Square Foot Gardening

**mkkl19** · 01-05-2009, 08:12 PM

Has anyone tried sq ft gardening before? Did you like it? Did it help keep the weeds down?

My husband and I are considering using this method this year, we have a 25x35 garden and we had trouble with weeds last year.

**LastDragonfly** · 01-05-2009, 08:38 PM

We've done it in the past. To me weeding is weeding. We only did square foot a couple of times. This year I'm going to incorporate lasagna gardening into our gardening repetoire.

**The Muse** · 01-05-2009, 08:56 PM

I had my first successful garden this past summer, and I used the SFG method. I can't believe how much food I got out of four 4x4 beds! I'm adding more beds this coming year and will continue to use this method.

I used Mel's mix and everything grew like crazy. I barely had a weed all summer. I had more maple seeds trying to take root than weeds. I had many more weeds in my past gardening attempts. The vermiculite is expensive and can be hard to find, but the mix is magic.

My only complaint is that I think some of his spacing is off. I planted tomatoes to the north of my peppers in the same bed, but the peppers were still shaded and barely grew. Next year, tomatoes will have their own bed.

**Persimmon Lace** · 01-05-2009, 09:34 PM

I use the whole SFG system and weeding was nothing. I love this system.

**Grayce** · 01-06-2009, 12:14 AM

I kind of do a variation of this. I used cedar fence boards to build 3 frames 6x3 ft. In the fall I did dig out the grass underneath where I placed them. I turned it all over and mixed in compost. I spaced the beds far enough apart that the lawnmover could cut the grass between them.

I completely filled the beds with the vege plants. I planted 2 different kinds of beans lettuce and tomatoes. I only had 5 tomato plants and we had tomatoes coming out our ears! Next year I'll probably only do 3 plants. I did not really have any weeding to do at all. I only pulled out the odd weed when the plants were first getting established.

The reason we chose to plant in frames is because we have a huge hill in our yard. I did not want to sacrifice the small level area we have to a garden. By using frames we are able to plant on the side of the hill. The soil is kept in by the sides and we maintain strips of grass between them to prevent erosion.

**brainyblonde** · 01-06-2009, 06:05 AM

I have been using this method for years. My book is so worn! I have 3x3 beds and the beds stay full most of the growing season. Weeding is minimal.

**pat in east texas** · 01-06-2009, 07:18 AM

I started one late last year, too late for most of the "fall garden" things. I did plant 2 tomato plants and some cukes. Also carrots,(the short ones), potatoes, basil, lavender, and this October, garlic. Things grew like weeds!! The tomatoes were loaded! I didn't expect the few potatoes to do anything, but we had a lot more than I could have expected. Next season I'm going to expand and fence to keep the critters out. Can't wait to see what a whole season will bring!

**IntlMom** · 01-06-2009, 07:39 AM

OK Ladies....I'm intrigued. Obviously this is a whole system that ya'll are talking about. Book? What book?? Enliighten me please.

**Grainlady** · 01-06-2009, 08:03 AM

Intlmom - here's a link that might help you out...

http://www.nepanewsletter.com/square.html

Check your local library for a book on the subject for more information.

I do a modified version of square-foot gardening along with container gardening. It's amazing how much produce you can squeeze out of a small space.

If you have some empty planters and pots, you can start leaf lettuce or spinach in them early (late Feb.-March around here). After you've had several cuttings (through April-May), pull out the edibles and replace it with 1/2-price annuals (bedding plants). After the August heat takes it toll, pull those out and use the pots for lettuce and spinach again. You'll have fresh greens for a couple more months.

I'm going to do some potatoes (fall crop) in garbage bags this year.

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/gr_fru...463475,00.html

**thefrug** · 01-06-2009, 08:16 AM

Last year was the first I did SFG. My carrots and parsnips were something else! I gave my tomatoes their own bed, also the sweet corn. Green beans were coming out our ears. Between these beds and my containers, we eat very well and preserve quite a bit for the two of us. I was giving cabbage away last year to the neighbors! LOL
Can't wait for March!

**mkkl19** · 01-06-2009, 09:18 AM

Grainlady- Thanks for the post about growing potatoes in garbage bags! I have a perfect place for them. We were looking into the trash can method, but I could grow more potatoes using multiple trash bags.

**The Muse** · 01-06-2009, 09:30 AM

Intlmom - The book is by Mel Bartholomew, and it's called "All New Square Foot Gardening". The older one is just called "Square Foot Gardening".

His website is: http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

You really don't need the book, everything you need to know is on his website.

It's a very efficient method, uses less water and fewer seeds than other methods and yields a ton. The start up cost is on the high side though because you should grow in a peat moss, compost, vermiculite mix and the vermiculite is expensive, but it should last from season to season.