Comments on: How to Make a Square Foot Garden http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/ The Documented Experiments of an Alberta Gardener Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:32:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: lynda http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-434 lynda Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:32:12 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/hints-tips-howtos/22/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-434 hello just looking over this site and glad to hear others are sfg ....this is our first year and so far it is wonderful, just had out first salad of tomatoes, greens, radish, and onions. Yummy! wonderful for a small yard with lots of flowers. i will come back to this site again. Lynda hello just looking over this site and glad to hear others are sfg ….this is our first year and so far it is wonderful, just had out first salad of tomatoes, greens, radish, and onions. Yummy! wonderful for a small yard with lots of flowers. i will come back to this site again. Lynda

]]> By: Dave http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-275 Dave Wed, 21 May 2008 22:24:32 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/hints-tips-howtos/22/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-275 This year I've blended the squarefoot garden concept with the traditional long-rows garden. My garden is 30 feet wide, so I've run two 30 ft lengths of 2x6s four feet apart with dividers every three feet - essentially 10 blocks of twelve sq. feet each. So I have carrots in two blocks, onions in another, dill in one, beets, lettuce, etc.... So I'm able to plant a much greater volume in this space than if I had planted them in single rows. I'll try to put up a picture or two when things start sprouting. This year I’ve blended the squarefoot garden concept with the traditional long-rows garden. My garden is 30 feet wide, so I’ve run two 30 ft lengths of 2×6s four feet apart with dividers every three feet - essentially 10 blocks of twelve sq. feet each. So I have carrots in two blocks, onions in another, dill in one, beets, lettuce, etc…. So I’m able to plant a much greater volume in this space than if I had planted them in single rows. I’ll try to put up a picture or two when things start sprouting.

]]> By: Diane http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-274 Diane Wed, 21 May 2008 14:48:57 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/hints-tips-howtos/22/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-274 I planted a square foot garden several years ago to great success so I don't know why I didn't continue. Ironically, that's how I'm planting my garden again this year so it was a surprise to find your post on this. My dimensions are different but the results are the same. I hope many others give it a try. I planted a square foot garden several years ago to great success so I don’t know why I didn’t continue. Ironically, that’s how I’m planting my garden again this year so it was a surprise to find your post on this. My dimensions are different but the results are the same. I hope many others give it a try.

]]> By: Greame http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-250 Greame Fri, 16 May 2008 16:56:31 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/hints-tips-howtos/22/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-250 OMG! I made a square foot garden for the first time last year and i got so many pretty flowers growing it was da bomb. I love SFG! They make my life the best. I live off the food i grow in my SFG. I have been able to quit my job move into the country. OMG! I made a square foot garden for the first time last year and i got so many pretty flowers growing it was da bomb. I love SFG! They make my life the best. I live off the food i grow in my SFG. I have been able to quit my job move into the country.

]]> By: Kodi http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-194 Kodi Fri, 02 May 2008 01:05:27 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/hints-tips-howtos/22/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-194 I found medium vermiculite in the big 4 cu. ft. bags at parkland nurseries. Yes, it is a LOT cheaper than the little fiddly bags. Being also southeast of Red Deer, and planning our first SFG at a total of (gulp) 160 sq. ft., we need a lot! Did you happen to see how much of a selection of compost and manure Peavey Mart had this spring? I tried many seedlings this year in anticipation of the garden, including some hot pink cauliflower for fun, but most did not survive the long dark week+ of that snowstorm. I had been putting them out for an hour or two of good sunshine a day up until then, and all my red onions and broccoli just kind of fell over from lack of light. (yes, my indoor light set-up was severely lacking. Better effort next year, live and learn). I still have 7 tough little pink cauliflower hanging on, though! Plan to build and transplant this weekend, all being well. Sure is nice to see someone else doing the square foot garden thing, so close to where we live! I found medium vermiculite in the big 4 cu. ft. bags at parkland nurseries. Yes, it is a LOT cheaper than the little fiddly bags. Being also southeast of Red Deer, and planning our first SFG at a total of (gulp) 160 sq. ft., we need a lot! Did you happen to see how much of a selection of compost and manure Peavey Mart had this spring?

I tried many seedlings this year in anticipation of the garden, including some hot pink cauliflower for fun, but most did not survive the long dark week+ of that snowstorm. I had been putting them out for an hour or two of good sunshine a day up until then, and all my red onions and broccoli just kind of fell over from lack of light. (yes, my indoor light set-up was severely lacking. Better effort next year, live and learn). I still have 7 tough little pink cauliflower hanging on, though! Plan to build and transplant this weekend, all being well.

Sure is nice to see someone else doing the square foot garden thing, so close to where we live!

]]> By: Dave http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-193 Dave Fri, 02 May 2008 00:41:41 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/hints-tips-howtos/22/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-193 In the Peavey Mart in Red Deer there are 20 litre bags of coarse vermiculite and 110 litre bags of fine vermiculite. I might guess the Peaveys in Edmonton might have it as well. I've actually never used the coarse stuff as this is the first year I've ever even seen it available - plus the fine vermiculite in the larger size is much better value for your money and it seems to work just fine. In the Peavey Mart in Red Deer there are 20 litre bags of coarse vermiculite and 110 litre bags of fine vermiculite. I might guess the Peaveys in Edmonton might have it as well. I’ve actually never used the coarse stuff as this is the first year I’ve ever even seen it available - plus the fine vermiculite in the larger size is much better value for your money and it seems to work just fine.

]]> By: Jane http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-192 Jane Thu, 01 May 2008 23:13:43 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/hints-tips-howtos/22/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-192 Do you know where in the Edmonton area I can buy coarse vermiculite? I can't seem to find it. Do you know where in the Edmonton area I can buy coarse vermiculite? I can’t seem to find it.

]]> By: Dave http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-191 Dave Thu, 01 May 2008 23:09:56 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/hints-tips-howtos/22/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-191 Well, here's the cool part. Kinda yes, kinda no. Since the cardboard is biodegradable, after a while, the roots will BE ABLE to penetrate the soil beneath, but they DON'T NEED TO. You can build your SFG with a wooden bottom (with hole drilled in for drainage), and things will grow just fine in six inches of dirt. So by using cardboard, the weeds will be killed off, the cardboard will then biodegrade, and the roots can go as deep as they like. Well, here’s the cool part. Kinda yes, kinda no. Since the cardboard is biodegradable, after a while, the roots will BE ABLE to penetrate the soil beneath, but they DON’T NEED TO. You can build your SFG with a wooden bottom (with hole drilled in for drainage), and things will grow just fine in six inches of dirt.

So by using cardboard, the weeds will be killed off, the cardboard will then biodegrade, and the roots can go as deep as they like.

]]> By: Rita http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-190 Rita Thu, 01 May 2008 22:44:07 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/hints-tips-howtos/22/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-190 This looks incredibly easy (SFG); great instructions on how to build the square garden. I'm curious about the cardboard used as a base. This means the vegetable roots do not penetrate downward into the soil beneath; but remain above the cardboard growing just in the soil mix. Is this correct?? This looks incredibly easy (SFG); great instructions on how to build the square garden. I’m curious about the cardboard used as a base. This means the vegetable roots do not penetrate downward into the soil beneath; but remain above the cardboard growing just in the soil mix. Is this correct??

]]> By: Dave http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-118 Dave Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:46:52 +0000 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/hints-tips-howtos/22/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/#comment-118 You can plant your square foot garden as soon as you would a traditional garden. Being just south of Red Deer, I plant my garden in early/mid May. Most people around here plant their gardens on the third weekend of May. As for books, I'll tell you three books that I've found useful for my yard planning: #1. New Complete Home Landscaping by Catriona Erler - This is a encyclopedia of everything to do with landscaping - lots of pictures for ideas. #2. Designing Alberta Gardens by Jan Mather - This book lists many plants that grow well in our Alberta climate. #3. Gardening Manual for Canada by Dorling Kindersley Ltd. - This one is more a how-to for everything gardening - from planting to pruning and everything in between. Lots of step-by-step pictures. And if you want more information about square foot gardening, get the book All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. Enjoy! You can plant your square foot garden as soon as you would a traditional garden. Being just south of Red Deer, I plant my garden in early/mid May. Most people around here plant their gardens on the third weekend of May.

As for books, I’ll tell you three books that I’ve found useful for my yard planning:

#1. New Complete Home Landscaping by Catriona Erler - This is a encyclopedia of everything to do with landscaping - lots of pictures for ideas.
#2. Designing Alberta Gardens by Jan Mather - This book lists many plants that grow well in our Alberta climate.
#3. Gardening Manual for Canada by Dorling Kindersley Ltd. - This one is more a how-to for everything gardening - from planting to pruning and everything in between. Lots of step-by-step pictures.

And if you want more information about square foot gardening, get the book All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. Enjoy!

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