Brand new to this. A bit overwhelmed.

JensGarden 2/26/2013, 2:07 pm

I have two 4x4 "raised bed garden" frames that I already own. I think both said they were 7" deep. Can I use them for SFG? Will I be able to add a grid to it (not sure what type of wood or material they're made of, whether I can hammer or drill into them)?

I just began my own compost pile at home, but for this year what types of compost should I get for the mix?

Also, my yard is sloped. Is that okay? I just got the book from the library last night, so haven't gotten the whole idea down yet, but I'm excited to give this method a try! Very Happy

**RoOsTeR** 2/26/2013, 2:28 pm

Welcome to the forum! This method is designed to be incredibly simple with great results. It will however require you to do a bit of leg work, and a good study of the book to make sure you comprehend the method.
Your 4x4 box should work, and one of the key elements of the sfg method is the use of a grid. Without knowing the materials your box is made of, I can't tell you how to "affix" your grid to the box. More details would be needed.
Here is a great read about Mel's Mix:
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t7452-mel-s-mix-how-strong-is-your-backbone
Your yard doesn't necessarily need to be level. Your box however does Wink

Again, welcome to the forum.

JensGarden 2/26/2013, 3:06 pm

RoOsTeR wrote:Welcome to the forum! This method is designed to be incredibly simple with great results. It will however require you to do a bit of leg work, and a good study of the book to make sure you comprehend the method.
Your 4x4 box should work, and one of the key elements of the sfg method is the use of a grid. Without knowing the materials your box is made of, I can't tell you how to "affix" your grid to the box. More details would be needed.
Here is a great read about Mel's Mix:
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t7452-mel-s-mix-how-strong-is-your-backbone
Your yard doesn't necessarily need to be level. Your box however does
Again, welcome to the forum.

I promise I'm not a total idiot, but how can I get the box to be level on a sloped ground?

quiltbea 2/26/2013, 3:18 pm

Jensgarden......Welcome to the forum.
For a slope, you terrace it. Just build up the soil under your bed with local loam or garden soil until its level, then place your frame and work from there.
You can have a good garden with as little as a 6 inch raised bed so 7 inches is fine.
If you plan to grow crops that go deep, ie: parsnips, long carrots, then you can build a deeper single square for it (check out the carrot threads for pics) or if you are building on top of soil and not rock, just loosen the soil below before you lay down your raised beds.
Brand new to this. A bit overwhelmed. 04-14-10

You can grid your frame with screws and tomato twine (its nylon and lasts thru rain and weather) or you can use strapping or bamboo strips.

Snuggle up with that book tonite and you'll learn lots right away that will help you.

Icemaiden 2/26/2013, 3:31 pm

It doesn't matter if your yard slopes a little bit. A tilting raised box can work just fine.

JensGarden 2/26/2013, 3:35 pm

Thanks for your replies! I've been skimming the forum and see there is a lot for me to learn!

The pictures are amazing!

JensGarden 2/27/2013, 6:50 am

So, I went to Lowes yesterday and the laths were around $10 for a bunch of them. Is there a cheaper place to get them? I got electrical conduit stuff to build a trellis, but it's hard plastic, not metal like I later realized was what's pictured in the book. Should I exchange that for the metal stuff?

I also went to Home Depot later on (for a return) and asked about trellis netting and they had no idea what that was. Any suggestions on where to find that?

Thanks!!

plantoid 2/27/2013, 7:45 am

Hi Jen,
Welcome to the site.

On reading your posts , I have to ask , do you have Mel's book on All New Square Foot Gardening ?
i
I my strap lines at the bottom of this post are the details of the latest uptodate book ( recently released ).

Most of the answers your seeking are in it ...several members all around the world with no prior knowledge or little experience of gardening have use Mel's book and as a result of closely following the books ideas and suggestions have developed some briliant gardens .

Reading his book several times over will give you not only a flavour of how things might pan it will give you the knowledge to have successful squarefoot gardening right into your twilight years ...... it's that good.

Please keep us all up todate with lots of pictures as you progress as well as a few words for it also helps others like you to see how it all works out in the end.

bnoles 2/27/2013, 8:29 am

Hi Jen and welcome to the forum.

In answer to your trellis netting question, I was able to get mine of eBay really cheap. You may want to look there.

Good luck on your new adventure and get all the help you need from the great members on this forum.

JensGarden 2/27/2013, 8:46 am

plantoid wrote:Hi Jen,
Welcome to the site.

On reading your posts , I have to ask , do you have Mel's book on All New Square Foot Gardening ?

Thanks.

Yes, I got it from the library, but I didn't take it with me to the store. Perhaps I should have.

JensGarden 2/27/2013, 8:49 am

bnoles wrote:Hi Jen and welcome to the forum.

In answer to your trellis netting question, I was able to get mine of eBay really cheap. You may want to look there.

Good luck on your new adventure and get all the help you need from the great members on this forum.

Thanks!

JackieB999 2/27/2013, 9:06 am

Hi Jen.... good luck! It can be confusing at first, but once you have things planted you will feel much better watching them grow. Then you can learn about bugs! What fun!

study

On the compost... try really hard to find 5 different kinds. You may have to go to a nursery to find more. I started with 4 kinds and did ok, but then I found some rabbit poop and that really increased growth. Gods little gold nuggets!

Please try to get the boxes level for water distribution.

Keep us updated!

**RoOsTeR** 2/27/2013, 9:35 am

Jen, stick with the book and have fun! Here's a great read:
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t12041-from-a-year-2-novice-to-all-the-new-sfgers-or-how-to-get-past-the-fear-factor#118167

I use metal T-posts and cattle panels for trellis'. Really easy and very sturdy.

JensGarden 2/27/2013, 9:48 am

Thanks for the words of encouragement, everyone!

I just ordered the newest edition of the book so I can have my own copy and not feel rushed by the library's due date. Smile

quiltbea 2/27/2013, 11:00 am

To give you other ideas on trellising, here's how I grow my tall vining crops:
I use the 7' long metal fence posts I got at Home Depot. You can get them taller if you prefer. My son hammered one in each north end of my box. This way I can use nylon trellis netting for when I sow peas or pole beans and on the off years I can string up tomatoes easily. I have a post across the tops of the fencing to tie the strings.

If you use twisty ties for the netting, you can take it down and fold it away for another year. If you run a wire along the bottom between the posts, its there forever and you can tie your string for toms on the alternate years.
Brand new to this. A bit overwhelmed. Trelli10

Above: With trellis netting for my sugar snap peas. Unfortunately my son hammered one post in too narrow, but its still usable. My others are sunk to the ends of the boxes.
Brand new to this. A bit overwhelmed. Tomato10

Above: Here are the tomato strings.

**camprn** 2/27/2013, 12:22 pm

As for trellis, I put up the metal conduit frame and using sisal twine I weave my own net.

Brand new to this. A bit overwhelmed. Img_0112

bnoles 2/27/2013, 12:43 pm

Awesome idea on the DIY netting Camp! Does it stay in place pretty well?

**camprn** 2/27/2013, 12:51 pm

bnoles wrote:Awesome idea on the DIY netting Camp! Does it stay in place pretty well?

Sure does, it lasts all season and when I am cleaning up the garden in autumn the whole mess, vines, twine and all, goes into the compost pile. I like easy! okay

Here is my taller trellis, the middle one, where i did a few horizontal threads to space the verticle threads more evenly.

Brand new to this. A bit overwhelmed. 01710

bnoles 2/27/2013, 2:34 pm

Thanks camp, I like the way you think and I saved your pictures to guide me when I try this.

yolos 2/27/2013, 7:46 pm

Here is a video of a guy building an emt trellis and weaving his trellis with nylon string. It could also be done with sisal twine or anything else.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCCx93hEoa8&feature=player_detailpage

FamilyGardening 2/28/2013, 3:06 am

most big box stores should carry something like this....they come in differnt size as well.....its one piece....that you attach the top, sides and bottom to your wood or pcv pipe to form your trellis....

Brand new to this. A bit overwhelmed. 3d7fe0e3-7023-4072-b64c-cc435edb6a0a_300

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=garden+trellis%20netting&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=Search+All

happy gardening and welsome to SFG!!
rose

JensGarden 2/28/2013, 8:48 am

Thanks again, yall! I ordered some trellis netting from Amazon when I ordered the new book, so hoping that will be the right stuff. Still working on reading the book for now, just overeager I guess. Very Happy

**RoOsTeR** 2/28/2013, 9:10 am

Most of us get a bit eager this time of year! It's ok Smile

Just remember, gardening should be fun and relaxing Razz

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