Square Foot Gardening Thread

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Did you use the grids?

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Did you use the grids?

Nope, never even seen them back then. Really don't see a point to them either.

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HEY KASSAUNDRA - I've heard of this technique from some 'Old-Timers' and I'm trying my own "experiment" too! I didn't have any tires to make a "short-stack"as they call it like you,but I've got LOTS of chicken wire and fencing.As a variation on the tire stack,I closed off one end of one of my raised beds with a piece of fence (already surrounded by chicken wire to keep my beloved chickens out)This creates a space I can build up as the plants grow.I'm making the assumption that portions of the plant that get covered will develop roots (and then potatoes) I've always planted my tomatoes very deep to take advantage of this.

I must say the OP (Original Poster) who began this thread has got us ALL beat! 12 raised beds with (soon to be) grass pathways! *SWEET!* Can't wait to see what he plants!Hope he UPDATES!

OK - SHOW and TELL time!
I've always MUCH ENJOYED seeing other people's pictures and gardens-I hope you will bear with me as I share mine! Kinda "PIC-HEAVY" and presented "HOW-TO"style.
(I got a new camera for Christmas!) Here goes--

Started out adding some fencing to an existing raised bed



Then I bought some Yukon Gold seed potatoes ( $2.98 for a box of 7 or 8 from Ingles Market where I work) Such a great deal- I bought TWO!



Then I dug out a small "divet" for each and filled with a handful of my favorite bag soil-BLACK KOW. I LOVE this stuff-all organic and never burns!I use it EVERY time I plant ANYTHING! Make seed-beds and sew directly.Gives everything a great start.





Covered 'em up with more Black Kow



Then the first of many layers of leaves



It wasn't long (two weeks) and they were UP!



Time to add the next layer! Started with (you guessed it) a little Black Kow up against the plants in what I hope will become the root zone



Then another layer of leaves(gathered and partially shredded by my push mower with bagger)
This is followed by a mixture of equal parts river sand(often called green sand) and coffee grounds(donated by my local Starbucks-also used to suppliment my compost in winter) I'm trying this mix as sort of a top dressing to hopefully turn all those leaves into a kind of "growing-medium" ( Hey, it's an experiment,right?)





Finally a few more leaves and we're up into at least ONE TIRE range



After some good rain,in a few more days the plants had shot up again!



Time for next layer--more soil at base



Leaves and another top dressing of coffee grounds and sand



Final layer of leaves raises bed up to just below active tops of plants



This latest layer was added just today - Easter Sunday. I believe we're up to about TWO TIRE height at this point.



I've been so impressed at the RAPID growth I've experienced so far with this first-time potato effort! I've always considered gardening to be a rewarding partnership with GOD.All we do is plant -He does all the rest- He makes the magic happen!You can water your garden all day long - but there's NOTHING more beneficial than the blessing of RAIN from above!The growth of plants and the harvest of their bounty is truly a WONDERFUL thing! I've found time and time again - If we just co-operate with GOD - HE will make the magic happen in our lives as well!

But enough preaching.I wonder how tall I can make this bed? Two tires? Top of the chicken wire?Will I get potatoes all along the buried plant?If any of ya'll have tried anything similar,please let me know how it went or what I'm doing wrong! ANY and ALL FEEDBACK is WELCOME! Be sure to subscribe to this thread for updates ( HARVEST PICS! )

Also be sure to see my other gardening post to see how I encourage EARTHWORMS to help me in the garden!
*PIC-HEAVY* and no preachin'!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5929886#p5929886

wildlife, I love your version even better then the tires!!!! And it looks like the potato plants love it too. Just so you know, if you come across an idea you want to use tires for you can get them for free at almost any tire store (the old used ones they can't sell.)

I didn't mean tire store, but shop. The more pooo dunk the better. (country, small)

wildlife- great idea! Seems to be working very well. Great descriptive pictures. Now tell me, did you come up with this idea as a way to save on soil costs? To get rid of leaves? Both? Have you done any digging to investigate where/what level potato growth is occuring?

BTW... I am the OP and very much FEMALE

Quote:
HEY KASSAUNDRA - I've heard of this technique from some 'Old-Timers' and I'm trying my own "experiment" too! I didn't have any tires to make a "short-stack"as they call it like you,but I've got LOTS of chicken wire and fencing.As a variation on the tire stack,I closed off one end of one of my raised beds with a piece of fence (already surrounded by chicken wire to keep my beloved chickens out)This creates a space I can build up as the plants grow.I'm making the assumption that portions of the plant that get covered will develop roots (and then potatoes) I've always planted my tomatoes very deep to take advantage of this.

I must say the OP (Original Poster) who began this thread has got us ALL beat! 12 raised beds with (soon to be) grass pathways! *SWEET!* Can't wait to see what he plants!Hope he UPDATES!

OK - SHOW and TELL time!
I've always MUCH ENJOYED seeing other people's pictures and gardens-I hope you will bear with me as I share mine! Kinda "PIC-HEAVY" and presented "HOW-TO"style.
(I got a new camera for Christmas!) Here goes--

Started out adding some fencing to an existing raised bed

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_017.jpg

Then I bought some Yukon Gold seed potatoes ( $2.98 for a box of 7 or 8 from Ingles Market where I work) Such a great deal- I bought TWO!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_020.jpg

Then I dug out a small "divet" for each and filled with a handful of my favorite bag soil-BLACK KOW. I LOVE this stuff-all organic and never burns!I use it EVERY time I plant ANYTHING! Make seed-beds and sew directly.Gives everything a great start.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_024.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_027.jpg

Covered 'em up with more Black Kow

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_028.jpg

Then the first of many layers of leaves

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_033.jpg

It wasn't long (two weeks) and they were UP!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_garden_3_003.jpg

Time to add the next layer! Started with (you guessed it) a little Black Kow up against the plants in what I hope will become the root zone

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_garden_3_007.jpg

Then another layer of leaves(gathered and partially shredded by my push mower with bagger)
This is followed by a mixture of equal parts river sand(often called green sand) and coffee grounds(donated by my local Starbucks-also used to suppliment my compost in winter) I'm trying this mix as sort of a top dressing to hopefully turn all those leaves into a kind of "growing-medium" ( Hey, it's an experiment,right?)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_garden_3_008.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_garden_3_012.jpg

Finally a few more leaves and we're up into at least ONE TIRE range

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_garden_3_018.jpg

After some good rain,in a few more days the plants had shot up again!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_garden_3_043.jpg

Time for next layer--more soil at base

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_garden_3_047.jpg

Leaves and another top dressing of coffee grounds and sand

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_garden_3_059.jpg

Final layer of leaves raises bed up to just below active tops of plants

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_garden_3_063.jpg

This latest layer was added just today - Easter Sunday. I believe we're up to about TWO TIRE height at this point.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/32497_garden_3_064.jpg

I've been so impressed at the RAPID growth I've experienced so far with this first-time potato effort! I've always considered gardening to be a rewarding partnership with GOD.All we do is plant -He does all the rest- He makes the magic happen!You can water your garden all day long - but there's NOTHING more beneficial than the blessing of RAIN from above!The growth of plants and the harvest of their bounty is truly a WONDERFUL thing! I've found time and time again - If we just co-operate with GOD - HE will make the magic happen in our lives as well!

But enough preaching.I wonder how tall I can make this bed? Two tires? Top of the chicken wire?Will I get potatoes all along the buried plant?If any of ya'll have tried anything similar,please let me know how it went or what I'm doing wrong! ANY and ALL FEEDBACK is WELCOME! Be sure to subscribe to this thread for updates ( HARVEST PICS! )

Also be sure to see my other gardening post to see how I encourage EARTHWORMS to help me in the garden!
*PIC-HEAVY* and no preachin'!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5929886#p5929886

Wow, this is GREAT! Definitely on my to-do list for next year!

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I'm sorry Ma'am,I should have realized you were FEMALE but I didn't and for that I apologize!Your sense of symmetry and attention to detail should have given you away.Us GUYS tend to just slap a few boards together(FUNCTION instead of FORM) Your form is pretty darn GOOD! I'm SUPER JEALOUS and INSPIRED to expand next year from my current TWO raised beds.(I've said that I'm an AVID gardener,never said I was a BIG gardener!) I meant what I said - your garden is SWEEET!

To answer your question - Yes, soil cost savings is an added benefit,but the idea to try growing potatoes this way came out of my "lack-o-tires" and a desire to use what I already have - including reclaimed,recycled items. You should see my Coop! All scrap lumber and pallet wood. Not very pretty - but functional. Very HILLBILLY!
I also have ready access to the other ingredients.With many 100+foot tall trees on the property, I've got TONS of leaves.Also blessed with a beautiful,wide stream( "creek"here in the mountains)I've plenty of river-sand.Truly an "experiment" to see if combining these two ingredients will result in a suitable growing medium.One barely broken down(Leaves)and one that's been breaking down for hundreds (thousands?) of years - Sand. Harvest-time will tell-NO PEEKING!

I hope you will stay ORGANIC with your garden.There's NOTHING like walking thru your garden,picking a perfect veg,then taking a bite knowing it's all natural,safe,fresh,delicious,and grown by your own hand!I LOVE it!
Be sure to keep us all updated,we're very interested.

Check out another post by me "If you build it - they will come" about encouraging EARTHWORMS to assist your gardening efforts - https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5929886#p5929886

HAPPY GARDENING CHICKEN-PEOPLE!

Quote:
I'm sorry Ma'am,I should have realized you were FEMALE but I didn't and for that I apologize!Your sense of symmetry and attention to detail should have given you away.Us GUYS tend to just slap a few boards together(FUNCTION instead of FORM) Your form is pretty darn GOOD! I'm SUPER JEALOUS and INSPIRED to expand next year from my current TWO raised beds.(I've said that I'm an AVID gardener,never said I was a BIG gardener!) I meant what I said - your garden is SWEEET!

To answer your question - Yes, soil cost savings is an added benefit,but the idea to try growing potatoes this way came out of my "lack-o-tires" and a desire to use what I already have - including reclaimed,recycled items. You should see my Coop! All scrap lumber and pallet wood. Not very pretty - but functional. Very HILLBILLY!
I also have ready access to the other ingredients.With many 100+foot tall trees on the property, I've got TONS of leaves.Also blessed with a beautiful,wide stream( "creek"here in the mountains)I've plenty of river-sand.Truly an "experiment" to see if combining these two ingredients will result in a suitable growing medium.One barely broken down(Leaves)and one that's been breaking down for hundreds (thousands?) of years - Sand. Harvest-time will tell-NO PEEKING!

I hope you will stay ORGANIC with your garden.There's NOTHING like walking thru your garden,picking a perfect veg,then taking a bite knowing it's all natural,safe,fresh,delicious,and grown by your own hand!I LOVE it!
Be sure to keep us all updated,we're very interested.

Check out another post by me "If you build it - they will come" about encouraging EARTHWORMS to assist your gardening efforts - https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5929886#p5929886

HAPPY GARDENING CHICKEN-PEOPLE!

Lucky for you I am a woman, I forgive easily. You are pardoned.

If you do not tell me if your potato experiment is working or not, I will have to wait until next gardening year! I have very little patience!!!! Truth be told.... my husband lends me much of his reserve of patience, and he is the one who helped make everything look fairly perfect. BUT IT WAS ALL MY IDEA!!!

The garden is free of chemicals including actificial fertilizers and pesticides. So fret not, should you happen to drop by, you are welcome to eat my tomatoes straight off the vine. However, you do have to be very careful about throwing around the term "organic." I fertilize my garden with my chicken poo. My chickens are not fed orgainc feed. So, many sticklers may contest the "organicness" of my garden. So I refrain from using the term.

I have some unwelcome visitors to my freshly made boxes that I need advice on. Seems as though my boxes resembed kitty litter pans... I did a little researce and have ordered the Scarcrow sprinkler.
IT IS AWESOME. I am hoping this will do the trick! Anything else you all have tried? It is not due to arrive for 5-8 business days (what can I say, I'm a sucker for FREE SHIPPING) so what can I do until then? I am unable to stand guard and shoot things so before any of you suggest that...

As for the earthworm link, I read that through a couple time when you first posted it I loved it then and now. Because my husband has an OCD about tidyness (USUALLY a plus), my yard does not have a freaking leaf in it. There will be plenty to use come fall however.

I will be posting an experiment involving the use of "hot" chicken manure that I will discuss in detail and post pictures when I am off work tomorrow. Happy Tuesday all!

Sprinkling some ground pepper over the beds might help curb the desire to use as a litter box, it does a fair job of keeping the kitties outta my big house plants.

And once the plants go in boiling up some jalapeno's or serano peppers and misting the plants with it might help with that as well as keep bugs from nibbling the greens. I would however recommend finding a way to boil this brew up outside as it can get pretty tough to breath in the midst of those fumes!

Seem to recall some helpful remedies on a raised bed thread sometime back - something about human hair sprinkled about... (or was that for deer?) Ah,now I remember - laying hardware cloth down in between plants.That seems like alot of trouble(and quite expensive for a garden the size of yours) Are you sure cat "deposits" aren't beneficial?(Talk about your 'hot' manure!)

I've been trying to start making my posts shorter and to-the-point as opposed to large and rambling.How am I doin'?

If I can't talk to you guys,than who?Y'all just get me,you know?

Wow,I just used "you guys" and "y'all" in the same line (Transplanted Yankee!) Rambling again. See,I just can't SHUT UP!

It's after 2:00 am. Just returned from 3 hour (round trip) to pick up three BLRW chicks near Charlotte! GOOD NIGHT!