Features of the Original Design. • The garden used regular soil, g g. ,. • It had no
containing structure, just 4'X4' squares dug into the ground. • Walkways ...
SQUARE FOOT GARDENING SQUARE FOOT GARDENING A CHANGING PRACTICE
The First Book About 1975 The First Book About 1975
The Original Garden Layout The Original Garden Layout
Features of the Original Design Features of the Original Design • The garden used regular soil, g g , • It had no containing structure, just 4’X4’ squares dug into the ground • Walkways between the 4’X 4’ squares were 1X12 boards (at $10 each today I could not afford them) • Fertilizer was used Fertilizer was used • Excess water could easily be a problem • Weeds were a continuous problem Weeds were a continuous problem • The beds would need to be redug once in a while • Following is another view of the garden g g
A little better organized old style garden.
View Showing Growing Plants Vertically
All New Square foot Gardening About 1981 Revised 2005 All New Square foot Gardening About 1981 Revised 2005
All New Square Foot Gardening All New Square Foot Gardening • New system uses boards concrete blocks or stone for edging and to make a raised bed • Uses a home‐made soil not yours • Pathways between beds (at least 3 Pathways between beds (at least 3’ wide) may be left wide) may be left to grass or covered by mulch, gravel, etc. • Uses a permanently attached grid to aid in plant spacing i • Built above ground with landscape cloth spread on g ground to prevent weeds p • No fertilizer is used • Excess water drains out easily
Recommended Square Foot Garden Ready to Plant d l
This is the soil you will make for your garden d • If If you buy compost in a bag he is you buy compost in a bag he is recommending you buy five different kinds
If you buy compost in a bag you should be aware If you buy compost in a bag you should be aware That most of these are the recycling leftovers of their main product. As such they may contain only one ingredient. That is why he refers to “Blended Compost”. It would be much better if Y You could make your own compost. Or you could ld k t O ld buy it in bulk from a local nursery. A good portion of what is available comes from Silver Creek of what is available comes from Silver Creek Materials. Fort Worth residents can get free Compost from the piles across the road from Tarrant County Community College South Campus.
Refinements for the Garden Refinements for the Garden
Uses for the Tent Poles Uses for the Tent Poles Made with two 10 Made with two 10’ one‐half inch PVC pipes with one half inch PVC pipes with a screw through the intersection for strength Drape with frost cloth or an old blanket Cover with chicken wire to keep out varmints (and your neighbors’ cat). Using clear plastic and allowing a place for heat to escape it will make a nice greenhouse. it ill k i h
If you have plants that need more room the permanent grid will be a problem id ill b bl
Disadvantages of Square Foot Gardening (Did you think it was Gardening (Did you think it was miraculous) Watering required is one to two cups of water Watering required is one to two cups of water once a week to every single plant with sun warmed (not cool) water. ( ) The system assumes you will spend some time in the garden every day. To get a reasonable production you must replant To get a reasonable production you must replant as soon as you harvest anything.
