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Re: repost of my questions

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html


> found a great thick piece of glass 18"x4' and I have some plywood enough
> to make a 10" deep box to fit the glass for a raised bed. I thought I'd
> put it on the south end of the house. We live in zone 4.5 or so. I
> thought I'd put 4 squares in the front of the box and a 6"x4' length
> along the back for peas. Since its early I thought of swiss chard, leaf
> lettuce, beets and carrots in the front squares.
>     I'd like your opinions on this setup. I read the spacings in the
> book. It says only 4 swiss chard and 4 lettuce. Does this apply to leaf
> lettuce too or can I put in more. And only 16 carrots???  Would you just

I tried bright lights swiss chard last year.  4 to the square, they 
grew fantastic and as long as you remember to harvest from them
they will fit fine, It turned out I did not like the taste of chard so left
them alone and they shadowed the plants around them.  If you keep
them picked they should do fine.  I put in lettuce a little thicker then
Mel recomends and then thin straight to the lettuce bowl.  I have not
yet had luck with head lettuce so I can't comment on that.  
Last year I planted carrots at 36 to the square and then forgot all
about them.  They grow okay but by the end of the year they were
still baby carrots.  If you have large carrots 16 sounds about right,
if they are the tiny ones you could go for a higher density, I orginally
planned to thin the carrots but forgot where I planted them and
confused their green tops with some other herbs...
 
> follow the book or how would you recommend I set up this space to get
> the maximum out of it with these 5 vegetables?
>     I was going to fill the bed with vermiculite, store bought sheep
> manure, and peat moss. Would you add some sandy soil to this too or just

I would throw in a least a shovel full or two of your local dirt to 
inoculate the mix with your local microorganisms.
 
> leave it rich. I also have wood ash, coarse lime (not powdered) and
> uncomposted leaves from the fall available. Should I add some of these?
> Why does the book say not to add manure to carrots within 6 months of
> planting or they become deformed? Does this mean I shouldn't put any of
> the composted manure into the bed before I plant?

Root vegetables (or so it has been reported here) react funny when
there is too much manure.  I only had compost and my carrots (though
small) were excellent.

My beds were double dug then I added Peat and vermiculite to the the
top foot, and all the compost I could lay my hands on.  I am producing
enough compost now that my next beds will just get compost and the
leftover vermiculite I have.

>     I wasn't planning on getting fancy by trying to slope the glass top
> into a cold frame type angle. Do you think the box will still get enough
> 
> sun and warmth for these vegetables? It's still below 0 celcius up here
> in this zone some days. I'm looking forward to hearing your opinions.
>     Karen

The cold frame will allow the area to heat up,  peas lettuces etc are
cold tolerant, I have had my peas survive snowfall in the past, so I don't
think you will have any problems, the frame will just allow you to eek out
maybe a month longer growing cycle on both ends of the season.

Good luck.  Ron Souliere


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