Anxious newbe from WV 6b

wvmedic 5/10/2011, 8:43 pm

Hello all, I am glad to have found this web site. I stumbled across it looking for info on raised gardens.

Jeff

pattipan 5/10/2011, 10:31 pm

Welcome, Jeff! You stumbled to the right place! I assume that subject line means you are anxious to get started with square foot gardening and not that you are anxious about being new here? Wink

At what stage are you with your square foot garden? Are you ready to plant...or are you getting your boxes ready? Whichever it is, you'll find lots of helpful info and people here on this forum.

I'm the regional host(ess) for our area, so if you need help with anything pertaining to our growing region I'll try to steer you in the right direction as best I can. I'm also a fellow WV'ian, so it's nice to see another Mountaineer here on the forum! We're getting near to our last frost date (May 15 here in the mountains) and I am anxious to get my tomatoes planted.

Happy SFG'ardening and I hope to see you around the forum more!
pattipan

wvmedic 5/10/2011, 11:20 pm

Hey Pattipan, thanks for the welcome. Yes I'm anxious to get started with my SFG. I have built one box so far, only problem is that I used pressure treated 2x6. I began thinking after though that might not be a good idea. Although I did read somewhere that pressure treated was alright, I'm not sure now though. I hope to get my mix together tomorrow evening, then get my tomato seedlings in the box. My box is four by eight and only one for now. I do have plans for several more. Pattipan my youngest daughter lives in zone 5b or 6a it appears that she is on the border by the map. She is in the mountains as well.

Jeff

pattipan 5/10/2011, 11:50 pm

wvmedic wrote:Hey Pattipan, thanks for the welcome. Yes I'm anxious to get started with my SFG. I have built one box so far, only problem is that I used pressure treated 2x6. I began thinking after though that might not be a good idea. Although I did read somewhere that pressure treated was alright, I'm not sure now though. I hope to get my mix together tomorrow evening, then get my tomato seedlings in the box. My box is four by eight and only one for now. I do have plans for several more. Pattipan my youngest daughter lives in zone 5b or 6a it appears that she is on the border by the map. She is in the mountains as well.

Personally, I would be leery of using pressure treated lumber for my boxes, but after reading a little, it appears that most new treated lumbers these days are safer than they used to be. Here's an article I found from Fine Gardening magazine:

Are Pressure Treated Woods Safe in Garden Beds?

If you do decide to use it, I would line it with plastic as the article suggests. Or at least staple plastic on or paint any part of the wood that comes into contact with your veggie growing soil. The decision is yours though! Perhaps you can start a new thread on the topic of pressure treated lumber and I am sure you'll get lots of opinions!

pattipan

boffer 5/11/2011, 12:10 am

ALL of my boxes are made of pressure treated wood. The majority are lined with plastic. You will have to do your own research and decide what health risks are acceptable to you.

The pros and cons are a murky mess; money prevails.

wvmedic 5/11/2011, 1:37 am

Thanks pattipan and boffer, I will use what I have now. I was talking with my Wife tonight before leaving for work, I mentioned that we could just cover the interior sides with plastic before we put the ground cloth down. Then fill it up with MM and start planting, our tomato seedling have been out side for a couple weeks, they are about two inches tall now and I want to get them in the ground. This will be my first vegetable garden so I hope that my tomato selection was ok, I believe they are big boy and beef steak. I really like big meaty tomato's so we will see.

Now to learn what types are good for sauce/paste and canning. I hope to plant some pole beans, cucumber and green peppers.

Jeff

middlemamma 5/11/2011, 1:42 am

**Furbalsmom** 5/11/2011, 2:30 am

wvmedic

Great to have you here. A first garden? Boy are you in for a treat. One 4 X 8 is a great start, and trust me, most people do not stop at one.

When I lived in VA, Big Boy and Beefsteak were my favorites (course that was about 20 years ago) and my family loved tomato sandwiches. As I remember, cucumbers, pole beans and green peppers were fairly easy to grow back there too.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Again, Welcome!

wvmedic 5/11/2011, 3:01 am

Thanks for the welcome middlemamma and Furbalsmom. Furbalsmom, I will keep my progress posted. I truly can not wait to get started, I like the idea of being self reliant and it is nice watching something grow that you have put in the ground. My wife and I have planted some tomato's and peppers in with the flowers in the past. This will however be my first real attempt at growing more than that.

Jeff

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