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Re: Ideas on books?

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

From: <Mizcue@aol.com>


> Hi! I'm brand new at this. Have heard that square foot gardening is the
best
> idea for gardening. Can you recommend books, web pages, catalog, seed
> companies, etc? I don't even know how or where to start!
> I live in Maryland. I see that, in general, you all are starting seeds
now.
> Do you begin this early. Thanks for your help!

Fastest way to get up to speed is to read the book
Square Foot gardening by Mel Bartholomew
ISBN 0-87857-341-0
Or if your local library has them, the original PBS program on
same topic by same person.  (have not seem them myself
just heard good things...)

Good places to buy seeds, for smaller packets (because
of the intensive growing) try pinetree garden seeds at
www.superseeds.com  Smaller packets means less money
and at least a chance of using up the seeds before they
get too old.  I also like www.totallytomato.com
nice selection pretty catalog.  To be honest, one trick I have
is I leaf through all the catalogs and look at the pretty glossy
pictures then check to see if pinetree carries the same seed
and buy it there.  Most places have a shipping and
handling charge so don't buy one packet here and one
packet there, shipping will get expensive.

This year pick up any gardening magazine and fill out one of
those reader response cards saying you are interested in
every seed supplier so that you get next years catalog, as
most of the catalogs have already been sent.  And make sure
to circle EACH of the seed suppliers, I have found some compaines
whose ads would never get my attention, but whose catalogs and
later seed order fullfillment and quality get me to buy from them
every time I buy seeds.

Starting things.  Your first year plant by direct seeding in the ground
or by picking up transplants at the farmers market/hardware
store.  Try to start your own seeds indoors next year.  If
you want to try it this year, you still have time but need to
get cracking.  Here in Lincoln Nebraska I will be starting
my brocolli next weekend.  Starting your own seeds indoors
is very rewarding (cheaper than transplants) but a bit of a bother.
Your first year will be busy enough digging and amending.

The squarefoot system of Mel's (this list basically) lets you
grow your operation gradually.  That first hard prep of a bed
you do once, with minor touch ups (ammendments) later.
So start small, be successful, add another bed (garden of
course) next year.

Do we start this early?  Depends where you are, some are
harvesting.  I will be starting seeds starting next weekend and
lasting for the next 6 months.  My first outdoor planting will be
my peas on saint patricks day, then moving out cold hardy
transplants (under plastic) by April 1.  After last frost May1
I will start moving out Tomatoes and Peppers and all sorts
of wonderful things... The list goes on.  There is alot to do,
but spread out over time it takes about 2 hours a week, a little
here a little there.

I will start picking oriental style pea pods by the end of May
along with radishes, baby carrots, some green onions and
various lettuces.  By the end of June I will be pulling herbs
from the garden to use in fresh stuffed peppers and grilling
everything in sight.  Kabobs of assorted peppers, assorted
cherry tomatos, Green onions...  Salads will go from the
garden to the salad bowl, (might not even make it to the kitchen).

Welcome to the adventure.
Ron (fun is where you find it) Souliere


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