Hello, from Beautiful British Columbia!

Hi, I've just finished reading The All New Square Foot Garden book, and I can't wait to get started. It seems like just the method for me. (My yard is composed entirely of rock and heavy clay.) There's still about 15cm of snow in my yard, so gardening is a long ways away...around the 3rd week of May in my neck of the woods. I guess that gives me time to gather up all my supplies before I begin.

Hi VV! (more snow on Thursday, sooo yuck)
Deborah.....waving from across the Salish Sea

Welcome to the forum, VegetableViking. It sounds as though SFG will be perfect for your yard. If you have questions, feel free to ask, and don't forget that we love to see photos.

Welcome to the group.
We love sharing ideas, progress, mistakes and pictures so feel free to jump in anytime.
Your yard sounds like the perfect venue for SFG.
Good luck.

VegetableViking, so glad you joined us.

The All New Square Foot Gardening Book has such simple instructions, it just makes gardening easier.

Get those supplies gathered, make your boxes, mix your mix and if you get a chance, try some indoor seeding to grow your own transplants.

BlackRose is in Ontario and Old Hippie is in British Columbia. I think you are right between the two as far as zones go.

Please check out the various topics using the forum button at the top of this page. You will find interesting subjects and perhaps the answers to some of your questions.

Again, Welcome

Vegetable Vikiing I am so very excited to have another person on here from B.C. I am from PG here in British Columbia. You have idea how great it is to have another Canadian on board and especially one from the same province. And the interior, no less.

this forum is so much fun. we have a blast on here and it is wonderful to meet you. I have gardened for a number of years and only recently switched to the Square Foot Gardening method. It is marvellous. So much easier for me to keep up with than the older row method.

So welcome aboard. If there is anything we can do to help you out, let us know. There are lots of experienced gardeners on here and most everyone is willing to answer any questions they can. Nice to have you with us.

Gwynn

Read all you can about extending a growing season with covers and hoop houses if you have any interest. You can get almost a zone 6 growing season from zone 4 if you do it right.

Welcome.

Thanks for the very warm welcome, everyone.

Old Hippie: How long is your growing season in PG? My sister is in Quesnel, and she can get a surprise of snow almost any time during the summer! I'm about an hour and a half north of Kamloops, near Clearwater. May long weekend is usually the "safe" weekend to put things in the ground, although I'm sure peas and a few other seeds can go in a little earlier.

I guess I'll have to look into extending the growing season with covers. I had no idea I could come close to being a zone 6. Thanks for the tip, BackyardBirdGardner.

Something I've noticed since reading more....and forgot to mention. True, you can get about a zone and a half more if you use covers.....combination of hoop house and floating row cover.

But, the frost dates vary a lot WITHIN a zone. For instance, I am about 4/15-10/20 and live in 6a. I just took for granted that 7b would work (zone and a half). However, when I looked up Oklahoma City (zone 7b), I noticed they run from 4/20 to 11/5ish. They actually get frost LATER than I do....and are a zone and a half "warmer."

So, it will likely take some study and notekeeping on my part....for my area. But, one thing is for sure....you will extend your season with covers.

Okay, thanks.

VV, most people around here put the majority of their garden stuff in around the May long weekend. But cool weather crops like peas, etc can go in sooner, even about the beginning of May. Last year I did radishes and spinach the last week of April. they kind of sat there and didn't do anything for over a week and then started to grow so I had some of those by the end of May, first week of June.

I usually put my tomatoes in on the May long weekend but watch the forecast very close for at least two weeks and am prepared to cover anything tender like peppers or toms. It is not uncommon to get some frost around the 10th to the 15th of June, and it always seems to take people by surprise. That 2nd week of June often brings some weird weather patterns for some odd reason. We have not had snow here in July or Aug, but I have seen it in June. I think Quesnel is a bit higher altitude than PG so they may be a little more prone to some of those freaky summer storms they have in the mountains.

If you are familiar with Lois Hole's books for gardening in the north, she does mention that June frost. She gardened for years and years just outside of Edmonton and her books are awesome. Lots of insights into gardening in these climates and great suggestions for varieties for this area as well.

I have a cold frame that I use for starting some things and for growing peppers. My tomatoes I grow in the south facing flower bed in the front of my house. With covers I was able to keep picking strawberries last fall until Thanksgiving in Oct as well as tomatoes out front so hoop house would really extend your season like BYBG says. It is awesome to be able to squeeze every extra day you possibly can.

Best of luck. I can hardly wait until the snow melts. so happy to have you here.

Gwynn

Thanks for all the info, Gwynn. I'm just a beginner gardener, so knowing when to cover plants, etc. is all new to me. I appreciate your post and I'm sure I'll need more of your advice when the gardening season is actually here. Thanks again.

-Shannon