vermiculite but if I don't find any in the hardware stores nearby then I can still order it. I haven't had the chance to check the rural cooperative but anyway, it shouldn't prove too difficult.

I really look forward to it and though I'm quite enthusiastic I will start small with one box this year and probably another one in the next.

Have a wonderful day and enjoy your lovely garden !

Astrid

Sounds like you are off to a good start. Welcome to the forums.

@Astrid

Welcome the the SFG forum; I am relatively new but Have received a LOT of good advice from anything from composting, planting, seed saving, etc.

Great you started square foot gardening and hope the weather clears up for you fall crops. We need the rain in my area.....

Hi Astrid, Welcome to the SFG Forum. If you cannot find vermiculite, perlite will do just as well.

Astrid

Some of us start small and some big, and some just awesomely big. I started with two boxes, added a third the following year, and this year added two more, and now I feel that I have reached the limit as to what I can handle and still enjoy the experience.

My first two years were very good, but this year nothing seems to have worked; I think that must happen to many of us, and usually it is either the persistant rainy weather or the persistant drought and heat, or possibily not preparing one's compost correctly.

Next year I firmly believe the weather cannot be as bad as this year, and that I will make better compost as well.

Look forward to seeing how you progress and show your dad that there can be a better way.

Dear all,

I just wanted to tell you that my SFQ is doing fine. I am really happy about it. Not much to do with my fall box. I harvested some radishes that are really tasty and leaf lettuce. The carrots won't make it before frost but that's no problem. The parsley is doing fine.

Only one salad turned yellow and I don't know why - the other heads are OK.

I have placed a plastic cover over the box because we will have the first frost soon and if I can still harvest some of corn salad, the better

So far, no regrets Initially, I had the intention to build another box for the herbs that had been planted by my parents but I can still take care of it next spring.

My compost is doing fine and my mother admires the way I'm doing it

I would like to add that I have learned a lot from you in this forum. I love reading your posts. And I highly appreciate how friendly, helpful and to the point your posts are. Keep going!

Astrid

Way to go Astrid.

Kay

Astrid , when you get time can you put some pictures up on the forum so other folk can see what you have done and experienced .