What do you guys think of "Square Foot Gardening"?

[Sugarcoated]

I adore the results of a vegetable garden, but don't have the time to maintain one. A couple years ago a co-worker of my husband showed us his square foot garden, one of the plusses being easy maitenance due to the close proximity of the plants, so, very little weeding. So, I saw the book last weekend at Sam's Club and impulsively scooped it up. I thought before I start reading I'd run it by some fellow gardeners. What think?

[Shakespeare]

1. I know that several of us here use it.

And the book is a good investment! This will be my second year using that method, and I'm modifying a few things this time, which I think is probably what most of us do (once we figure out what works best for us).

As one DUer noted in a recent post here (earlier this week), the book doesn't talk much, if at all, about starting seeds indoors so that you have established seedlings to plant--this also makes it easier to cull excess seedlings--and I strongly recommend doing so. It's inexpensive and easy to set up a grow light on a timer (let me know if you want specifics on how I did mine), and it can really give you a leg up on the growing season. I got all my seeds going about 5-6 weeks ago, and they'll be ready to transplant in another month.

His tips on growing things vertically are priceless.

[Sugarcoated]

2. One of my problems

with planting is, as usual, I think I've missed the boat and starting seedlings. Is it too late?

[Shakespeare]

3. You're in the Philly area? Maybe not too late...

Other DUer/gardeners from your area would know better than I would, but I'd imagine if you got going on them this weekend, and kept them very warm (to jump start their progress), you'd have decent seedling to plant not too long after mother's day (which I'm guessing is a "safe to plant" date for that part of the country).

[dcfirefighter]

4. I'm in DC

and I've started my cool season plants (they're in the ground), and started some hot season plants (tomatoes, eggplant, herbs).

They're still time (in MD) to start lettuce (a few days is all you need), beans, corn, peppers, cucumbers (later) melons (later) squash (later) basil, etc.

I highly recommend SFG, adapt it as you learn. Start out with a 3-5 foot square bed, as recommended in the book. You can buy most of the interesting things already started, esp. tomatoes. Personally, as a starter, I'd recommend:

Trellis with cuces & tomatoes. Bush beans, lots of lettuce (start in flats & keep transplanting as you eat). Radishes, b/c they grow fast. Cilantro, Basil. Maybe a pepper. Buy some white onion sets and grow them as green onions. Chives. It's nice to go out and have a fresh garden salad.

I had a problem with SFG, I think b/c the soil mix was too rich in N: I couldnt' get my carrots or onions to develop. I'd recommend using the his soil mix, but 'dilute' it to 50% or even 25% with existing soil from your yard.

[troubleinwinter]

5. I used the book/method

some years ago (haven't had a chance at a veg garden in awhile), and found it to be an excellent method. Easy to maintain, great for a smaller garden, and delicious results. I just happen to love Italian green beans, and grew the bush style, and I was in heaven.

[babylonsister]

6. Here's some more info for you:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=246x3354

[Sugarcoated]

7. Thankyou!

Sounds like I'll be trying this.

[laheina]

8. This looks like it will help me.

Thank you for posting this. I'm a complete gardening newbie, but this method looks like it might solve some of my problems. I can't wait to try it! :)

[dpbrown]

9. I'll be doing this in the spring, so it's good to read what people have to say

I spent the last couple years (slowly) building a set of raised beds. They're all different sizes, from 2X10 to 4X8 and they all fit in a pattern together. I couldn't find the mix he talks about, so I got a garden mix from the nursery with half compost, some sand, and some topsoil. My beds are 9 inches deep because my soil is so full of clay underneath.

I hope it works out.

I am still trying to figure out what to use to mark the grid before this spring comes around.

[LiberalEsto]

10. try blind slats

If you have an old set of blinds or excess slats from a new set, try those. But don't use old miniblind slats that might contain lead.

I tried SFG this past summer, and managed to successfully grow eggplants for the first time. We had 7-foot-high tomato plants growing on ropes. If it hadn't been for the rabbit getting in and eating the beans and carrots, it would have been a total success.

[dpbrown]

11. I'll look around for some used ones

I have some that are about 2 feet long, but none that would cover the 4 foot side or the length of the odd sized boxes I built - some are up to 10X2 along the edge of a fence.

Thanks for the tip!

[NMDemDist2]

12. i usually see them in the thrift shops and sometimes even patio door

verticals

[sazemisery]

14. Clay soil here too - SFG a must

[Gormy Cuss]

13. It's a good way to start vegetable gardening.

There is a lot of good info in the book. I used it as a guide for my first raised bed. If you haven't gardened before, buy starts of eggplant and peppers and at least one tomato if these are veggies that you'd like to grow. The first two can be temperamental to grow from seed. Tomatoes germinate very easily but if it's your first year, better safe than sorry -- one start means you'll have some tomatoes. Look for a determinate variety (smaller, compact plant.) You can shoehorn in a lot of herbs around the veggies in a single bed. Go wild!

[MaryBear]

15. The new version is worth getting.

It has simpler methods for doing things like mapping out square foot garden without boards. And building up rather than double digging. You could try picking up a used one and then looking at a new one at library, too.

[NMDemDist2]

16. cool, i've had the library volume for a month now

maybe i'll go check Amazon for the new one

[susanna]

17. I did it for the first time last year, and I would recommend it.

I have a tiny urban yard. I planted 54 sq. ft. last year using the SFG method. I was pretty skeptical, but I could not argue with the results (really, really good). I grew much more than I thought I could. It was easily the most efficient vegetable gardening I have ever done, and I love to experiment. I am going to stick with it this year.

Not only did I like the yield, but I love the ability to experiment using this method. Every year, I devote a few squares to a unusual plants or seeds, just to expand my horizons a bit. If it doesn't work out, I just yank and re-plant with a tried and true.