Filling a 4x 2x6 Box

OK .... maybe I am slow or maybe I just don't understand how to load a 4 ft long x 4 ft wide 6 in deep box or maybe I am ....

1) If I am correct a box this size will have 8 cubic ft of space to fill.

2) I am to use 1/3 Peat Moss ... 1/3 Vermiculite (coarse & asbestos free) 1/3 Compost and/or manure.

3) How do I find the 1/3 ratio

Is the ratio 2.7 cubic ft of each (three divided into eight) Because if this is true then the closes I can come is ....

1 Peat 2.7 cube feet ... 1 Vermiculite 2 cube feet (that is one bag. to get more I will have to buy another @ 22.97 to get the .7) ... 1 mix of 5 compost/manures to equal 2.7 cubic feet and that will fill my box ... Right


While I am asking ... this box will come out to 16 1' x 1' planting grid

Thanks for baby walking me through this

looks like your math is correct...somewhere on this forum is a Mels Mix calculator...just plug in your dimensions and depth and it will tell you exacly what you need...and remember, if the peat is a compressed bale, it roughly doubles in volume whn fluffed up in the mixing process. I think you're supposed to hydrate the fluffed peat while mixing as well.

Mel's Mix calcultor

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/h22-mel-s-mix-calculator

happy gardening
rose

Hi Larry,

EDIT: As I'm am a very slow typer, I see others have already answered some of you questions.

I'm not one of the experts but I can give some info/answers. I loaned my book to someone and don't have it in front me but will answer the best I can remember.

1. Yes it would be 8 cu ft. ( https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/h22-mel-s-mix-calculator )

2. Yes 1/3 peat, 1/3 vermiculite and 1/3 compost. As the book stresses At least 5 different types of compost. This is the most confusing part for most beginners. Homemade is the best and as long as you are putting a lot of different stuff in it. Composted manure is just one of the 5 you need others like seafood compost, mushroom compost and worm casting to name a few. Having a few cu ft of leftover compost is alway a good thing. Check out this link for a lot of info https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/compost-f53/

3. The 1/3 ratio seems more confusing than it really. (again calculator will tell how much of each to get) *Tip get more as it will settle a bit.

The 2.7 cu ft. of peat should be compressed and will fluff up to about 4 cu ft.
According to vermiculite database found on the homepage there are a lot of places to get it, 3cu ft. bags for 10-20 dollars. Menard's stores are all over IL and I think you can get some of your compost there too. https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/Vermiculite-Entry-Form-h1.htm

As far as mixing it all up, the book shows one way of doing it. I use a method I learned on this forum,(can't remember who posted it :scratch: to give them their due credit). I took 3 10x10 tarps, one for fluffing the peat, one for mixing the different composts together and one for mixing everything together. Tools I used were a shovel, leaf rake, bow rake(heavy metal) and a 5 gal bucket. I mixed and broke up all the composts with rakes and by hand, then I fluffed the peat with both rakes and wetting it down just a little bit to keep it from blowing around. Now to mix them all together, open bag of vermiculite and fill 5 gal bucket and dump on third tarp, then fill bucket with peat and add to vermiculite mix it up a bit and wet it lightly. Add one bucket of blended compost and mix it all up until it looks well blended.( I had help so I did 3 of each before the final mixing)Take the bucket and fill with the completed Mel's Mix and put in you 4x4 box, fill it about 2 inches and wet it down real good before putting in another 2 inches. repeat unit it is full. Now you are ready to put the grid down for your 16 1x1 squares.

Hope I was able to help you a little bit and good luck with your garden,

Chris

Thanks everyone for your post/help it is 5:55 am and have to go to work but will check all links when I return. Again thanks you

Can not find a way to edit my last post yet so will have to double post this ....

To landard, FamilyGardening and chjbr63 you all get a ....


..... in my book for stepping out and helping when needed I sure wish I had found that MM Calculator a few months earlier because I might have had more of my hair left and not so many bald spots

Anyway, now that I have my mixes calculated right I can get my next step set into motion (as soon as I can get that money set aside) to get the box and fill it. That should be soon I plan just to have one box this year and maybe add a box or two next year as I see how things go.

I also want to get a tumbler going for compost so as to use that as dressings (and stuff) instead of the buy able kind to be able to keep track of thing in my garden.

I have liked the idea of s but that is still a little ways down the road and I am sure will come in time.

Anyway steps for the beginner and a LOT more post reading and maybe a question now and then and thanks again for putting air back into my gardening sails

One bed is a great way to start; jumping in too deep can definitely kill the joy. This first year, your one bed will get all your attention, and will teach you so much. Next year, with that knowledge in-hand (and hopefully in a journal!), attempting an additional box or two will be the perfect reach.

I am guessing that by year three, you start looking for anywhere you can cram a box!

(full disclosure: I'm a Year 1 newbie too, but I was really hungry, so I started three boxes. Also, I had already bought all the brick before I got the ANSFG book, so why let it sit fallow?)

brainchasm wrote:(full disclosure: I'm a Year 1 newbie too, but I was really hungry, so I started three boxes. Also, I had already bought all the brick before I got the ANSFG book, so why let it sit fallow?)

Thanks for the pep talk brainchasm I saw your Newbie in Vegas post earlier and am watching it to see how it goes ... keep the updates coming

This has been helpful to me as well. Thanks everyone.

I am about to go online and have sent to a Home Depot close to me (from Home Depot online catalog) ....

1) Noble Worm Organics 1 cu. ft. Organic Worm Casting Soil @ $16.98

1) EcoScraps 1 cu. ft. White Compost Mix @ $5.97

1) Greenes Fence 48 in. x 48 in. Cedar Raised Garden Bed @ $39.97

That will get me 2 of the 5 compost mixes I need and 1 box (4' x 4'). Now to get coarse Vermiculite, Peat Moss, and those other 3 compost (maybe mushroom, manure, ????) should not be to hard

Does that sound right to you all ???

So far so good Larry. Hang in there on your compost hunt.

To many decisions ......

I just found this in a Home Depot ad ..... is this the MM I need for my 4' x 4' box ??? Home Depot ??? What has me thinking is the word "Potting" in the heading

But if it is ... then I will only need to pick up 6 bags to fill my box and have a little left over. Is this better than trying to find everything and mixing it yourself

Box @ 40.00
6 MM @ 53.82
Win win for larry (maybe)

larry wrote:To many decisions ......

I just found this in a Home Depot ad ..... is this the MM I need for my 4' x 4' box ??? Home Depot ??? What has me thinking is the word "Potting" in the heading

But if it is ... then I will only need to pick up 6 bags to fill my box and have a little left over. Is this better than trying to find everything and mixing it yourself

Box @ 40.00
6 MM @ 53.82
Win win for larry (maybe)

That is what you want. It is confusing with it labeled as potting soil.

Did you check to see if it is available at your local store? It is not available at any store in my area of So CA.

That is what got me Lindacol ... I was about to place an order online to have some of the stuff I needed sent to the Home Depot near me and just for kicks I looked at their ad to see what they had to offer and there it was .... MM and a box kit .... someone is looking out for me