Square foot gardening

**Russ** · 07-14-2008, 12:38 PM

I bought the Mel Bartholmew book some years ago and finally decided to give it a go this year in my new raised beds.
I have always been the traditional "row" gardener and the practice of sq ft gardening seemed like a pretty good idea.

Well, I'm not "thrilled" with the outcome of some of it.
For example: the tomatoes I planted are so tight together that I will break a lot of vine just to harvest whats in the middle.
Planting next to the tomatoes according to the book causes issues too. Anything in the next "square" should be a short season crop that comes out before the tomatoes get too big.

On a positive note, I did get a crop of radishes and then a crop of spinach out of one square.

I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from using the method, just plan carefully.

**The Muse** · 07-14-2008, 01:01 PM

I agree. I'm giving SFG a go this year and will definitely have to make changes if I'm going to continue with this method. In no universe are 2 squares enough for squash and there's no way that one square can handle 8 pole bean plants. I'm in the same boat as you with my tomatoes, they're a jungle.

His plant no more than 2 seeds rule is suspect too, I think Romaine needed more than 2 seeds per plant to grow anything useful. The heads are very thin, I'd need at least 8 of them to make a salad.

The soil mix is great, though. Everything is growing like crazy and there are barely any weeds.

**blitzen** · 07-14-2008, 01:05 PM

I agree! My tomato plants are crazy! I have two per square and they have totall over taken the entire box. Although my roma tomatoes are fine having 2 plants per square. But the sweet 100s and grape tomatoes are like a jungle.

I do like the Mel's Mix and love that there's no weeds. The only thing I've had to pull out of my box are those maple tree helicopters that coated our yard this spring.

**Russ** · 07-14-2008, 01:07 PM

I couldn't bring myself to buy the vermiculite so I just went with a 50/50 mix of top soil/ compost. Things are growing beautifully but maybe too good on the maters.
I have been keeping a log of my mistakes this year and will re-think it for next year.

And probably add on another raised bed. 4X8 seems to be the perfect size for me.

**Russ** · 07-14-2008, 01:10 PM

btw.. where did you get your vermiculite? On-line somewhere?

**blitzen** · 07-14-2008, 01:14 PM

I think next year I'm going to clear out a bed behind my garage. Right now it's just groundcover but will be a perfect spot for 8-10 tomato plants. Then I will use the boxes for other stuff.

I have a heck of a time getting broccoli to grow. Three years running and I have yet to produce *anything*. Green beans do great for me, though.
Here's a picture of my tomato box:

**The Muse** · 07-14-2008, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by rcannon

btw.. where did you get your vermiculite? On-line somewhere?

I got mine at the local Agway. It was difficult to find. I considered buying online, but the shipping costs were ridiculous.

One Agway I called didn't stock it, but could order it. It's probably worth a shot if you've got one close to you. It was about $30 for a big bag.

**Russ** · 07-14-2008, 01:19 PM

I got 3 small heads of broccoli out of 4 plants. It just got too hot, too early and they started to flower.
However, next year I'm planning on a lot of broccoli for freezing.