Instead of a veggie story this week, I thought I’d share my garden plans with you (ok, I’m biding time until our first farmers’ market opens on April 3rd –woo hoo!). First, a disclaimer. Not only am I a veggie ignoramus, but I’m a garden ignoramus as well. Sure, we grew tomatoes when I was a kid. I also tried planting some carrots. But I always pulled them up to early.
My grown-up gardening experience consists of a small plot in the backyard of a duplex where I grew tomatoes, beans, cucumbers and some herbs. The potatoes I planted never actually grew. After a length of time that seemed long enough for a potato to grow, I dug down in the dirt thinking maybe the potatoes were in there somewhere. I had no idea that a potato plant actually has a part that grows out of the ground.
This year, it’s time to get smart about growing more veggies. I have sun. I have space. And I have a husband willing to help put some raised beds together (though a husband certainly is not required.)
I’ve zeroed in on Square Foot Gardening. It’s a method created and made popular by Mel Bartholomew, a retired engineer.
The highlights:
- You garden in 4×4 foot raised beds which are divided into 1 foot squares
- Reduces the time needed for gardening
- You can grow more in less space than typical row gardening
- Great for beginners.
- You don’t have to worry about the condition of your soil: you use the perfect mix of gardening soil (Mel’s Mix)
- Mel has worked out the precise number of veggies per type to be planted per square
Here’s what one square foot garden box looks like:
After retiring and taking on gardening as a hobby, Mel looked at the typical “row” gardening and pointed out a number of inefficiencies. That was in 1975. He’s been square foot gardening, and perfecting his method, ever since. If this sound interesting to you, be sure to look for his most updated book, “All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space.”
So far, all we’ve done is gather the materials for two boxes. Box building will commence this weekend. If all goes well, a third box could be in my future. In the meantime, I’ll be dreaming of my vegetable bounty.
Are you planning a garden? Or are you a square foot gardener? I’d love to hear about it!
Crisitin-
I was just talking to a neighbor about making raised boxes, so cool! I will have to share this with her and check out the book.
Thanks for the info!
Good luck on your boxes!
Keri
Except for one failed attempt a few summers ago at large-scale, 10-person community gardening, I’ve never gardened. HOWEVER, this spring I might actually be able to move into a place with a backyard, so I would try my hand at “lasagna” style gardening. That is, making raised beds right on top of the grass, layering wet green matter (like grass clippings), dry brown matter (like dry leaves), and newspapers (I think) and leaving it for a year and then you have both compost and the grass beneath has been decomposed as well. Yes, it takes a year, but it’s practically no work!
If we move into a new place, I’d also like to try composting. We eat a lot of whole fruits and veggies, so I go through a lot of peels, tops, and ends! :)
K – it was so easy to build! I highly recommend the book.
S -Lasagna gardening has a nice ring to it. I’ve been drumming up the nerve to compost for awhile now. I think I’m just about ready to make it happen.
Where did you find the coarse vermiculite that is needed? I am wanting to start the square foot gardening and can’t seem the find it.
Hi Lois,
Not sure if you’re in the Denver area or not….but if so, I got my vermiculite at Paulino Gardens at 58th and I-25. Good luck!