Square foot gardening.

[Bigmallly]

I'm sure this has been discussed a million times before but I love the look of this pdf. Has anyone any first hand experience & tips. I hope the file can be helpful to others who are considering this system.

SFG Planting Distances

[cupcake]

Thanks for posting this. I started growing in raised beds last year and this is just the ticket!

[piskieinboots]

I have his book, it is a good read

[Magiccat1978]

I'm considering using this system as my growing space is limited. I've got the book on loan from the library at the moment and its quite interesting, although I'm only 73 pages in so I'll see how it goes

[Nicos]

Nice link!!

[Rossa]

I'm trying that system this year and Moon Planting (just ordered Under the Moon 2010 from Amazon) so thanks for the link. I've saved a copy to read later off line. More info the better. Worked out my grids and am getting some metal hoops this weekend to put into ground with garden twine to mark out the squares. Just checking what the soil needs in each square foot for each type of plant and what follow on veg can be planted after cropping.

PS Thanks for your tip on the B&Q for rain diverter kit on way to Whitkirk. All sorted now.

"... I went from adolescence to senility, trying to bypass maturity ..." - Tom Lehrer
Earth Wind and Fire

[Bigmallly]

I'm trying that system this year and Moon Planting (just ordered Under the Moon 2010 from Amazon) so thanks for the link. I've saved a copy to read later off line. More info the better. Worked out my grids and am getting some metal hoops this weekend to put into ground with garden twine to mark out the squares. Just checking what the soil needs in each square foot for each type of plant and what follow on veg can be planted after cropping.

PS Thanks for your tip on the B&Q for rain diverter kit on way to Whitkirk. All sorted now.

"... I went from adolescence to senility, trying to bypass maturity ..." - Tom Lehrer
Earth Wind and Fire

I tried planting by the moon last year, bought the book & calendar then lost the will to live. I couldn't keep up with it. My problem not the system.

I hadn't thought about the different pH level requirements in the soil......thanks for that.

Gad you got your diverter sorted.

[Bren In Pots]

Thanks for that BM, I 'might' be venturing out of pots soon because our last big fish has died so there's a chance the pond will be filled in.

[Bigmallly]

Sounds like exciting times ahead Bren.

[oldie]

I was given the new square foot gardening book at Christmas and the Bob Flowerdew complete book of companion gardening. From reading these I concluded the area to be concerned about with the square foot method is the companion effects i.e. beans don't like onions, garlic and beetroot(allegedly). On the other hand it may make it easy to have some beneficial herbs or flowers next to the growing crop, but there again nature does not always seem to be as orderly as we try to make it.

[Bren In Pots]

Sounds like exciting times ahead Bren.

I know and a lot of hard work to fill the pond in, later on if it ever stops snowing and raining I'll take photos and start a new thread because I'm bound to need ideas.

[Rossa]

I was given the new square foot gardening book at Christmas and the Bob Flowerdew complete book of companion gardening. From reading these I concluded the area to be concerned about with the square foot method is the companion effects i.e. beans don't like onions, garlic and beetroot(allegedly). On the other hand it may make it easy to have some beneficial herbs or flowers next to the growing crop, but there again nature does not always seem to be as orderly as we try to make it.

Zazen posted a link to a good companion planting table which I've used in planning out my grids. Saying that the one I already had said beans were ok with beets but another says not, that peas would be better.

Companion Planting for Better Yields

And with Moon Planting if you follow the biodynamic way of certain types of plant depending on which constellation the Moon is in you can get some exceptions. Earth type plants are supposed to be root veg, yet you can get jerusalem artichokes, a root and globe artichoke which I guess would count as a flowering veg which is a Fire type. And chard is a form of beet but as we eat the leaves does that count as a Water type which covers leafy veg or Earth cos it's a beet i.e. root. Confused, moi?

"... I went from adolescence to senility, trying to bypass maturity ..." - Tom Lehrer
Earth Wind and Fire

[Patchninja]

Thanks for the link. My book gives different densities for the planting and it can get so confusing for my pea-sized brain that I'm going to stick with my book and see how it goes. For example, he says 4 lettuces and my book says 5, he says 16 beetroots and mine says 5 If you DO get 16 can you let me know?
What my book does have is an interesting chart telling you what can go in each square next - it's in french but if anyone's interested, I'll scan a copy.

[WeaselPop]

I am planning to use this method as I am only allowed a small bit of garden for veg growing (plus loads of pots) as an experiment this year (more next year if I do well ). I am setting up 2 x 1m square beds so as they are about 3 foot square I thought I'd give it a go.

I don't know anything about gardening really but am full of enthusiasm I have been reading loads on the forum and in books but if anyone has any advice I am all ears. Particularly when it comes to deciding which are the best things to grow in pots compared to in beds?

So far I have some garlic and shallot sets plus some strawberrys planted in pots. I have some potatoes chitting ready to plant (i'm thinking in a bag as recommended by some of the grapes on here).

I hope to grow carrots, corguette, tomato, sweet and chilli peppers, herbs (about 12 kinds), beans, peas, beetroot, leeks, spring onions, lettuce.

Equipment wise I have a small heated propagator and a larger unheated one plus one of those 4 shelf plastic 'greenhouses'.

All advice gratefully accepted

[Rossa]

Just have to say I loved the idea to put plastic guttering horizontally round the raised edges of the beds filled with water to stop slugs and snails. I usually use Growing Success's organic slug pellets but may have to have a go at this idea instead.

And my cats will love the extra drinking water as they always seem to love drinking out of anything that has rain water in it rather than their drinking bowl. Can probably taste the chlorine or whatever fun things Yorkshire Water puts in the water supply.

At least the new barrels have lids on. I used to have an old metal drum that used to get the water off our old shed and I always thought one of the boys would fall in one day trying to drink the water...

"... I went from adolescence to senility, trying to bypass maturity ..." - Tom Lehrer
Earth Wind and Fire