Square foot gardening question

[Alice]

You can read all about it Headfry on Jaxoms post on this thread.
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ead.php?t=1035

[Headfry]

Thanks Alice
HF
x

[littleweed]

Thanks! I was going to ask about SFG too!

I've been reading "All New Square Foot Garden" during the last couple of days and decided to give it a try in the lottie next year (giving me all winter to build raised beds )

Someone has been reading the same magazine as me. This sfg has got me all hyped up too! Just checked out all the sites for vermiculite and Aquaculture is by far the cheapest. I had no idea it was possible to buy in huge quantities and am absolutely chuffed to bits. Good luck to us all and lets keep the line going to see how we all fair.

[Alice]

I can see all the attractions of square foot gardening. Plan to give it a go myself. You can do it without vermiculite. I used to use that product with great results, BUT, now that I know more about it I don't use it anymore. (Links to asbestos, health hazards to those working in the industry, not just green. Ckeck it out and decide for yourself)

[heebiejeebie]

I've already ordered the vermiculite (100 litres) and I bought 3 grow bags (because I can carry them) for 100 litres of compost. Is there an alternative to peat moss?

[borage]

I use the square foot method as I only have a small patch and have been sucessful without the use of vermiculite

[CarolineW]

Sorry if I'm repeating anyone's post - I ran out of time to read them all before I have to shut the computer for the day! Vermiculite is very easy to get mail order online. Sharp sand also works. I've started to use a mix of the 2.

Also, you don't mention difficulties finding the peat which Mel says to use in his mix. I wouldn't dream of using peat, but coir works excellently. Again, I got it mail order via internet.

Hope this helps.
Caroline

[Phreddy]

Fellow grapes! Lend me your ears!
The Vermiculite plus other ingredients were just part of the hype that the author added in to make it all a bit more mysterious, IMHO.
If your soil doesn't need any additions why add? If it needs lighteners then add they.
SFG is/was a good idea but it can be taken too far. Just take the basic idea and go your own way.

Phreddy

[wormlady]

What is the difference between vermiculite and perlite please? I get both of these from Wilkos and mix a bit of each in with potting mixtures, but I might stop using vermiculite if its not eco-friendly in its production...

[CarolineW]

Wikipedia says: Vermiculite is a natural mineral that expands with the application of heat. The expansion process is called exfoliation and it is routinely accomplished in purpose-designed commercial furnaces. Vermiculite is formed by hydration of certain basaltic minerals. Perlite is an amorphous volcanic glass that has a relatively high water content. It occurs naturally In horticulture it makes composts more open to air, while still having good water-retention properties; it makes a good medium for hydroponics

[CarolineW]

Point taken, Phreddy - and I'm sure you're right. However, the soil in my garden is absolutely appalling, plus I'm a newbie. So I discussed 'Mel's Mix' with someone at my local garden centre, and together came up with something which seemed balanced. We're sorting out the garden in our recently bought house bed by bed (they're all raised beds - inherited from the last owners). As an experiment I've done one bed exactly according to Mel's mix (except with coir, not peat), one with a mix of top soil and compost, and one with the mix the garden centre guy and I came up with. Thought it would be interesting to compare them. I'll post the results if they're significantly different. My gut feel, though, is that they won't be.

[Phreddy]

I tried SFG last year but couldn't make a success of it. Most things grew too big! Essentially you must use the veg small.
Something good for you to try is a foot of mixed salad leaves under a polythene cloche - plastic plus cheap wire coathangers. The crop is forced and is like buying leaves from the supermarket.
Phreddy