Anyone have a square foot garden?

[galanie]

Quote:
I don't use Mel's Mix because I won't add vermiculite to outside soil. I just got some horse poo, and a couple bags of other poo, some vegetable garden mix, and peat moss. I didn't figure it all out on paper, just dumped stuff in there and mixed it up. Looks fine, and is growing stuff fine. Just use his recommendation for a guideline and do what you will. Truthfully, if the manures are composted well like what you buy, you can plant right in the manure. So dont' worry about having too much of anything except the peat. I suppose what I ended up with is close to his recommendation for the amount of peat but the rest is just manure and veg garden mix from bags. Yes, his mix gets expensive. And, to keep it productive year after year at the spacing he suggests means that you must replenish that manure year after year as well. If you stick strictly to it, you'll end up spending only a little less than if you bought the veggies unless you make your own compost. But even at that, homegrown organic produce beats the snot out of store-bought!

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:
I don't use Mel's Mix because I won't add vermiculite to outside soil. I just got some horse poo, and a couple bags of other poo, some vegetable garden mix, and peat moss. I didn't figure it all out on paper, just dumped stuff in there and mixed it up. Looks fine, and is growing stuff fine. Just use his recommendation for a guideline and do what you will. Truthfully, if the manures are composted well like what you buy, you can plant right in the manure. So dont' worry about having too much of anything except the peat. I suppose what I ended up with is close to his recommendation for the amount of peat but the rest is just manure and veg garden mix from bags. Yes, his mix gets expensive. And, to keep it productive year after year at the spacing he suggests means that you must replenish that manure year after year as well. If you stick strictly to it, you'll end up spending only a little less than if you bought the veggies unless you make your own compost. But even at that, homegrown organic produce beats the snot out of store-bought!

Yup that's more or less how I've done it.

 

[NanaKat]

Quote:
I don't use Mel's Mix because I won't add vermiculite to outside soil. I just got some horse poo, and a couple bags of other poo, some vegetable garden mix, and peat moss. I didn't figure it all out on paper, just dumped stuff in there and mixed it up. Looks fine, and is growing stuff fine. Just use his recommendation for a guideline and do what you will. Truthfully, if the manures are composted well like what you buy, you can plant right in the manure. So dont' worry about having too much of anything except the peat. I suppose what I ended up with is close to his recommendation for the amount of peat but the rest is just manure and veg garden mix from bags. Yes, his mix gets expensive. And, to keep it productive year after year at the spacing he suggests means that you must replenish that manure year after year as well. If you stick strictly to it, you'll end up spending only a little less than if you bought the veggies unless you make your own compost. But even at that, homegrown organic produce beats the snot out of store-bought!

Yup that's more or less how I've done it.

Same here...no vermiculite and I'm light on the peat. Instead of peat moss, we use crushed leaves mixed with chicken manure (by the chickens in the hen house). We started with good sandy loam and red clay, mixed in home made compost and purchased mushroom compost. We mulch with straw each year and turn that in to add additional organic matter to the mix.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I had started using leaves as litter in the big coop a couple years ago. I'd just gather them up off the street! Layer of leaves, layer of pine bedding, a handful of scratch. That's all it takes to get it broken down all winter long. Then toss all of it out into the compost bin until the following fall when I spread it on the beds.

We also use use junk mail (no shiney paper) and papers we run through the shredder.

 

[featherbaby]

Quote:
How does the handful of scratch help the compost break down?

 

[Carols Clucks]

handful of scratch = chickens turning your litter/compost all day

 

[hollymh]

I have two, both are a bit bigger than a sqaure-foot though... So far I'm growing, chives, sweet potato, watermelon, cucumbers, tomato, rosemary, carrots, okra, crook-neck squash, garden beans, and bell peppers. I have been really ill so I havent been out to weed them as needed but other than that they are easy to care for

I don't have a lot of options for soil where I am(overseas) so we use availble organic material and our own mix with top soil we bought at the store. My husband worked as a plant specialist throughout his teens so I have my very own go-to guy.

 

[chickbird]

The Vermiculite Keeps The Soil Light And Really Helps Plants Grow. I Have A Large Garden And Just Grow In The Garden Soil, With Leaves And Other Compost Added And Use 8-8-8 Fertilizer. I Do Have Some Raised Beds That Have More Compost Added Into The Garden Soil. In These I Sometimes Add A Bag Of Potting Mix Which Has Peat Moss. Vermiculite And Perilite.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:

Exactly

 

[hollymh]

here's a few pics of our little garden's, again we've been neglecting it b/c we're all really sick but it isnt too bad lol we planted last week and are starting to get some sprouts

This garden has 3 okra plants near the wall, some beans in the middle and bell peppers at the front

This garden is Sweet potato in the back, with some rosemary snuck in, chives in the middle and midgee carrots in the front!

I have containers with tomato plants, cucumbers, cantaloupe, watermelon and we are planting corn soon.