boards for sfg

Errol 3/9/2011, 6:59 pm

I have been wondering about the 2x6 boards that is recommended for building the sfg boxes. I had some 2x8's left from another project so I used those to make my 4x6 sfg box. mostlt the 2x6's are only 5 1/2 inches tall. will that 1/2 inch make any difference? or do some use a 1/2" or 3/4" rail tacked on top of the 2x6 to make it a full 6"?? I just wondering about this. so my sfg box is actually 7 1/2" tall. I'n sure a 1/2' makes hardly any difference. also I notice in my new sfg book, mel has some boxe's that looks to be made from the fiberglass fencing like those on some farms. Is that what he is using?
thanks :?:
Errol

Megan 3/9/2011, 7:06 pm

Hi Errol,

2x6's are always approx. 5-1/2" wide; the 6" is a nominal dimension only. You are fine. Here is a handy reference link that I dug up a few years back: http://mistupid.com/homeimpr/lumber.htm

I don't know about the fiberglass fencing, sorry!

**Furbalsmom** 3/9/2011, 7:12 pm

In the SFG Foundation's store they have "Classic" vinyl boxes. These are the ones shown on the cover of the ALL NEW SFG book

STORE

Kabaju42 3/9/2011, 9:52 pm

Once upon a time a 2x4 was actually 2" by 4" and a 2x6 was actually 2" by 6". Somewhere along the line the dimensions got shrunk by half an inch either way. It's really weird.

Fortunanlty, one of the things Mel found with SFG is that the plants don't need an exact space. 6 inches give or take a little still works either way. You may also notice that if you build the boxes as recommended then the squares turn out to be a little less then one foot and it still works just fine. It's so nice Cool

Megan 3/9/2011, 10:02 pm

In part it has to due with lumber shrinkage after it's cut. And also, if you're using 1/2" drywall (or other building materials which vary in size, not all are 1/2") it's quite convenient to have the nominal dimensions work out that way.

The good part, though, is that half an inch (or even a little more) in depth, or a few inches in width is not a big deal. Just try to keep your grids true, as that will guide you on planting density. You don't want to mistake a 12" x 9" square for a 12" x 12", for example, as it may cause you to crowd your plants. You'd eventually figure that out the hard way, probably, but it's far better to know up front. Very Happy

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