Square Foot Gardening Adventures!

Becoming a New Age Urban Farmer

I had a garden years ago. You know, the old row type. It was fun but took a lot of work, not to mention all the time spent tilling the soil to get it right. Even so, the results were outstanding. There's nothing like the taste of homegrown vegetables. So earthy and full of flavor. They beat store bought stuff hands down.



So is there an easier way to grow an urban garden? Perhaps. My research led me to what's known as Square Foot Gardening. Developed by Mel Bartholowmew in 1976, the method essentially uses raised beds measured out in 1 foot square sections and filled with a special soil mixture. Proponents say square foot gardens are easier to maintain, never require fertilizer, and are capable of producing more plant yields due to the maximized space. Sounds good!



I mentioned the idea to Kim and she was immediately interested. Kim has a green thumb anyway, growing flowers and a variety of herbs, so her skills would come in handy. The first thing we had to decide was location. The best place ended up being a natural area next to the garage. It had three large holly bushes that Kim was wanting removed anyway so it made sense to place the garden there. We spent one Saturday digging them out- no small task! Now on to building the raised bed frames!



Getting Started

I ordered a copy of Mr. Bartholomew's book "All New Square Foot Gardening" to have as a reference. It's full of great information and walks you through every step. The book suggests building 4 x 4 foot square frames out of 1 x 6 lumber but I decided on building two 4 x 6 foot frames with 2 x 6 lumber. This size box would fit in the space a little better and the extra thickness of the wood would provide a little extra sturdiness. Besides the 2 x 6 foot lumber was on sale!

Making the frame was easy. 3 1/2" deck screws secured the frames. I stained all sides except the inside to help protect the wood from the elements and placed a weed barrier fabric on the ground inside the boxes.

Two 4 x 6 Foot Frames Make Up Our Square Foot Garden


Bob Helping Cut Up Old Holly Bushes. Thanks!

The "Special" Soil

The most critical component in a Square Foot Garden is the soil- a blend of:

** 1/3 Peat Moss

** 1/3 Course Grade Vermiculite

** 1/3 Compost

You can't buy this stuff, you have to mix it up yourself. I discovered the hardest component to find in my area was the course grade vermiculite. None of the big box home improvement stores carried it. I finally found some at a local garden center(Young's in Fort Mill, SC). Yep, it was expensive.

For the compost component, Mel suggests using at least five different types to get the most nutrient value. I ended up with four- mushroom, worm castings, cow manure, and "Black Hen" brand chicken manure.

All the Right Ingredients!

Using a Tarp to Mix Up the Soil

My Secret Weapon- Compost Rocket Fuel!

Tucker Making Sure I'm Doing It Right!

Leveling Out the Boxes


First Plantings

We got our seeds and plants from Renfrow's Hardware in Matthews, NC. This old time hardware store sells seed in individual packets or by the ounce. The folks there know the in's and out's of the local gardening scene and helped me with all my questions. That means a lot!




Final Result

Note: I used vinyl corner beading split in half for the dividers in the boxes. The book suggests thin wood lattice boards but they're expensive and have a tendency to rot quickly. We'll see how the vinyl works.

Also, seeds are being planted over time to take advantage of a continuous harvest.

Pak Choi, Beets, and Lettuce Mix So Far in This Box

Cauliflower, Spinach, Broccoli, Radishes, and Tomato Plants in This Box

Helpful Gardening Links:

NC Planting Guides:
North Carolina Vegetable Planting Guide

Know your Plant Hardiness Zone:
USDA Plant Hardiness Map

Good Weather Stuff:
Weather Channel Lawn and Garden

Plant By the Phases of the Moon:
The Old Farmer's Almanac

Stay tuned for an update!