Hello from Southern California

Suzieeq 3/3/2010, 12:21 am

Hi All,

I bought Mel's book and started reading it today; so I'm a complete newbie. Who else out there is from Southern California? Is it a bad time to start the garden in the middle of winter? Some of you knee deep in snow may be rolling your eyes about me talking about winter. Yes, it's true, we have rain and it gets cold - for us anyway.

We've got awful clay soil that is still very soggy from the last rain. Should we do the 11 or 12 inch high boxes instead of the 6 inch? I'm afraid we'll end up with a bog if we do the 6 inch high ones.

We're excited to get started and look forward to getting lots of great ideas.

Thanks Hello from Southern California Icon_eek

**Theresa** 3/3/2010, 9:50 am

Hi Suzieeq

Hello from Southern California Action-smiley-030

I'm from Illinois, I have never had any problem with the 6 inch Mel's mix getting to soggy, we also have lots of clay soil, the one thing that's great about Mel's mix is it will drain well but still hold moisture at the same time. Last year we had our SFG going long before everyone who did the traditional gardening, because we had so much rain they couldn't work in their traditional gardens. When you find a location for your garden, make sure it's where the water doesn't puddle.

Good Luck with your SFG and take lots of pictures to share with us!

happyfrog 3/4/2010, 6:29 pm

so glad you're here! sfg is awesome - you're gonna be hooked in no
time!

welcome aboard!

i'm in ohio.

as for boggy soil - never was a problem for me - just make sure you follow the mix and it'll work great! Smile

Suzieeq 3/7/2010, 11:47 pm

Thanks so much for the encouragement. Based on the book, it appears that four 4 x 4 beds should work for 2 people. Is that correct?

What do you do about neighbor's cats who like your yard? Are they going to be a problem for the raised beds?

Do most of you start with seeds or seedlings?

Thanks Hello from Southern California Icon_eek

SirTravers 3/8/2010, 12:16 am

If your neighbors cats keep coming into your back garden just plant some catnip near the edge of the property. They'll spend all their time munching on the catnip. Once they are thoroughly sedated you can simply place them back in their own yard.
Being that we're working with raised beds and a soil mix that seems to self regulate it's water content I'd think you'd be ok as long as the boxes aren't placed in a low spot. My mom lives out there in Torrance and her raised beds never seem to have water problems.

boffer 3/8/2010, 2:02 am

Suzieeq wrote:Thanks so much for the encouragement. Based on the book, it appears that four 4 x 4 beds should work for 2 people. Is that correct?

It's a good number to start with-not too big, not too small. You'll know by summer's end how many more boxes to build.

What do you do about neighbor's cats who like your yard? Are they going to be a problem for the raised beds?

Several posters with roving neighborhood cats have said the cats don't bother the SFG. General consensus is that they don't like the grids. YMMV

Do most of you start with seeds or seedlings?

Seedlings, seeds are for grown-ups, but I'm trying.

babyultimate 3/9/2010, 9:18 pm

Hi Suzie, I'm also from Southern California, up around Glendale/Pasadena. I am a complete newbie, haven't even gotten the book or beds. I guess I'll be starting soon. Keep us posted as to how it's going for you. I'm not a gardener and I have a black thumb so I find this all overwhelming. I would really like to try and grow a few veggies for me and my family. Hope this works.

Suzieeq 3/10/2010, 12:27 am

We still thinking that this awful clay soil that takes forever to dry out might need the 11 inch high beds instead of the 6 inch. That's what been keeping me form ordering from this website vs another one. Help!

If there was a market for adobe, we'd be in good shape Smile

boffer 3/10/2010, 2:26 am

I guess I don't understand. What is it that you think an 11 inch box will do for you that a 6 inch box will not?

**WardinWake** 3/10/2010, 8:46 pm

As others have stated the clay soil should not be a problem. If you want to be extra cautious you can put a plywood or other bottom in the SFG and raise the garden several inches from the ground by putting a brick under each corner. You can also raise the beds to Table Top height using any of several types of supports including a table, purpose built frame, a stack of concrete blocks or saw horses. Almost any type of frame will work as long as it is stable.

God Bless, Ward.

jeffc 3/13/2010, 10:59 am

I'm a newbie and just finished building my boxes and making my soil. I soaked it thoroughly and it drains no prob. I have hard soil too but the box are open bottom so I don't think there will be any problem. I started with 4 4x4's. Last year I tried to make my soil work and that was a lot of work for little return. Excited by the prospects of this approach. Off to by some peas and bean seedlings to plant today!

I'm curious if anyone has done carrots in SFG. Isn't it to shallow?

**WardinWake** 3/13/2010, 11:05 am

Howdy:

Carrots can be grown in a SFG using at least two methods. The first is to plant carrots that grow less then 6 inches in length when fully grown. Another is to put an addation on top of the square that you wish to plant the carrots in. Usually a 6 inch high additon will be more than plenty. I don't have my book with me at the monent, but, there may be a discription in the ALL NEW SFG book that shows one used for taters.

God Bless, Ward.

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Hello from Southern California

Hello from Southern California

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Newbie thanks you

Catnip

Re: Hello from Southern California

I'm from So Cal too!

I'm still concerned about this clay soil

Re: Hello from Southern California

Clay soil:

From So Cal

Carrots in SFG

Re: Hello from Southern California


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