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Thanks for your help Phawk57. Winter set in before I could amend the soil in the beds, so I thought I'd try putting some compost in the spring. We live in the middle of the woods which has many, many oak trees, so I have had a lot of work trying to put goodness back into the soil, even to the point of bringing in better soil to put in the raised beds. Worked fairly well last year, but still needs work. This year my other half is going to cut more trees down to get more sunlight on the garden, too. The last place we lived we just planted stuff and it grew with very little amending the soil at all. So, this is a lot more challenging---but still fun. I can't wait till the snow goes away so I can get out there and play in the dirt. Again, thank you for all the ideas!
Today was an absolutely beautiful day in Alamogordo. I got the soilless mix put in my first new raised bed. Now I need to get busy and partition off my squares. I pulled weeds a bit. The mustard(weed) is really growing with all the moisture we've had. I worked a little in my original raised bed. The things I planted in the house are going to town. The peach is blossoming although I am a little concerned about that because the nights still get pretty chilly. I have a thing I can use to cover but I am trying to figure out how to do it. Even with a ladder it will be a challenge. What a gorgeous day!!!!
We need to keep this thread alive for the coming year.
I've got eight 4"by4" boxes built and standing by in the backyard. I made mine from 2" by 8"s.
I lucked out and found a guy selling coarse vermiculite on craigslist. He had to order a whole pallet for his gardens. (can't find the coarse around here)
My wife has ordered all her favorite Asian vegetable seeds, long bean, setow, upo, bitter melon and I don't know what else. I'll get to grow some of my favorites too.
We will be doing a lot of vertical growing. I plan to use the steel conduit and nylon net.
I've scoped out a few sources of store bought compost, cow, chicken, mushroom. I'll be picking them up this week and the peat moss.
I'll be ripping up a couple extra 2" by 8"s to make my grids.
I would imagine that you have a Southern States in your area, if they don't have it they will order it for you. It is a great source for things agricultural.
This is my first square foot garden. I have a great raised 3x6 bed and have found the gardeners.com site to be very helpful, especially in planning my garden (they have a tool where you can place your veggies in the garden and they tell you how many to a square).
I did cheap out on the soil mix. I had to cut costs somewhere and I figured I'd do the best I could and next year do the real Mel's mix. So, I have "garden mix" from a local nursery who made me promise not to add compost or I'd burn the veggies...how badly will this effect my efforts of square foot gardening vs. Mel's mix?
I am very excited to see how everything grows together in such a small space and I hope that I'm able to grow enough for more than 1 salad.
In the first bed I planted I have my first lettuce seedling up. Now I am waiting to see signs of snap peas, spinach, and cabbage. I am wondering if I should plant the peas again because I didn't expect them to take this long. Any one got any ideas??
I planted the second bed yesterday with some pole beans and radishes. I have some tomatoes I would also like to put in it but it's still a little early. I have been putting the eggplant, tomatoes, bell pepper, and marigolds that I started in the house out during the day but the eggplant got a little sunburn. I just transplanted basil and cilantro into peat pots.
In the first bed I planted I have my first lettuce seedling up. Now I am waiting to see signs of snap peas, spinach, and cabbage. I am wondering if I should plant the peas again because I didn't expect them to take this long. Any one got any ideas??
I planted the second bed yesterday with some pole beans and radishes. I have some tomatoes I would also like to put in it but it's still a little early. I have been putting the eggplant, tomatoes, bell pepper, and marigolds that I started in the house out during the day but the eggplant got a little sunburn. I just transplanted basil and cilantro into peat pots.
I found that my seeds all took quite a bit longer than the package said they would (tomatos and peas too). Perhaps unusually cold night time temps had something to do with it.
I spoke too soon. This a.m. before the wind started I was out watering and I saw 5 pea shoots. Yahoo!! I can already taste those sweet things.
How exciting!!!!
mjmama- Congratulations. Wait until you see you first vegetables. It is so exciting. I used the Mel mix last year and I had no weeds all summer. I think you will be fine with your soil but you may have to weed a little more.
I am back home so now it's time to start thinking about my SFG. This will be the second year I do this. I learned a lot last year and I am sure I will learn even more this year
I will be doing two 3x12 garden beds. This year I want to plant flowers with my veggies because they are supposed to help each other. Any ideas?
What is everyone using to stake their pole beans?
I am in the planning stages. I can't plant until May so I am in for the dreaded wait. I would love to start seeds indoors but I live in a berm(semi underground) solar home and I don't think I have enough sunlight. Can I out seedlings outside in the sun?
Thank you everyone for keeping this thread up and alive. I love doing the Square Foot Gardening. It is just right for me. I have an ongoing joke with a friend who has a big garden...I call mine the little girl garden
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