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Square foot gardening.

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  • cazp
    replied
    Hi 1Bee
    Thanks for the tip! My cat will make the maximum use of the tiniest of spaces between plants to do her business. She even got between the canes in a pot I was growing runner beans in last year - maybe this is where the wire hanging basket might come in handy to protect the soil! Twiggy sticks are a good idea too.
    Last edited by cazp; 28-05-2015, 09:28 PM.

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  • 1Bee
    replied
    'Scuse my butting in, but my top tip for protecting plants from cats is upturned wire hanging baskets - like these: http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebas...---30cm-428809 pegged down with tent pegs. Obviously suits some type of plant better than others, and you can either leave the plant to grow through or remove it when it's a bit more robust.

    I started using them over cat nip and the neighbouring aquilegias that were getting a bit battered, but I can't see why it wouldn't be useful for some veg, too.

    Other than that I mostly use twiggy sticks or empty plastic bottles. I own cats and love them, so I'm used to gardening around them.

    *butting out again*

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  • colin1957
    replied
    Cazp, many thanks for that will check homebase out i think

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  • Lumpy
    replied
    The last time I got topsoil it was curtesy of Freecycle.

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  • cazp
    replied
    Hi

    I'm just doing a mixture of topsoil (3 bags for price of 2 at homebase & good reviews) and some multipurpose compost.

    Took a late decision this week to replace top 6 inches of soil in my two 1.2m square beds which were badly affected by cat poo last year - no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get my mind around eating salad grown in it! I've got some bird netting coming to protect the beds this time which I'll throw over the hoops.

    Topsoil/compost is the mixture I've always used to top up and I put manure down in the winter.

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  • Lumpy
    replied
    I just use compost with added multi fertilizer. However, I do add any soil that has been dug up in the garden.

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  • colin1957
    replied
    I have no soil at all so will have to buy some in, i was thinking of buying soil and adding compost , farm yard manure and organic fertilizer then mixing it and see how it goes.
    Regards colin.

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  • BertieFox
    replied
    It's not really 'replacing the soil' but what I do on my square foot beds is add five handfuls of good compost, two handfuls of sharp sand, and one handful of organic fertiliser, every time I replant each square.

    Over time this means the soil gets really improved and you are effectively 'replacing the soil' little by little. If you are already on sandy soil, you can probably miss out on the sand or vermiculite, but on our heavy clay soil it is vital.

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  • colin1957
    replied
    Thanks BM & Lumpy.
    BM , yes i have been lurking for quite a while but now is the time to get started with veg once again.

    Lumpy, I am now quite relieved the compost does not have to be replaced every year as i have nowhere to put it really .

    My SFG should be ready in a couple of weeks as i have still got a few jobs around the garden to finish of yet. Will let you know how it goes with photos , thanks once again.

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  • Lumpy
    replied
    Hello Colin and welcome to the Vine.
    I don't replace the compost at all but I do mix in some of the granule feed and stir in some of my homemade compost, which is ful of worms. The worms then drag the new compost into the old which feeds it and the worm movement itself replaces any lost oxygen in the soil.
    The thing with SFG is you intentionally cram things in so as soon as something is edible you pull every other one etc to give more space for the remainder to grow.

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  • Bigmallly
    replied
    Hello Colin & welcome to the vine after many years lurking. When I grew crops using the SFG method, I just treat the soil the same as any other bed, I didn't bother with any fandangled mixes. Good luck & let us know how it goes.
    Last edited by Bigmallly; 26-05-2015, 06:36 PM.

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  • colin1957
    replied
    Hi all.
    Been doing a bit of reading about this SFG thing and as i only have a small back garden with a 6x4 greenhouse for my tomatoes it has sort of given me interest into having a go.

    One thing i am not sure about is if a 4x4 ft box is to be used filled with compost mix does it have to be changed every year or can you just remove part of it and re-vitalize with fresh compost / fertilizer.

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  • Lumpy
    replied
    Hello Snow
    Beasties and bugs will happen whichever way you grow your veggies. Keeping an eye out for signs is a daily event.
    I grow my spuds in bags, courgette in an old plastic storage box, carrots and parsnips in deep buckets (I use half long varieties or stumpy ones) and I have 1 winter squash plant in 3 stacked tyres. At least the plant trails down rather than across.
    We have a very small space to grow and never intended to provide ALL of our veggie needs or be able to bottle or freeze any excess.
    Thats what I think SFG is about - getting something fresh every day but having no excess.
    Sue

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  • Bigmallly
    replied
    Heyup Snow.
    1. The idea behind SFG is that due to the different plants being close together it confuses the beasties & attracts beneficial insects especially if you plant some flowers in some squares.
    2. You may have to lay either a scaffold board or some paving stones splitting the 2.3m length into 2x1m beds with a .3m path down the middle.
    3. I wouldn't put Spuds/Courgettes in SFG, as Lumpy says, they will take up too much room & are better off in bins, tubs, tyres, builders bags etc.
    Last edited by Bigmallly; 02-11-2014, 08:40 PM.

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  • Snow
    replied
    Thanks Lumpy.

    I haven't had time to read everything yet, but I have a few questions floating in my mind already:
    1. how does SFG impact on pests and mildew and so on? I thought the idea of spacing is that you ensure good air flow and nothing competing for space.
    2. how do you physically get to the patch that isn't accessible? I'd be alright on two sides but the other two are bordered by fences, so I'd only be able to reach maybe a couple of feet in from two sides.
    3. how do potatoes and corguettes work with SFG, because they need quite a lot of space.

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