Comments on: Square Foot Gardening Plans–My 2009 Garden Plan http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/my-2009-garden-plan/ Follow the progress of my square foot garden. I provide helpful tools for companion planting, square foot gardening layouts and plans, square foot gardening spacing, and more! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:03:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Valerie http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/my-2009-garden-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-721 Valerie Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:05:42 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=598#comment-721 Emily, I can't help but wonder if maybe Martha is planting the same crops in the same spot every year instead of rotating them. Tomato plants and the cabbage family plants are very susceptible to disease when not rotated. Just a thought. You mentioned fertilizer and being careful with the nitrogen, what do you use for root crops, I know that you should not use but a little nitrogen with them because you will have beautiful tops and very little roots. Valerie Emily, I can’t help but wonder if maybe Martha is planting the same crops in the same spot every year instead of rotating them. Tomato plants and the cabbage family plants are very susceptible to disease when not rotated. Just a thought.

You mentioned fertilizer and being careful with the nitrogen, what do you use for root crops, I know that you should not use but a little nitrogen with them because you will have beautiful tops and very little roots.
Valerie

]]> By: emilyrhp http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/my-2009-garden-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-600 emilyrhp Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:32:22 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=598#comment-600 Yikes, I'm sorry to hear about your struggles. While I am all for an organic approach, I absolutely use fertilizer and pesticides as necessary. A couple of thoughts: * Peat moss/vermiculite--I know Mel says you only buy this once, but it's my experience that it breaks down. If you live in "soggy" conditions, your plants may be more prone to mold and other pests that thrive on wet conditions. You might try adding more of these to get your mix back to a mix that drains well. And really monitor the amount you water. * Manure/compost--if you are not careful to get good compost you can be adding a lot of seeds and bugs to your mix. Also, manure that is not FULLY composted can kill your plants. Mel also stresses the importance of buying several kinds, so that your soil is nutrient-rich. * Pesticides--I have resorted to using Sevin in a form that I can sprinkle on (not powder). I treat pesky areas right on the spot, without covering the plants or the entire garden. * Fertilizer--I regularly use fertilizer as I start my plants from seed inside. I really like ferti-lome Blooming & Rooting plant food (9-59-8) for any flowering plants (peas, tomatoes, peppers). I use an all-purpose fertilizer for everything else. Just be careful not to add too much nitrogen or plants like tomatoes will grow green, but not as much fruit. Your best resource is to find a local gardener who fights the same conditions you have and ask for advice. Your local extension office will have a master gardener available to help. www.extension.org Good luck! Yikes, I’m sorry to hear about your struggles. While I am all for an organic approach, I absolutely use fertilizer and pesticides as necessary. A couple of thoughts:

* Peat moss/vermiculite–I know Mel says you only buy this once, but it’s my experience that it breaks down. If you live in “soggy” conditions, your plants may be more prone to mold and other pests that thrive on wet conditions. You might try adding more of these to get your mix back to a mix that drains well. And really monitor the amount you water.

* Manure/compost–if you are not careful to get good compost you can be adding a lot of seeds and bugs to your mix. Also, manure that is not FULLY composted can kill your plants. Mel also stresses the importance of buying several kinds, so that your soil is nutrient-rich.

* Pesticides–I have resorted to using Sevin in a form that I can sprinkle on (not powder). I treat pesky areas right on the spot, without covering the plants or the entire garden.

* Fertilizer–I regularly use fertilizer as I start my plants from seed inside. I really like ferti-lome Blooming & Rooting plant food (9-59-8) for any flowering plants (peas, tomatoes, peppers). I use an all-purpose fertilizer for everything else. Just be careful not to add too much nitrogen or plants like tomatoes will grow green, but not as much fruit.

Your best resource is to find a local gardener who fights the same conditions you have and ask for advice. Your local extension office will have a master gardener available to help. http://www.extension.org Good luck!

]]> By: Martha http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/my-2009-garden-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-592 Martha Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:24:54 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=598#comment-592 I need some advise. Mel's book dosen't talk about fertilizer, just compost. Ive added compost and manure to my beds each year, (last year 2 large commercial bags of compost and some manure) but each year my crops get progressively sicker. they have spots, wither, mould, and even my green beans have insects. I started about 5 years ago with Mel's Mix using equal quantities of Vermiculite, Peat Moss and Compost. What am I doing wrong? There is no one that I know locally who is using this method that I can turn to. I live in central Mississippi. I need some advise. Mel’s book dosen’t talk about fertilizer, just compost. Ive added compost and manure to my beds each year, (last year 2 large commercial bags of compost and some manure) but each year my crops get progressively sicker. they have spots, wither, mould, and even my green beans have insects. I started about 5 years ago with Mel’s Mix using equal quantities of Vermiculite, Peat Moss and Compost. What am I doing wrong? There is no one that I know locally who is using this method that I can turn to. I live in central Mississippi.

]]> By: Emily http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/my-2009-garden-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-504 Emily Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:00:08 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=598#comment-504 I have supported my tomatoes in several ways. You can see them if you follow the link on the BUILD IT page, to my 2008, Week 15 post. I'm not sure about beefsteak, but those early girls are indeterminate and will probably take up a lot of room. Typically, you want to give 9 squares for such a tomato. I found the Celebrity, Roma, and Champion don't get so big--they might only take 4 squares. It is my experience that most supports you can buy for tomatoes don't support them well at all, in the long run. That's why I rigged up the system I did. I have supported my tomatoes in several ways. You can see them if you follow the link on the BUILD IT page, to my 2008, Week 15 post. I’m not sure about beefsteak, but those early girls are indeterminate and will probably take up a lot of room. Typically, you want to give 9 squares for such a tomato. I found the Celebrity, Roma, and Champion don’t get so big–they might only take 4 squares.

It is my experience that most supports you can buy for tomatoes don’t support them well at all, in the long run. That’s why I rigged up the system I did.

]]> By: Emily http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/my-2009-garden-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-503 Emily Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:49:45 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=598#comment-503 Yes, you really can grow this many per square! It is true--4 potato per square is A LOT, and they will get big and crowded. You just have to be thoughtful about what you plant next to them. I personally do one potato per square, but then I plant the whole thing and get more than one set of leaves per square. I can see how if you chopped the potato up and were going to have only one sprout, you could do more per square. As for beans, when they are full-grown they overflow too. I tied some twine gently around the outside of my square, rounding them all up into the middle. Yes, you really can grow this many per square! It is true–4 potato per square is A LOT, and they will get big and crowded. You just have to be thoughtful about what you plant next to them. I personally do one potato per square, but then I plant the whole thing and get more than one set of leaves per square. I can see how if you chopped the potato up and were going to have only one sprout, you could do more per square.

As for beans, when they are full-grown they overflow too. I tied some twine gently around the outside of my square, rounding them all up into the middle.

]]> By: John http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/my-2009-garden-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-500 John Thu, 04 Jun 2009 05:30:01 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=598#comment-500 First off, what a wonderful website, thanks for your awesome documentation so we can follow along! I'm just wondering what you think the best way to support Tomatoes are? and how many boxes should it use? I have a few early girl and beefstake...I have those tomato cages but they don't seem to be big enough (it's only 3 feet) Thanks! First off, what a wonderful website, thanks for your awesome documentation so we can follow along! I’m just wondering what you think the best way to support Tomatoes are? and how many boxes should it use? I have a few early girl and beefstake…I have those tomato cages but they don’t seem to be big enough (it’s only 3 feet) Thanks!

]]> By: Sally http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/my-2009-garden-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-499 Sally Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:55:42 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=598#comment-499 I am still a bit confused by how many plants you have per square. Some counts seem awfully high for this inexperienced gardener. I looked at the plant spacing chart as well. Can one really grow four potato or eight bean plants in one square foot? Won't that crowd out whatever is in the next square? I'm already thinking about next year and how many beds I need to build! Thanks, I am still a bit confused by how many plants you have per square. Some counts seem awfully high for this inexperienced gardener. I looked at the plant spacing chart as well. Can one really grow four potato or eight bean plants in one square foot? Won’t that crowd out whatever is in the next square? I’m already thinking about next year and how many beds I need to build!

Thanks,

]]> By: Metanine http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/my-2009-garden-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-469 Metanine Thu, 14 May 2009 12:53:58 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=598#comment-469 Thank you so much for sharing all this information. I have build my first SFG two years ago without knowing that it was a SFG. Now with all the information gathered here I can have a more productive garden and even teach my nieces and nephew how to go at it. Thanks again, Metanine In Zone 4b-5 New Brunswick, Canada Thank you so much for sharing all this information.
I have build my first SFG two years ago without knowing that it was a SFG. Now with all the information gathered here I can have a more productive garden and even teach my nieces and nephew how to go at it.
Thanks again,
Metanine
In Zone 4b-5
New Brunswick, Canada

]]> By: Emily http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/my-2009-garden-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-412 Emily Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:24:55 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=598#comment-412 Eryn, I have had lots of success growing cukes in the outside squares of a gardening box, then trellising them upwards. As for bigger squash, like pumpkins--I did the same. I planted them in the outside squares, and they still took over at least half of my garden. I trained and trellised them on my chain link, but the leaves around the plant still get really big, and runners went every direction. I guess the real problem was that the plant was so big and pokey, I could not access the new runners to train them. Here is a link to the pictures of my garden last year: http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/emily-week-27/ Eryn,

I have had lots of success growing cukes in the outside squares of a gardening box, then trellising them upwards.

As for bigger squash, like pumpkins–I did the same. I planted them in the outside squares, and they still took over at least half of my garden. I trained and trellised them on my chain link, but the leaves around the plant still get really big, and runners went every direction. I guess the real problem was that the plant was so big and pokey, I could not access the new runners to train them. Here is a link to the pictures of my garden last year:

http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/emily-week-27/

]]> By: Eryn http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/my-2009-garden-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-411 Eryn Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:23:35 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=598#comment-411 You have NO idea how much information I've found all on your site, when I had been hunting all over dozens of sites previously! Thank you SO much for your hard work! Is it possible to plant zukes, cukes or pumpkins on the end squares of a box, and train them out along the ground? How many squares do you think they would that need in that case? And boy do I wish ANY of my yard got watered by someone else's sprinklers! ;) You have NO idea how much information I’ve found all on your site, when I had been hunting all over dozens of sites previously! Thank you SO much for your hard work!

Is it possible to plant zukes, cukes or pumpkins on the end squares of a box, and train them out along the ground? How many squares do you think they would that need in that case?

And boy do I wish ANY of my yard got watered by someone else’s sprinklers! ;)

]]>