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New Member
+6
Windmere
Elizabeth
CapeCoddess
sanderson
donnainzone5
MollyL
10 posters
Page 1 of 1
New Member
Hello from the sunny (actually raining today) south, really south US - Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The ten sfg vinyl planters I order just arrived yesterday. So excited to put them together this weekend. Can't get Mel's Mix in this part of the woods (except through HD with the prohibitive shipping) so am going to make my own mix. Think I will need 1 cubic yard of blended compost, 1 cubic yard of peat moss and 1 cubic yard of coarse vermiculite - all easy to find in small quantities but am finding it hard to find in bulk quantities. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
MollyL- Posts : 4
Join date : 2015-04-11
Location : Tuscaloosa, Al
Re: New Member
Welcome, Molly!
Congratulations on starting your SFG!
Peat moss generally is easy to find; typically, it comes in 3.8 cubic foot bags/bales, which doubles to nearly 8 cubic feet. It's important to "fluff" it to its full volume prior to using it as a Mel's Mix ingredient.
Coarse vermiculite can be difficult to find. On this site, there's a vermiculite database that may help.
Don't purchase just bulk compost; you'll need 5 different kinds, such as cow, chicken, EcoScraps or food-scrap based compost from Whole Paycheck (Whole Foods); mushroom, etc. Mel recommends that only one of the five be manure-based.
In my area, I can obtain mint and llama compost, and I recently scored 4 cubic feet of well-composted chicken/rabbit manure--for free.
Few bagged composts are worthwhile, although it does pay to read the labels. Try to avoid those containing peat or that are wood-based.
Best of luck! We love photos....
Congratulations on starting your SFG!
Peat moss generally is easy to find; typically, it comes in 3.8 cubic foot bags/bales, which doubles to nearly 8 cubic feet. It's important to "fluff" it to its full volume prior to using it as a Mel's Mix ingredient.
Coarse vermiculite can be difficult to find. On this site, there's a vermiculite database that may help.
Don't purchase just bulk compost; you'll need 5 different kinds, such as cow, chicken, EcoScraps or food-scrap based compost from Whole Paycheck (Whole Foods); mushroom, etc. Mel recommends that only one of the five be manure-based.
In my area, I can obtain mint and llama compost, and I recently scored 4 cubic feet of well-composted chicken/rabbit manure--for free.
Few bagged composts are worthwhile, although it does pay to read the labels. Try to avoid those containing peat or that are wood-based.
Best of luck! We love photos....
Re: New Member
hi Molly! Welcome to the forum!
What do you mean by ten SFG vinyl planters? You mean ten 4 by 4 boxes? If so, you do need a lot of bulk ingredients. unless you just start off building a couple right now and do some more later on down the road.
CC
What do you mean by ten SFG vinyl planters? You mean ten 4 by 4 boxes? If so, you do need a lot of bulk ingredients. unless you just start off building a couple right now and do some more later on down the road.
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6811
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New Member
Hi Molly -Warm to the forum.
DITTO CapeCoddess - 10 vinyl 4' x 4'boxes or 1 10' x 10' planter.
I am confused.
Do you intend to grow commercially, feed your extended family and the entire neighborhood or provide produce for your local homeless diner?
You are talking HUGE amounts of Mel's Mix to fill that many boxes or that large of 1 box.
A 10' x 10' planter does not lend itself to SFG.
A little more information would be great.
DITTO CapeCoddess - 10 vinyl 4' x 4'boxes or 1 10' x 10' planter.
I am confused.
Do you intend to grow commercially, feed your extended family and the entire neighborhood or provide produce for your local homeless diner?
You are talking HUGE amounts of Mel's Mix to fill that many boxes or that large of 1 box.
A 10' x 10' planter does not lend itself to SFG.
A little more information would be great.
Elizabeth- Posts : 91
Join date : 2012-11-25
Age : 71
Location : Lafayette, LA zone 9b
Re: New Member
Molly, welcome, welcome~
I am 20 mi south of Atlanta, so I am a fellow southerner. If it weren't for SFG, I probably would not garden at all. Our Georgia red clay is terrible to work with. Blueberries grow well in it though.
I am beginning my third year of SFG and I enjoy working year round with all sorts of crops. My kale is just now finishing up and my carrots are almost mature (all planted in fall/winter).
Folks here are very helpful and I've avoided many missteps by heeding their advice.
Again, welcome and I wish you much success in all you gardening endeavors.
I am 20 mi south of Atlanta, so I am a fellow southerner. If it weren't for SFG, I probably would not garden at all. Our Georgia red clay is terrible to work with. Blueberries grow well in it though.
I am beginning my third year of SFG and I enjoy working year round with all sorts of crops. My kale is just now finishing up and my carrots are almost mature (all planted in fall/winter).
Folks here are very helpful and I've avoided many missteps by heeding their advice.
Again, welcome and I wish you much success in all you gardening endeavors.
Windmere- Posts : 1422
Join date : 2013-02-26
Age : 55
Location : Fayetteville, GA - Zone 7B - 8A
More information
Actually 8 4x4x6" and 2 4x4x12" planters. I am working with a student organization that wants to do demonstration gardens for elementary schools. Some of the planters will be for flowers not food.
We may start off with installing fewer - college students are always over eager in their expectations. They wanted to purchase while they had the funds.
We are finding it difficult to obtain bulk items so more slowly may be the result.
We may start off with installing fewer - college students are always over eager in their expectations. They wanted to purchase while they had the funds.
We are finding it difficult to obtain bulk items so more slowly may be the result.
MollyL- Posts : 4
Join date : 2015-04-11
Location : Tuscaloosa, Al
Re: New Member
MollyL
Is there a reason for the 12" beds? If so you can fill the bottom 6" with "junk" (plastic milk jugs, cinder blocks, etc. then a layer of weed cloth then the Mel's Mix.
If you need a few squares for things like carrots then you can build 1' x 1' x 6" "Top Hats", set it on top a few individual squares and just fill THOSE to 12".
Be sure when you're filling the beds just to put 2" of Mix in and water VERY WELL, 2", water, 2", water. It is CRITICAL to get the peat THOROUGHLY wet before planting.
Welcome!
Is there a reason for the 12" beds? If so you can fill the bottom 6" with "junk" (plastic milk jugs, cinder blocks, etc. then a layer of weed cloth then the Mel's Mix.
If you need a few squares for things like carrots then you can build 1' x 1' x 6" "Top Hats", set it on top a few individual squares and just fill THOSE to 12".
Be sure when you're filling the beds just to put 2" of Mix in and water VERY WELL, 2", water, 2", water. It is CRITICAL to get the peat THOROUGHLY wet before planting.
Welcome!
I have seen women looking at jewelry ads with a misty eye and one hand resting on the heart, and I only know what they're feeling because that's how I read the seed catalogs in January - Barbara Kingsolver - Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
sfg4u.com
FB: Square Foot Gardening 4 U
FB: Square Foot Gardening 4 U
Re: New Member
I like the idea of cinder blocks to fill deeper beds; they should also serve to deter gophers, moles, voles, etc.
Re: New Member
Welcome from the far north in Maine. SFG is a great way to grow. Enjoy the experience and remember, its 5 kinds of different compost that's needed, not just one.
quiltbea- Posts : 4707
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 82
Location : Southwestern Maine Zone 5A
Re: New Member
Hi Molly. Another welcome from the Atlanta, GA area.
I'll be back later to take a look at your plans, but gotta run for now!
I'll be back later to take a look at your plans, but gotta run for now!
Re: New Member
MollyL!
For bulk vermiculite, ULINE has an Atlanta branch where you can order and pick up. I know it is about a 3 hour drive, but if you have a truck or van, the one-time drive to get it all at once may be worth it for you. Also, look in the insulation departments of home improvement stores. Same stuff, better price!
For bulk vermiculite, ULINE has an Atlanta branch where you can order and pick up. I know it is about a 3 hour drive, but if you have a truck or van, the one-time drive to get it all at once may be worth it for you. Also, look in the insulation departments of home improvement stores. Same stuff, better price!
Goosegirl- Posts : 3424
Join date : 2011-02-16
Age : 59
Location : Zone 4A - NE SD
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