Square Foot Gardening Forum
[table bgcolor=#000000 height=275][tr][td]
Paul's First SFGs Toplef10Paul's First SFGs 1zd3ho10

Hello Guest!
Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum.
There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.

Paul's First SFGs I22gcj10Paul's First SFGs 14dhcg10

[/td][/tr][/table]

Join the forum, it's quick and easy

Square Foot Gardening Forum
[table bgcolor=#000000 height=275][tr][td]
Paul's First SFGs Toplef10Paul's First SFGs 1zd3ho10

Hello Guest!
Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum.
There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.

Paul's First SFGs I22gcj10Paul's First SFGs 14dhcg10

[/td][/tr][/table]
Square Foot Gardening Forum
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.
Search
 
 

Display results as :
 

 


Rechercher Advanced Search

Latest topics
» Peat Pots and Peat Pellets
by GreenScienx_Sug Today at 5:50 am

» Joann's fabric bankruptcy
by has55 Yesterday at 9:13 pm

» Senseless Banter...
by OhioGardener Yesterday at 12:11 pm

» Fire Ring / Round Raised Bed Planter
by donnainzone5 Yesterday at 11:47 am

» Galvanized Fire Ring for Rhubarb Raised Beds?
by OhioGardener Yesterday at 10:34 am

» Happy St. Patrick's Day
by Scorpio Rising 3/17/2024, 5:54 pm

» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by KiwiSFGnewbie 3/17/2024, 4:58 pm

» N & C Midwest: March and April 2024
by Scorpio Rising 3/16/2024, 12:16 pm

» Prefab compost question
by sanderson 3/14/2024, 11:40 pm

» New gardener from Santa Fe NM
by Turan 3/14/2024, 2:06 pm

» Compost bins: Open vs. closed
by OhioGardener 3/13/2024, 5:48 pm

» Heat Mat Temperature Test
by sanderson 3/13/2024, 1:31 am

» Bokashi
by OhioGardener 3/12/2024, 5:37 pm

» Happy Birthday!!
by Scorpio Rising 3/11/2024, 10:28 am

» What are you eating from your garden today?
by Scorpio Rising 3/10/2024, 8:38 pm

» Why I love Oregano in the garden.
by OhioGardener 3/10/2024, 8:16 am

» Comfrey
by OhioGardener 3/9/2024, 6:07 pm

» Sealing Barrels Flowers Struggling-Need Ideas
by Turan 3/9/2024, 3:09 pm

» Hello again from a slightly different part of Central PA!
by sanderson 3/9/2024, 1:46 pm

» Chicken manure compost
by Oopsiedaisy 3/8/2024, 7:56 pm

» Chinese Broccoli
by sanderson 3/7/2024, 10:28 pm

» Heat Mat Lifespan
by Scorpio Rising 3/7/2024, 9:33 am

» Now is The Time To Take Seed Inventory
by OhioGardener 3/6/2024, 4:36 pm

» Mark's first SFG
by sanderson 3/5/2024, 10:55 pm

» Greetings from a haggard mom
by sanderson 3/5/2024, 2:32 am

» Drip Irrigation question
by HDNoviceGardener_CA 3/4/2024, 9:50 pm

» Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
by sanderson 3/2/2024, 8:20 pm

» raised bed quanders
by OhioGardener 3/1/2024, 7:32 pm

» N&C Midwest January & February 2024
by OhioGardener 3/1/2024, 7:15 am

» Seeds 'n Such Leap Year Sale
by sanderson 2/29/2024, 1:42 pm

Google

Search SFG Forum

Paul's First SFGs

5 posters

Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Paul's First SFGs

Post  pkadare 5/26/2023, 4:01 am

I'm using 30" raised beds from Raised Bed Gardens Canada and am very happy with them. These are 8' x 4' x 30" so I'll have lots of space to start with. I filled the lower 16" or so with organic material (logs, etc.) and then filled the voids with sand. The top 12" are filled with Mel's Mix. I've got one ready to plant (once I put a grid in) and should have the second ready to plant in a day or 2.
This is my very first crack at gardening and I'm quite looking forward to it!

Paul's First SFGs 20230511
Paul's First SFGs 20230512
Paul's First SFGs 20230513
pkadare
pkadare

Posts : 15
Join date : 2023-05-10
Location : Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada

sanderson and jafstuff like this post

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  sanderson 5/26/2023, 1:23 pm

Nice looking beds. What will you be using as grids?

A couple of notes. The Foundation encourages inert material as bottom fill (sand or top soil) so it won't decompose and shrink over time. Only 6-7" of Mel's Mix is needed to grow 98% of veggies. It's a good thing so little Mel's Mix is needed as it is expensive to initially make. Very Happy

____________________________

Find more about Weather in Fresno, CA
Click for weather forecast
sanderson
sanderson

Forum Administrator

Female Posts : 21487
Join date : 2013-04-21
Age : 75
Location : Fresno CA Zone 8-9

https://connect.xfinity.com/appsuite/#!!&app=io.ox/mail&

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  pkadare 5/27/2023, 5:00 am

sanderson wrote:Nice looking beds.  What will you be using as grids?

A couple of notes.  The Foundation encourages inert material as bottom fill (sand or top soil) so it won't decompose and shrink over time.  Only 6-7" of Mel's Mix is needed to grow 98% of veggies.  It's a good thing so little Mel's Mix is needed as it is expensive to initially make. Very Happy

I'm going to start with twine for the grids as I'm having a little trouble sourcing cedar slats which are my first choice.

As far as the bottom fill, I'm aware of the recommendations but the logs were free, whereas any "inert" material would have been an additional expense, and as far as the 12" versus 6" depth goes, I'm good with the former, thanks appreciate the input!
pkadare
pkadare

Posts : 15
Join date : 2023-05-10
Location : Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada

jafstuff likes this post

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  pkadare 5/27/2023, 5:06 am

Here is my plan for my first year...

Garden Plan - Paul's Veggies (almanac.com)
pkadare
pkadare

Posts : 15
Join date : 2023-05-10
Location : Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  markqz 5/27/2023, 2:16 pm

pkadare wrote:
I'm going to start with twine for the grids as I'm having a little trouble sourcing cedar slats which are my first choice.
It can be difficult to source those slats! Which is odd since I'm pretty sure they're produced as the leftover from trimming boards. A lot of people are using PVC for spacing, as you can see in the photo currently in the header of this forum.

The problem with string/twine is that it rapidly gets dirty and/or breaks. Currently I like using green, lightweight clothing line (not copper cored). It stays clean and is easy to take out or put in as needed.
markqz
markqz

Forum Moderator

Posts : 905
Join date : 2019-09-02
Location : Lower left hand corner

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  pkadare 5/27/2023, 3:17 pm

I've wound up using rebar which world a treat!
pkadare
pkadare

Posts : 15
Join date : 2023-05-10
Location : Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada

Junkmail99 likes this post

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  sanderson 5/27/2023, 3:26 pm

May I make a couple of comments about the plan?

____________________________

Find more about Weather in Fresno, CA
Click for weather forecast
sanderson
sanderson

Forum Administrator

Female Posts : 21487
Join date : 2013-04-21
Age : 75
Location : Fresno CA Zone 8-9

https://connect.xfinity.com/appsuite/#!!&app=io.ox/mail&

pkadare likes this post

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  sanderson 5/27/2023, 3:29 pm

pkadare wrote:I've wound up using rebar which world a treat!
One person used binder clips on the edges of the metal beds with string.

____________________________

Find more about Weather in Fresno, CA
Click for weather forecast
sanderson
sanderson

Forum Administrator

Female Posts : 21487
Join date : 2013-04-21
Age : 75
Location : Fresno CA Zone 8-9

https://connect.xfinity.com/appsuite/#!!&app=io.ox/mail&

pkadare likes this post

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  pkadare 5/27/2023, 3:52 pm

That's a cool idea!
pkadare
pkadare

Posts : 15
Join date : 2023-05-10
Location : Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  pkadare 5/27/2023, 3:52 pm

sanderson wrote:May I make a couple of comments about the plan?

Absolutely!
pkadare
pkadare

Posts : 15
Join date : 2023-05-10
Location : Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  sanderson 5/27/2023, 4:17 pm

silly me I replied and lost it.

Shorter version.

Corn needs a block for good pollination. 4' x 4' is a minumum.

Swiss chard can get huge. I plant 2/sq on a diagonal and harvest large outer stalks.

Broccoli and bok choy (even radishes) are in the cabbage family and prone to the caterpillars of the white butterfly and cabbage looper/moth. I plant all of mine in adjacent squares for the convenience of securely covering with insect netting or bridal tulle.

Leaf lettuce can be planted 4/square and the outer leaves harvested for a continuous harvest. Iceberg lettuces can be large and maybe 1/sq is best.

Winter squash are perfect for tall 8' trellises on the north side of a bed. The vines grow really long and can be trained back on the trellis when they flop over. Plant 1 per 2 squares along the trellis.

Alaska peas look like a bush variety and can be planted 9/sq. A short, cheap garden fence ot 4 stakes with string wrapped around can help corral them.


____________________________

Find more about Weather in Fresno, CA
Click for weather forecast
sanderson
sanderson

Forum Administrator

Female Posts : 21487
Join date : 2013-04-21
Age : 75
Location : Fresno CA Zone 8-9

https://connect.xfinity.com/appsuite/#!!&app=io.ox/mail&

pkadare likes this post

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  pkadare 5/27/2023, 4:24 pm

Thank you very much for the advice.
pkadare
pkadare

Posts : 15
Join date : 2023-05-10
Location : Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada

sanderson likes this post

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  AtlantaMarie 5/28/2023, 6:14 am

Paul, was your birthday the other day?  I thought I saw your name & just didn't put it together with your postings....  I apologize if that's the case!  And hope you had a happy birthday!
AtlantaMarie
AtlantaMarie

Certified SFG Instructor

Female Posts : 5600
Join date : 2014-03-18
Age : 60
Location : Buford, GA - Zones 7B/8A

http://www.defensivespecialties.com

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  pkadare 5/28/2023, 11:06 am

AtlantaMarie wrote:Paul, was your birthday the other day?  I thought I saw your name & just didn't put it together with your postings....  I apologize if that's the case!  And hope you had a happy birthday!
Nope, March 9th for me. You can catch me next year. 🍺😎
pkadare
pkadare

Posts : 15
Join date : 2023-05-10
Location : Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  donnainzone5 6/7/2023, 3:31 pm

Paul,

As your logs and other similar materials break down, the level of your Mel's Mix will sink, and you'll have to make more Mix to restore the same depth.
donnainzone5
donnainzone5

Certified SFG Instructor

Female Posts : 2660
Join date : 2010-03-02
Age : 76
Location : Bend, OR (Zone 5-6)

http://www.amway.com/DonnaKBecker

sanderson likes this post

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  pkadare 6/7/2023, 4:38 pm

donnainzone5 wrote:Paul,

As your logs and other similar materials break down, the level of your Mel's Mix will sink, and you'll have to make more Mix to restore the same depth.
 I'm aware of this, but thanks.
pkadare
pkadare

Posts : 15
Join date : 2023-05-10
Location : Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada

Back to top Go down

Paul's First SFGs Empty Re: Paul's First SFGs

Post  Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum