I think I could really get into this

Whew.
I've been out in the yard all morning working on my garden.  I've never tried vegetable gardening before although I've thought of it many times.  I'm excited to give it a whirl.  So lofty are my hopes that I've even started a gardening tab so I can keep tabs on my progress.

Thanks to my friend Julie's suggestion, I've been reading up on square foot gardening.  It seemed like the perfect solution for our backyard.  Let me share where I'm at as of right now (plopped down in the chair taking a breather would be the most accurate answer - heh)

But seriously. 
Since Pa built the frame for my garden on Monday - I've been antsy to get out there and start it right. I haven't had a spare second all week - and really don't have one today either - but it was a good procrastination filler. 

I emptied the box completely, raking out the grass clumps and pitching them - and I nailed some 2x4's where the dirt was leaking out (the ground was more uneven than we realized)

The ground now to my liking and raked even - I laid down 10 layers of newspaper as a weed barrier and grass killer.  I'm hoping that I won't have to use any chemicals on my garden since that's kinda the point.

That step done, I then began mixing my soil with the compost we've been creating since last fall.  Boy - does that stuff smell.  Once I had a good mix, I dumped it all back into the box

I was still pulling out a few more grass clumps as I shoveled dirt back in - and Brian kept scolding Mark, "Don't put Lion Dandy's in Mom's garden!!!"   It's for vegetables, don't you know.

Now for the grid.  The sites I've been reading highly recommend the grid to help keep things in place and basically it's what the whole square foot gardening idea is based on.  While my first thought was twine or rope - that wasn't as recommended as something more stable and solid simply because it breaks or tears.  So I went searching about the garage and house and came upon a stash of old curtain rods behind our bedroom door.  Perfect!  They nailed into place very easily!

I had three for the one direction, but couldn't find more for the other.  And then I remembered - just this past week the boys pulled down my sheers in the living room - they were on a spring tension rod.  Perfect!  I used both of those (Pa just mentioned yesterday that he'll make something more sturdy anyway) and was still left with one more spot.  I dug in the garage some more and found the rods from the crib that I threw out last week.  They didn't quite stretch the length, but by putting them together and using twine to tie them to the intersecting spots - they worked just fine. 

Now to get some things planted, I've got 16 spots to fill!  Farmers Market - here I come!!

(And any suggestions are very welcome - I'm completely a newbie at this) (And I will be planting some Marigolds to keep the critters away)

Comments

[Amanda]

tomatoes are always a good thing to have, we ususally do the grape variety. Last year green beans grew great. Also did squash, cucumbers, zucchini. We're trying sweet peas this year.

[Ann Bimberg]

explain about the marigolds, please. they keep which critters away?

[Casie]

Since you posted about the square foot garden on Monday I have been searching the web and my local library for more info too. I had been thinking about putting in a small garden for awhile this spring and that was just what I needed to help seal the decision! We have the lumber and landscape fabric and wood strips for the grids. I have located a source for the vermiculite, compost and peat moss needed to make Mel's Mix too.

Now to start planning out what to put in all the squares! We are doing 2 4' X 4' boxes and I hope to build some kind of trellis on the North side of both to grow some peas, squash and zucchini.

My list of veggies so far includes: zucchini, acorn squash, peas, snow peas, 3 types of tomatoes, 3 types of peppers, 2 blocks of lettuce, spinach, potatoes, brussel sprouts, onions and garlic. Now I also have a maybe try to grow list... not sure how well these grow here, sweet potatoes, egg plant, turnips, rutabagas, broccoli, and maybe parsnips.

It will be fun to see how you do with yours as we work on ours too. I am a total newbie when it comes to veggie gardens, but I have lots of experience with annual and perennial flowers so I hope I don't do too bad! lol Plus I'm going to buy transplants for most everything as it's getting pretty late here for sprouting seeds.

Good luck, can't wait to see more of your garden!

[Dale Anne]

You only need two plants max for cucumbers, zucchini, squash, but I'm NOT sure I'd do all of those or you garden box would be FULL in August.
I'd go with carrots, radishes, lettuce (as the radishes & lettuce can be planted several times over the summer).
Actually the best way to figure out what YOU want - think about what you guys like to eat.

and just for the record, I used twine one year and the damn robins took them all - they even untied the double knots, we watched them from the kitchen window. So, I used boards that my brother cut to one inch widths.

[sue Treiber]

Plant what you think everyone will eat, is the easiet advice!
Too bad it was raining yesterday...I would have helped you garden :)

[Amanda]

Someday I will own a house with a yard and have a garden. Looks like fun to me!

[Becca]

Our neighbors just put six of these in...I was thinking I would like to try them too.

[Katrina Kennedy]

Tomatoes! They are so rewarding and fun to watch! My favorite tomato help is at http://www.tomatocasual.com/

Basil is a good match with tomatoes too!

[Houston]

Oh very cool! We are working on ours tomorrow, but I had never heard of square foot gardening before, I'll have to check it out!

[Sara-Jane]

Another coincidence here, we are building our vegetable garden too, but we are going into winter here so it will be different vegetables.
This summer we grew tomatoes in pots and they were a huge success. Herbs too, basil, Italian parsley, coriander, Vietnamese mint, ordinary mint and Thai basil. We used them a lot. I can't wait to harvest siverbeet, pak choi, beetroot, cos lettuce, spring onions and rocket from the winter garden.
Enjoy the process, Max's proudest moment this summer was when he made a tomato and herb salad for dinner all with things from the garden.

[joan]

I suggest that you plant tomatoes (if you're going to) in big flower planters/pots. They usually do fine as long as the pot is big enough.

[Jan C.]

I've grown cherry tomatoes, regular tomatoes, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, beans, corn, and pumpkins. Pumpkins are not worth the effort. Neither is corn, unless you can plant multiple rows so it cross pollinates. Cherry tomatoes, bean, and zucchini were the best producers, and all are things my family likes. Wish I could have a garden now, but the deer eat everything right down to the ground.

Oh, and the marigold thing never really worked to keep rabbits and such out of the garden. I think that must be an old wives' tale.

[JP]

Yippie!!! (-: Yes, twine doesn't work. If you plant tomatoes, plant basil. So much you can do with both (mainly, learn to make mozzarella, you really can do that at home...that's my summer goal...then you have lunch and salads set until October). Have fun, love to watch the progress. Oh...we LOVE picking beans (VERY easy to grow from seeds) right from the garden, plant lots. (-: Oh...grow your cukes (I LOVE pickling cukes, I don't pickle them but they grow really well and have a great crunch) and zucchini up a trellis or poles so you'll have more room in your garden. Oh (-: I have a summer read for you Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (check the website http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/). Some of it is too environmental for me but overall I loved it and got recipes, garden ideas, and a peak into an interesting families' life. Oh...I'm off to bed! (-: Happy Gardening!

[Tonja Trump]

Those boys are looking real hard for lion dandy's..you musta missed ONE..dontcha know! You are so creative..I NEVER would have thought to use old curtain rods. Nice recyclin' lady!!

[Ally]

A) I'm totally jealous. I've always wanted to plant a garden that was useful.

B) I'm totally jealous because I don't even have dirt in my yard. Our AZ ground is nasty nasty.

C) I'm totally jealous. I can't even manage to water a bouquet of flowers and could never get anything to grow even if I had one.

D) If I could create a garden, fill it with nice soft dirt, and manage to keep things alive, I'd be planting cilantro, basil, and dill. YUM. Oh and some tomatoes.

[Denise]

I suggest pole beans. Just insert three bamboo or sticks to make a teepee like structure that they can climb. Also, green peppers, grape tomatoes with a cage to keep them within their area and basil. Pumpkins and squash like produce will spread, but I bet the kids would love to see them grow. Good luck on your garden. I can't wait to see future updates!

[Cuz Karen]

We've had a garden for years. I've seen your square foot garden before. Tomatoes are a great thing.. great to can too. you may want to try a few in pots.. Cherry ones in the garden. some types grow very large so get on line to a seed co. like gurney's and check out different ones.
you can get bush green beans, tho the pole ones on the ends may do better. also lettuce, radishes, green onions, salad type stuff, carrots, beets.. etc.. Pepper plants would be good too.. just remember some stuff will cross.. like squash and cucumbers.. so plant them on opposite ends.. you can get bush cucumbers, and squash.. most squash will spread.. ask the folks at the farmers market.. they will be a big help.
broccoli is a good choice.. doesn't take up much room.. potatoes are good.. but you really need more room.. I'd stick with salad type stuff..
let me know what you are going to try.. I may be able to help you with questions.. and with canning.. you can save lots of money with a garden and you don't really need a huge place..
can't wait to see your progress..

[jan]

I've had modified square foot gardens for the past 8 or so years in a raised bed.
You are going to run out of room! I could fill that thing up with just greens. But you will be surprised how much you will get out of that little garden.
One comment I have is that I like to grow swiss chard- it has a bigger leaf, so it is easier to pick than spinach. You can eat it cooked or raw- saute it or throw it into anything such as soup, etc. It is milder than lettuce. Plus I think it lasts longer through the heat, doesn't bolt, and once it does pass out in August, I leave it alone and it will start regenerating in Sept. again. Another green I love, but not everyone does, is arugula.

Green beans will do good. I haven't had good luck with onions in my raised bed. Will tomatoes have enough room (depth wise) for their roots? I wouldn't bother with the marigolds- you won't have much room. I also like summer squash- crooked neck-plant it in a corner so it can go trailing over the edge.

Do you have chives? I have them in my flower beds- I use them as green onions all summer. Also, I plant sage in my flowerbed, and I had thyme, but I think it might have froze out this year. And mint, but that can be invasive. I throw leaves of it in the ice tea pitcher for an authentic mint flavor. Plant some basil, it is wonderful in pesto, but their are different "flavors" of it, so taste it at the greenhouse before you buy it to make sure you like that particular one. Rosemary- maybe it would winter over there. I have mine in a pot so I can haul it in for winter. Oh, and cilantro. But it always goes to seed before the tomatoes are ready- shucks!

Okay, I'll stop now. Have fun!