| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Rea231 |
Posted - Feb 10 2010 : 04:56:25 AM
Has anyone tried square foot gardening? I just got the book from a friend and I am quite fascinated. Space is not limited for me but time is and this looks like it would be much easier to manage.
The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. |
| 22 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - May 06 2022 : 12:37:36 PM
I sort of do this. Our ground here is clay so basically everything I grow is above ground in raised beds. I have done this for quite a few years and really enjoy it.
Krista |
| YellowRose |
Posted - May 04 2022 : 3:31:30 PM
Kathy, I sorta do square foot gardening with raised beds 1' X 8' and 4 galvanized tubs. Raised beds and tubs are set on cinder blocks. I'm 80 so like you I no longer can bend over without getting dizzy or get down on my knees. I have Star of David okra growing in 2 tubs and mix-zinnias in the other two. Herbs in the raised beds.
Hugs, Sara "FarmGirl Sister" #6034 Aug 2014
FGOTM Sept 2015 & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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| isewbernina |
Posted - May 04 2022 : 3:20:39 PM
Square foot gardening
I believe I will try this. I am elderly,78, and getting down on the ground is next to impossible and getting up is not too pretty either. I don't want a big garden just a tomato or two, some cucumbers, green beans and pumpkins. That sounds do-able. My son is coming up from Ft. Worth so I just might suggest this project! I do have a Mantas that will help get the dirt up. What a Wonderful idea! Thank you ladies! Kathy
“Kindness is Free, Sprinkle that Stuff Everywhere.”
"I was cut out to be rich but I was sewn up wrong"
Sister#4076 |
| criley |
Posted - May 04 2022 : 2:53:56 PM
Is anyone on this topic string still square foot gardening?
Coni in MO
Livin' the Life of Riley |
| Ms_Ed |
Posted - Mar 04 2010 : 7:38:29 PM
I went to your blog. How awesome. Your pictures of your produce are great. Thank you for sharing. What is called square foor gardening here, we have referred to as raised bed gardening. We've been doing it for years. It's a great way to improve soil. I like your fence idea. I may adopt it. Thanks,again, e.
Edwina Shannon
Live, love, learn, think, give, laugh, try |
| sonshine4u |
Posted - Mar 02 2010 : 07:34:29 AM
Ms-Ed~
If you go to my blog, I have all sorts of pictures of my garden from last year and if you scroll far enough, you'll see my tutorial on a cheap way to grid your square foot garden.
~April
Playing in the Sonshine
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/sonshine4u |
| Ms_Ed |
Posted - Mar 01 2010 : 10:15:41 PM
Does any one have pictures? I currently garden in boxes... curious about this.
Edwina Shannon
Live, love, learn, think, give, laugh, try |
| sonshine4u |
Posted - Mar 01 2010 : 2:32:23 PM
Tawandasister~you can use cardboard or newspaper underneath. Just don't use colored newsprint.
Playing in the Sonshine
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/sonshine4u |
| Ms. Treadle |
Posted - Feb 26 2010 : 8:00:26 PM
I tried square-foot gardening with 2 beds last year and I loved it!! We're building probably 4 more this year. I loved not having to weed huge rows. I agree with my sister (Ms. Hannigan). I don't think I'll garden any other way again.
Blessings,
Leigh-Ann
The only place where housework comes before needlework is in the dictionary. ~Mary Kurtz
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| tawandasister |
Posted - Feb 26 2010 : 7:11:14 PM
When you fill the raised beds, do you line the bottom with anything in particular? Cardboard or newspaper? |
| sonshine4u |
Posted - Feb 23 2010 : 08:11:54 AM
I tried to trellis my melons last year, but the summer was too wet and cold for them to get big enough, quick enough.
My pumpkins did trellis over the edge, but because my boxes are in my backyard where the kids play and where we mow the lawn, it became problematic for the vines to be outside the box.
This year I tried digging straight into the dirt along our fence line so they could trellis up the fence. I don't think I worked the dirt enough for them to have a good go at it, plus the bees weren't around early enough for them to get pollinated at the right time. I had a pumpkin set on in early September! It was almost comical! This year I'll be planting more bee friendly flowers to help with the pollination woes! It's all a learning adventure!
Playing in the Sonshine
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/sonshine4u |
| Ms. Hannigan |
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 10:24:20 PM
quote:
Originally posted by sonshine4u
My only thing I'm frustrated with is the space for melons and pumpkins. I think that I need a bed just for these large things as they do take over and need a lot more space.
Happy Gardening!
Playing in the Sonshine
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/sonshine4u
I've not tried it,yet, but I did read that you can plant them (melons & pumpkins) at the front of your beds and let the vines grow along your paths. Let me know if it works!
...some women are drippin' with diamonds... some women are drippin' with pearls... look at me, lucky me, the only thing I'm drippin' with is... little girls...
Farmgirl #1158
blog: http://www.lifegetsmessy.com
website: http://www.eatlocaltn.com |
| sonshine4u |
Posted - Feb 17 2010 : 07:14:17 AM
I too love to square foot garden! It has been great for our backyard space! We started with one bed and now have 4. They are so easy to maintain! I love not having to break up hard dirt and dig up pesky weeds! I literally just pull weeds out of the dirt if they appear. There generally aren't many!
My only thing I'm frustrated with is the space for melons and pumpkins. I think that I need a bed just for these large things as they do take over and need a lot more space.
Happy Gardening!
Playing in the Sonshine
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/sonshine4u |
| Ms. Hannigan |
Posted - Feb 15 2010 : 4:32:10 PM
I LOVE square foot gardening! We live at the top of a very rocky hill, and have next to no topsoil. We get tons of veggies from our beds, and it's easy for our girls to help when they can easily see what's garden and what's not. We're planning on expanding our # of beds this year to have more to sell at the farmer's market. I don't think I'd ever garden any other way again. Have fun with it!
...some women are drippin' with diamonds... some women are drippin' with pearls... look at me, lucky me, the only thing I'm drippin' with is... little girls... |
| Candy C. |
Posted - Feb 15 2010 : 07:42:04 AM
I planted a winter garden yesterday and utilized square foot gardening for the lettuces, spinach, radishes and turnips. The peas still went in rows separated by trellises.
I don't have the book but may have to look into getting it. I just looked at the website for recommendations on "spacing." I plan on using square foot gardening for the summer garden as well. I have wanted to try this for years and this thread inspired me!
Candy C.
Farmgirl Sister #977
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. |
| Laur |
Posted - Feb 13 2010 : 12:56:17 PM
Square foot gardening is wonderful, John Jeavons has some great books on bio-intensive growing too that can help maximize output, sustainability, etc. Lots of info! Bountiful Gardens I believe is the website. Raised bed are great for kids, mine little ones were thrilled with their own little beds, and now I smile as my middle son talks about gardening with his new baby girl. First thing he did after getting their new home settled it was to reconstruct several raised beds and fill them with compost, he's asking about how soon Ellie can eat what kinds of veggie:)! |
| ruralfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 12 2010 : 07:49:17 AM
Yes, I follow it and love it. MaryJanesFarm magazine did an article on it as well last year and many of the Maven farmgirls tested it out... I will always follow this I suspect as I love the results I got.
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJanesFarm made us SISTERS :)
Rene'Groom~
Sisterhood Coordinator
Farmgirl Sister #185
www.MaryJanesFarm.com/RFBlog/
www.Twitter.com/ReneGroom
www.Prosserfarmgirls.ning.com
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| redbud |
Posted - Feb 11 2010 : 7:41:48 PM
My husband bought me the book today and I am going to try it this year. It looks really easy and a lot less work than the traditional type gardening!
to everything there is a season, a time to every purpose under heaven
http://christine-88stitches.blogspot.com
http://myoklahomagarden.blogspot.com |
| fiddlegirl89 |
Posted - Feb 10 2010 : 8:24:23 PM
I love square foot gardening, and my family did it for a couple of years, before we had lots of space. (Well, we did have plenty of space, but we were also trying to do pigs, chickens, and cows! LOL) I really loved that kind of gardening better, but since we've moved and now have pretty much unlimted space, everyone else wants looong rows. Why, I have no idea!
I'm doing some herbs this year, so maybe I can talk the guys into making me a few beds for my stuff!
~Kayla
http://www.custerfamilyfarm.com |
| graciegreeneyes |
Posted - Feb 10 2010 : 8:16:58 PM
I did a modified version last year and it was so much easier than long rows!!
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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| Lessie Louise |
Posted - Feb 10 2010 : 07:09:58 AM
I started it last year with two beds, and quickly went to four. I love it. My garden is large, and it has become overwhelming, but with the raised beds much more manageable. I plan to put in several more if it the snow ever melts! Good luck, Carol
Forget buns of steel, I'd rather have buns of cinnamon!
Farmgirl #680! |
| krbrown@rocketmail.com |
Posted - Feb 10 2010 : 06:37:31 AM
I did a square foot garden last summer. I have very limited space. I loved it. You don't have to weed or hoe a long row. You get more produce in a square foot garden. I will be doing it again this summer.
Farmgirl Kim |
