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Re: brand spanking new

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

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>  From: Susie K
>  Hello,

>  I am waiting for my husband to build me 3 raised 4' by 4' beds as I want
>  to buy Garden Loam from my garden center rather than try to amend
>  my own clay soil. I am figuring my beds should be 12" if I do it this
way?
>  It doesn't seem like 6" would be deep enough??

My long beds (4x8 feet) are nine inches tall.  So 12 inches is fine but
don't
feel like you have to fill all the way to the top.  Even if you want to add
brand new soil on top I would suggest that you at least break up the soil
that will be underneath, you don't have to go crazy but it will help
drainage.

Carefull with the garden loam.  Some places have what is called
pulverized soil.  It is soft and fluffy and looks wonderful, but often
it is just clay taken from a constuction site and pulverized to make
if fluffy, the first time it gets wet it packs down.  Even if you go with
the Garden Loam (Assuming your store has the good stuff) I would
suggest that you add half a bale of peat and a few buckets of vermiculite
(strangely enough just like Mel suggests in his book).  When I made
my beds I shortchanged the last bed on vermiculite and peat moss,
after comparing how the bed settle, perform and how easy they are
to maintain, I am redoing the bed I cut corners on.
(If you buy vermiculite, buy it by the big bag.  I found that a
20 gallon bag (I am guessing at this, the bag was 4 feet tall) cost
twice as much as a 1 gallon bag.  (Peat may or may not be
a renewable resource, but you only buy it once)

>  Also I am just starting and here it is almost the middle of April
>  already. Can I still start my Spring crops (lettuce, beets, etc) this
>  late?? I sure hope so!!

It is worth a try, I don't know how accurate this map is but I like to
use the weather channel maps as a guide.  For example
http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/homeandgarden/usplantingearlyapril_larg
e.html
(If this URL splits to multiple lines just cut and paste it back together
in your browser)
This map suggests that you may be just in time for the crops you mentioned.

> Also...It is just my husband and I and I plan on putting in three beds.
>  Is this a good number for 2 people?

The book suggests starting small to guarantee sucess, if you like it
you can always add more later.  I had been gardening in my clay
with a few rows of tomatoes etc, I then had moved to container
gardening, so when I tried Square foot I jumped in with 4 squares
(actually two beds 4x8).  The size was perfect.   A year or so ago
I added another two squares, have used them as a compost pile
for a year or two and this year I will be adding a few more squares.
So for 2 adults and a 5 year old I have 5+ active squares plus some
opportunistic plantings.  (zucchini on the wood pile...)  Veggies
are a major part of our diet and the five beds will keep us in
vegatables, salads and the renew our spice supplies for the year.

>  (Wish me luck:)
>  Susie in Washington State (Western Wa)

Good Luck!  Have fun, take it in small chunks.
Ron Souliere (Lincoln Nebraska)


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