What is square foot gardening?

[SusieG]

Hello fellow gardeners! I'm a struggling beginner with a bit of space to play with and don't know how to start! Do I go with raised beds or just ' normal' beds. Also have seen bits about 'square foot gardening'. All a bit of a minefield to me.
I want to grow, to start, a few things we like - peas, runner beans, broad beans, carrots, lettuces, radish. Potatoes will be grown in containers, I think!
I have a lovely big greenhouse currently growing tomatoes and chilli plants. Oh yes, time (as for most of us I expect) is rationed so anyone with ideas for best use for my plans, would much appreciate! Thanks

[Jay-ell]

Hi Suzie and welcome.

A raised bed at its simplest is just a bed that is higher than the surrounding paths - digging it over or making lazy beds will do that for you - they don't have to have edging around them, you can leave that till your sure of the layout.

Square Foot Gardening is an intensive planting method using beds four foot by four foot.

If you have some time on your hands have a look here

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_44388.html

It's good that you know what you want to grow. May be a bit late to start some of them now but I'm sure some one more knowledgeable will be along soon.

Remember that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Answers, may vary - especially if they come from me.

[Jay22]

Tried this for the first time last year and was quite successful. This year not so much but that has more to do with the weather and the fact that the trees which border our garden have grown so tall that the raised beds now get a lot of shade rather than sun. Think it's a great idea if your space is limited.

[Lumpy]

Hello SG and welcome to the Vine.

I am sure that when you have the time to have a good mooch around the various threads you will find no end of growing ideas from traditional beds to raised ones, SFG to pots and containers as well as numerous other ways to find homes for the veggies you like.

Enjoy!

[SusieG]

Square foot gardening etc

Thanks for responses!
I've still got a bit of time to decide how to proceed with my veggie patch - the ground has some serious weeds to shift (see home page.. pics have appeared upside down, due to my lack of tec knowledge ..)
I've doused 'em with Weedol Rootkill Plus (don't tell me off all you 100% organic gardeneres - you should've seen it before I started! It was a jungle!!! Anyway, thinking of digging it all over and mulching/green mulching over winter, then planting out in spring stuff I've started in the greenhouse! Does that lot all sound like a plan? Would welcome any ideas, please! 😁

[Jay-ell]

Sounds like a plan but there are things you could still sow now if you've got a bit prepped.

What's your location?

You could build a lazy bed for now. Your local council may provide cheap soil conditioner/compost. You could cover a patch with cardboard then pile up this and plant into it either module growm or shop bought plugs.

This works if it's annual weeds or even zapped and dying weeds but if it's something like bindweed then digging it out is the best option.

p.s. I think that next month is the time to start your new potatoes for Christmas dinner - grow them in bags or buckets and put them in the greenhouse later on.

[SusieG]

Lazy beds?

So a 'lazy bed'? Is that where you said to cover sprayed weeds with cardboard then plant through that? Sorry to be a bit dim!!
I'm located in Warwickshire
Was going to do some potatoes in bags - get from garden centre?

We're off to the Lakes for a week tomorrow - forecast wet all week! Tomatoes/chickens will be looked after ... Can't wait to get stuck into cultivating my bit of 'veggie patch' on our return! 😀

[SusieG]

#2 lazy beds

Oh yes, is bindweed that 'sticky' stuff that is really long and grows around everything ?
If it is then I've got loads - plenty of digging ...

[Guest]

Bindweed wraps itself around everything, has white brittle roots, white trumpet shape flowers but I wouldn't describe it as sticky.

Goose grass is sticky/fuzzy and grows little green balls or burrs with elongated leaves. Can't think of any other weeds you would describe as sticky.

[Jay-ell]

You can plant through the cardboard but I was suggesting that you covered the cardboard with compost and plant into that. Your council mau sell cheap compost made from green waste.

This way the weeds aren't able to break through the cardboard and die, the roots compost and the soil should be easier to dig later.

Ypi could get some things growing not then dig in autumn

[veggiechicken]

Is your plot in your garden or on an allotment? Any idea what area it is?
The more we know, the easier it is to make suggestions!

[SusieG]

It's my back garden. I live in Warwickshire

I have a greenhouse and access to an outside tap. There's a load of leylandi trees around the one side, so won't attempt growing anything by them. There's a big old apple tree who's days are numbered (the fruits small and think it's most probably diseased). Then my 'patch' will be in sun from about 11am until evening - there's a bit of a run-down mini pond thing complete with associated plants. Also brambles and some overgrown rose bushes and honeysuckle and jasmine. It would've looked lovely at some stage, but it's not my bag. It's the veggies I'm into! 😃

[SusieG]

Cheers Jay! Great advice which sounds achievable !
I think the long winding 'sticky' stuff (it hangs onto your trouser leg when you brush past it!!!) is goose grass then?

[SusieG]

Yup, it kinda grabs your trouser leg if you brush past it!! And not so easy to pull it off!

[SusieG]

Thanks, ok, got it now!! Yes, top the cardboard with compost etc then plant through!! ��
Looking forward to getting things moving now!