Square Foot Gardening

ltrazor · Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 61 Location: Pinson, AL

Well, not sure if any of you have ever tried this but its great. This is my first year trying. I tried Hydroponics last year and it worked well but was too much of a pain to manage. SFGs are easy to maintain, no weeding, and I water every other day. As you can see, things seem to be working very well.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Inital photo is a very young pumpkin (yes, not the best crop for SFG's) but other photos or corn, tomatoes, etc.

https://cid-efa76cdb2f7ef884.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public%20Photos/My%20Square%20Foot%20Garden/DSC%7C_0003.jpg

Beach Boy · Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 93 Location: Gulf Shores

Interesting concept.

ltrazor · Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 61 Location: Pinson, AL

Ok, spent probably more than the vegies that I use would have cost this year but if I continue to use, it will work out. Biggest cost is the soil. I used 1/3 vermiculite (about $20 per 4 Cu Ft), 1/3rd compost and 1/3 peat moss. I probably spent about $200 for soil, wood, and plants. It can be done cheaper, but I bought everything new and bought compost and peat moss in bags at local Home depot.

I really did it for the experience. I spend about $400 last year on Hydroponics equipment last year. I am still going to use it in the future but wanted to concentrate on this method this year.

So far, its working rather well. Only drawback, its not practical to grow crops that require large square footage to grow, like Pumpkin. I am growing pumpkin this year (as you can see from photos) but I'm growing them vertically. Regretfully, thats not enought because those things go everywhere!!!!

Beach Boy · Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 93 Location: Gulf Shores

It is funny that you are growing a pumpkin. As a small kid, my mother dried some pumpkin seeds for future use. I found them and planted them in a flower bed next to the house. One vine grew up the drain spout and along the gutter. The vine bloomed and started growing pumpkins along the gutter. We used our crab nets to hold the pumpkins up. They got huge. People would almost wreck their cars when they drove past the house of the hanging pumpkins.

ltrazor · Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 61 Location: Pinson, AL

Ok, pumpkins did not do well vertically. Too heavy and vines ended up choking and the pumpkins died.

Now canteloup did much better. I got a really really nice one and it was better than what you get in store. The only issue I'm having with them is that the first one was regular size but the recent ones have all been about 1/2 of what they should be... Not sure why at this point but assuming its nutrient related. ?

Tomatoes still producing like crazy. So are bell pepers. Corn did not do well, just too much together and 2 different varieties so it really got messed up. The ears that did produce were about 1/2 the size of regular corn ears.

Going to keep the tomatoes going this year and then try again next year.. :_)

Beach Boy · Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 93 Location: Gulf Shores

The big ears that I have eaten have not been good. I bet your half-sized ears are sweeter than the bigger ones.