Square Foot Gardening 2012

[cazp]

I had thought about this - although if it s one of the big squashes it would probably need supporting in some tights or something tied to the trellis. If I do a squash I will let it ramble over the side as previuosly suggested on this thread for courgettes.

[Bigmallly]

If you get time, have a browse through this, it may or may not help.

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

[Bigmallly]

For anyone that has an android phone, there is a nifty little app called "Garden Squared" available. Saves carrying pencils & paper (which I tend to lose anyway).

[hollychap]

an interesting thread , i was just reading the march issue of gyo the topics covered in it . i had not heard of this method before

[treepixie]

I am trying this method this year, i have a small area for veg in the garden and have 25 squares to grow in.

[justgimmeethefaxmaam]

Hi cazp
I have taken on one third of a lottie this year.
It's going to be my square foot gardening project.
I too have decided to keep my salads/ tomatoes and peppers at the house for ease of watering/feeding/picking regimes.

But I think I've got some interesting plans drawn up for my eight 4ft x 4ft beds.

Number One entire bed will be sweetcorn, positioned so as not to throw shade.
No 2 entire bed of half Yellow mangetout and half Dwarf Mangetout.
Number 3 will be a combination of brassicas.
Number 4 bed will be a selection of root veg including celeric/Purple Khol Rabi/Beetroot.
Number 5 bed is half Dwarf Broad Beans and half Borlotti beans.
Number 6 is a mixture of kale/pak choi/garlic/spinach/Dwarf Broccoli.These will be succession planted.
Number 7 bed is planned for 2 sprawling winter squash.
Bed 8 is 2 rhubarb crowns.

Each bed will have 2 squares of Marigolds. 2 to a square for crop protection.

I'll be using cardboard for paths and recycling it through the compost bins as needed.
I have some insect netting at the ready,some bird nets and scarers.
I'll be using seaweed and chicken manure pellets as fertilisers.

I found a post on the grapevine, I think it's on the main square foot gardening thread and it has a guide for how many plants per square foot for Northern European light levels I'm going with that for my spacing.

I hope I've not bored you will the detail.

I hope you get all the advice you need and do well
Wish me luck....

Glenda

[Alan G]

Slightly OCD maybe but I've attached my SFG plan for this year.

I did courgettes last year in my SFG beds - it worked very well using a corner square to let them trail over the bed.

This year I've made room for them in a new border I've turned over.

[Kaiya]

I have never used SFG and only know what I've read here, but isn't one aspect of it that the squares mix and match? Like this sort of thing: http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/wp...arden_Plan.jpg Otherwise, isn't it just block planting? Feel free to shoot me down if not - as I say, I only heard about it from this forum

Depending on what house I end up getting in life (probably one with a small garden!) I can see myself using SFG. I think the end result looks fab, as well as being functional.

[Bigmallly]

I have one raised bed dedicated to SFG, 25' x 4' giving me 100 squares to work with (glad I went to school now). Anyways, I agree with Kaiya in that the squares won't be planned but used for crops I don't have room for in the main beds. Not bothered where they go, no rhyme or reason. To me, that's what SFG is all about.

[cazp]

I found a post on the grapevine, I think it's on the main square foot gardening thread and it has a guide for how many plants per square foot for Northern European light levels I'm going with that for my spacing.

I hope I've not bored you will the detail.

I hope you get all the advice you need and do well
Wish me luck....

Glenda

Hi Glenda, not at all bored with the detail, sounds like a great plan and only wish I had as much space as you do. I am not as organised and still tweeking the plans for my two little 4ft square beds to make the best of the space I have. Will certainly follow up that lead on spacing - I have planted only 9 red onions per square foot and 4 garlic per square foot (less than in the SFG book) on the basis I want larger vegetables but hadn't thought of light levels, so should make interesting reading.
Good luck with your plans, would be interested to know how things go for you.

[cazp]

I have one raised bed dedicated to SFG, 25' x 4' giving me 100 squares to work with (glad I went to school now). Anyways, I agree with Kaiya in that the squares won't be planned but used for crops I don't have room for in the main beds. Not bothered where they go, no rhyme or reason. To me, that's what SFG is all about.

Hi
Thanks for the advice on your threads. I have spent a bit of time plannng my beds to take account of companions/rotation etc... maybe I should be a bit more relaxed! do you rotate crops within each square, and how do you go about replenishing the nutrients used up?.

[cazp]

Slightly OCD maybe but I've attached my SFG plan for this year.

I did courgettes last year in my SFG beds - it worked very well using a corner square to let them trail over the bed.

This year I've made room for them in a new border I've turned over.

Hi, plans look fab! how many squares did you allow for your courgette (I was hoping to get away with one)

[Bigmallly]

Hi
Thanks for the advice on your threads. I have spent a bit of time plannng my beds to take account of companions/rotation etc... maybe I should be a bit more relaxed! do you rotate crops within each square, and how do you go about replenishing the nutrients used up?.

I personally don't plan to rotate withing the SFG bed. As a square becomes available, it will be filled with whatever I have waiting to be planted whether it be veg or flowers.

[Sqft'ers]

Pleased to see all the interest in the sq/ft idea we have 2 - 12ft x 4ft cloches and started things in the bay window ready to plant out, for paths always used well churned-up hedge cuttings from the shredder to suppress weeds. Underneath it eventually makes rough compost which is seived into decent stuff and spread on the garden as a mulch/feed.

[Alan G]

Hi, plans look fab! how many squares did you allow for your courgette (I was hoping to get away with one)

From memory I left 6 end squares in one of the beds for 2 courgettes.

With the courgettes spaced in the middle of the 6.

I never felt they were over-crowded or over-crowding anything else.

And they were allowed to trail over the bed onto the lawn.

Just watch when its time to cut the grass

I'll upload a photo when I get home.