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Help -- Soil Prep

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

Hi, Square Footers.

Boy, I'm enjoying this list, and getting a lot out of it. Thanks to everyone
for all your input, and to those with questions, too, because I'm learning
some things I may need to know about some day and getting many other great
information and ideas. 

Thanks also to Kim Kiernan for the great post on my earlier questions about
potting soil, planting soil and other commercially available bagged stuff.
And the thread on paths was fabulous. Thanks to all.

We just moved into our house in mid-January, and with all the unpacking (and
unpacking and unpacking), and other hubbub and commotion, we are way behind
in gardening this year. Actually, it's my first year to garden ever, but boy
am I LOVING it. I've heard it releases endorphins; I believe it.

At first I was feeling so overwhelmed by the whole idea of gardening at all,
but Mel's book was a real life-saver. I read it and thought, "Yes, this is
doable; this is manageable." I'm still overwhelmed at times at how much
there is to learn and know, but I love the doing and realize how much I'm
learning in the process. Of course, the list helps fill in a lot of other
blanks (some of which I didn't even know I had).

Anyway, just to get starting with SOMETHING we haphazardly tilled a small
area and popped some tomato and pepper plants in. A yellow squash or two.
Just to do something before spring was totally gone.

I have a gazillion questions, but since now I'm starting on preparing my sq
ft beds, I thought I'd better ask about this question straightaway. 

SOIL PREP
In his book, Mel suggests soil amendments totally 1/4 the volume of the soil
displaced when you first dig a bed out. So far, no problem. He says add leaf
mulch (or I suppose regular compost would do) -- ??, vermiclulite, peat
moss, and maybe sand. But he doesn't say in what proportions to make up your
1/4 volume. Any help here, anyone?

COMPOST
Speaking of compost -- there's good news and bad news. The good news is I
have some! And I made it myself -- wheeeee! The bad news is as I've dug some
out for the beds, I've all curled up ), and I don't find any good info in
either of my two bug books.  What to do? Will they get in my garden and
wreak havoc if I don't ferret them out? If there are these big guys, that
I've seen, are there any little ones I didn't see?  Any suggestions would be
appreciated.

Patricia
Zone 7, West Georgia


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