Raised Bed, Square Foot Gardening
Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 8:11 pm
O.K, I'm sure many of you are familiar with this type of growing, and the way I see it, it is just the perfect solution for so many of us. I like the fact that in a raised bed, you determine the type of soil that it will contain, whether it be a mixture of the soil already in your yard, compost, vermiculite, whatever fits your needs, the fact that the soil is never compacted, making it much easier for root growth, drainage, and pulling the few weeds that do grow. Not to mention that the soil warms much faster eaning you can plant earlier and grow later in the season. I like the fact that in a square foot garden, you can grow a variety of herbs and vegetables in a limited amount of space, while still achieving a fair yield. The fact that you are taking advantage of practically every square inch of your garden space, means less fertilizing and less water waste. These things are very appealing to me, being a new gardener, and wanting to make the most out of the small space I have designated to this venture.
But I am no expert, just have done a lot of reading on different techniques and this one seems to fit me best. I now understand the importance of companion planting in this setup, and have also been doing research on that subject. I guess what I am getting at is, what are your guys' and gals experiences with these methods? Did you use the recommended soil mixture of 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 peat, or do you have a secret recipe that works even better? What were your favorite plants to grow together in say a 4' x 8' bed? What were your results? What was your fertilization process like? I have a fairly good idea of what I want to do, but want to compare to gardeners who are much more experienced than me, and have much more knowledge of what methods work best. Hopefully this can open up a good discussion that can help me and newer growers decide which methods work best, and how to properly grow with these methods. Thnk you for taking the time to read this.
But I am no expert, just have done a lot of reading on different techniques and this one seems to fit me best. I now understand the importance of companion planting in this setup, and have also been doing research on that subject. I guess what I am getting at is, what are your guys' and gals experiences with these methods? Did you use the recommended soil mixture of 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 peat, or do you have a secret recipe that works even better? What were your favorite plants to grow together in say a 4' x 8' bed? What were your results? What was your fertilization process like? I have a fairly good idea of what I want to do, but want to compare to gardeners who are much more experienced than me, and have much more knowledge of what methods work best. Hopefully this can open up a good discussion that can help me and newer growers decide which methods work best, and how to properly grow with these methods. Thnk you for taking the time to read this.