Not sure if i do this here or not, but here goes....

Madrien 3/14/2021, 2:43 pm

Hi

I have wanted to do square foot gardening since I first bought Mel’s book 4 years ago..I read the book twice and finally last garden season I had the boxes built. Yes, Yes, I know I am quite slow at starting.....The boxes are 11x3.5 feet long x 3 boxes as well as a 4x4 foot box. The depth of the 4x4 is 12 inches where as the other boxes it is only 6 inches as per book. The first planting I did last spring was partially successful with the 4x4 box being 100% successful and with plants growing taller and sturdier than in the other boxes. I have been wondering if i should build the other boxes so that the depth is 12 instead of 6 inches?

PS I live in the Kootenay region of BC in a zone 7 planting region.

**sanderson** 3/14/2021, 5:01 pm

Hi, Maidrien, Welcome to the Forum from California! $glad you\'re here$

I think I know one possibility as to why the long box didn't produce as well. If you used 2"x6" wood for the frame, then the actual height was only 5 1/2" tall, which is not enough for 6" of Mel's Mix. Verbally, we (Admins, Moderators and Certified Instructors) advise folks to use 2"x8" lumber to insure a finished height of 7 1/2" or 7 1/4". Lumber is never the size that it is called, always at least 1/2" smaller in both dimensions. If you can add a short frame on top of the existing frame, say made out of 2"x4", you will have a finished height that will contain 6-7" of well watered Mel's Mix plus a little straw mulch if needed.

PS: We have a member in Castlegar! She is the Canadian Regional Moderator. Kelejan

Madrien 3/14/2021, 5:54 pm

Hi, Sanderson,

Thanks....I went out and measured! You are correct the depth of the boxes is 5.25 inches.. And great idea about just bringing them up a little higher this way the Mels mix will only have to be topped up. Thanks again.

**sanderson** 3/14/2021, 8:22 pm

Just to clarify, there was a time when a 2"x4" measured 2"x4", a 2"x6" measured 2"x6", etc.

Eddie Willers 5/20/2021, 8:14 pm

Madrien wrote:Hi

I have wanted to do square foot gardening since I first bought Mel’s book 4 years ago..I read the book twice and finally last garden season I had the boxes built. Yes, Yes, I know I am quite slow at starting.....The boxes are 11x3.5 feet long x 3 boxes as well as a 4x4 foot box. The depth of the 4x4 is 12 inches where as the other boxes it is only 6 inches as per book. The first planting I did last spring was partially successful with the 4x4 box being 100% successful and with plants growing taller and sturdier than in the other boxes. I have been wondering if i should build the other boxes so that the depth is 12 instead of 6 inches?

PS I live in the Kootenay region of BC in a zone 7 planting region.

I do all my boxes at 12".

Mell said that 12" boxes are necessary for the taller root vegetables. He also said to rotate crops so you aren't planting the same things in the same boxes every year.

I don't have enough boxes to have dedicated short and tall ones, so I just so all my boxes tall.

OhioGardener 5/20/2021, 9:04 pm

Eddie Willers wrote:I don't have enough boxes to have dedicated short and tall ones, so I just so all my boxes tall.

And, some of us have found that as we age the taller bed are much easier on the back.

**jimmy cee** 5/20/2021, 9:32 pm

I used 2 x 8s in all of my bed construction projects. easy to handle and nice prices at the time when I put them together.
I made improvments as years progressed..

Not sure if i do this here or not, but here goes.... Bed_4_10

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Not sure if i do this here or not, but here goes.... Bed_4_11

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Re: Not sure if i do this here or not, but here goes....


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