Sqaure-foot Gardening

[cd0103]

I am thinking about trying this method, incorporating Howard's organic techniques and soil mixture. Has anyone else tried?

[Gar]

Please explain the 'square-foot-gardening'.
Are you gona try to garden in only a one-square-foot-area? Can't grow much in that small area.

[CaptainCompostAL]

I agree. Watermelons for example need at least a 3-6 feet radius, even in the richest organic soil for good horizontal root growth. Tomatoes need at least a 2-3 feet radius too.

[nina norman]

Hi there! I finally found a question that I can answer. I copied this: "Square Foot Gardening is a uniquely simplified method of gardening that allows you to grow 100% of the harvest in only 20% of the space -- AND -- without all the hard work and drudgery of single row gardening." from this website: http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

This looks really interesting to me, what do ya'll think?
Christina

[CaptainCompostAL]

Square foot gardening is basically a customized version of companion planting. I believe every natural gardener should incorporate as much companion planting ideas as possible, throughout their garden bed designs.

I always plant beans or some squash family crops around my sweet corn. I always plant something like basil or beans or cucumbers around my tomatoes. I'm still trying to find something that I like to companion plant around my watermelon beds this coming summer.

If you can't think of any creative ideas for edible companion plants, you can always grow any low growing legume cover crops around your main crops. If not anything else, it will build the soil and attract beneficials. That's really important! (LOL)

[lil]

I started out following a few sfg guidelines that have been real helpful. My raised beds are only 4'wide (but much longer), which allows me to work in them w/out ever having to step on the soil. I add compost from my pile whenever I plant new crops. I use a shovel to work it in, so I don't need a tiller. I companion plant in areas w/out straight rows--but I never use the grid system--seems like too much work. Rotate crops as needed, etc. There's many good sfg ideas, just be sure to adapt them if you need to.

[Kathe Kitchens]

Companion plant for watermelon: OKRA! They both love the hot weather and okra grows up and up and has the most beautiful flowers! Besides, there isn't much I love better than fried or boiled okra and it is so good! I don't know of any reason this wouldn't work, and it was my first reaction, so how about that?

And don't forget drarf marigolds, thyme, oregano and creeping rosemary & lavender for the low growing areas with your taller plants. Yum!

Kathe

[CaptainCompostAL]

Thanks Kathe! I never thought about okra! Those are all super companion planting ideas. I'm definitely going to try that this summer.

[nina norman]

Speaking of companion planting - does anyone know of some good companion plants for banana plants? I have two in fairly large containers that could use some small pretties for now and then some large ones for when we get to our new house and they can be put in the ground.

Christina

[cd0103]

Thanks for the info. SFG is about companion planting but it more about getting getting more out of less. Harvest the lettuce, immediately plant something else. I am going to plant 2 4x4 boxes, but I don't like the author's soil recommendation. I think I am going to try Howard's potting soil mix. More info on the process at www.sqarefootgardening.com.

I will plant tomatoes and cucumbers, but probably not watermelon. Onions, beans, radish, and some other greens, like Swiss chard, kale, etc. Just mapping out now.

Thanks for all of the info on companion plants! I would like to incorporate some of that into my plan