A Different Kind of SFG

These are pics of my SFG from June, 2010. I don't have any garden pics yet this year but it looks much different now since I've draped burlap over most of the frames to provide some shade and some protection from our horrendous New Mexico winds. Yes... the wind can be very destructive here... even with the cedar fence that surrounds the garden.

Looks good, Don. Those are some very well supported TTs!

Other SW gardeners would like to know:

Do you mulch, and if so with what? How do you water?

I see the hardware cloth cages over some of your boxes. What kind of critters do you have problems with?

How are the six inch deep boxes working out in your dry, windy climate?

to the forum! What great pictures!

boffer wrote:Looks good, Don. Those are some very well supported TTs!

Other SW gardeners would like to know:

Do you mulch, and if so with what? How do you water?

I see the hardware cloth cages over some of your boxes. What kind of critters do you have problems with?

How are the six inch deep boxes working out in your dry, windy climate?

Yes, my TT's are well supported. But the first time I tried using the cement blocks one of my 4 X 4's actually blew over in the wind so I soon learned how to set the blocks in alternating directions to prevent any recurrence of that problem!

No, I don't mulch. I really don't understand mulching very well. I tried to get info about mulching in the forum but didn't get any suggestions I was willing to try. Maybe it's just me, but I don't want anything to get mixed up with my MM unless it is something that will improve the soil. So I just water, water, water... and this year I'm using shade which seems to be working out quite well.

The hardware cloth is mainly to protect from birds. And for some plants, it provides some protection from wind.

The six inch deep boxes work out well for many things but any boxes that I replace will be 12 inch. That will make it much easier to practice good rotation and will help with moisture retention. As I mentioned, out here on the desert I have to water, water, water. And then I have to water some more!

That's an enviable setup Don. You have created an oasis for sure. Hope you are not paying for public water. Would you ever consider wicking boxes for the TT.

Love the solar lights! I wonder... would they keep noturnal visitors out of the garden???

Tril wrote:Love the solar lights! I wonder... would they keep noturnal visitors out of the garden???

I don't think they would prevent unwelcome night visitors but I like to go out there at night after the wind dies down; it's very pleasant and the lights give the whole garden a warm glow.

westie42 wrote:That's an enviable setup Don. You have created an oasis for sure. Hope you are not paying for public water. Would you ever consider wicking boxes for the TT.

Thanks, westie42. We have our own well so we just pay for the electricity to pump it. I use rain water when possible, but here on the desert we don't get much of that.

I water with a hose. I tried in the past to keep foliage dry but sometimes that just isn't possible. This year I've been more careless about that and I'm watching to see what the effects will be. I think it's less critical in this very dry climate. The leaves dry off very quickly. So far I haven't noticed any problem. In fact, direct spraying with water got rid of the spider mites from some of my pepper plants that I started under lights this year.

I don't really know much about "wicking boxes." Do you mean commercially available boxes or is there a way to construct them as SFG boxes?

Boffer has created a self-wicking tabletop and I am experimenting with a "pond" garden self-wicking setup. https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3068-sfg-wicking-boxes#22723

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t5716-experiment-to-deal-with-pure-sand-and-high-water-bills#49172

As well as the DIY selfwicking boxes made from rubbermain bins and 5 gallon buckets.

Kay

Don wrote: it's very pleasant and the lights give the whole garden a warm glow.

Yes, I find it quite soothing to look at the lights in my garden too. I love them.

Very smart set up Don. Welcome to the forum.