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SQUARE FOOTSQUARE FOOTGARDENING FOUNDATIONGARDENING FOUNDATION
Presented byPresented by
Carol KneppCarol Knepp
March 24, 2010March 24, 2010
FOR MORE INFORMATIONFOR MORE INFORMATION
www.squarefootgardening.com
oror
Carol KneppCarol Knepp
[email protected]@gmail.com
LOCATIONLOCATION
Pick an area that gets 6-9 hours of Pick an area that gets 6-9 hours of sunshine daily.sunshine daily.
Stay clear of trees/shrubs where Stay clear of trees/shrubs where roots/shade may interfere.roots/shade may interfere.
Have it close to the house for Have it close to the house for convenience and protection.convenience and protection.
Existing soil is not really important. Existing soil is not really important. You won’t be using it.You won’t be using it.
Area must not puddle after a heavy Area must not puddle after a heavy rain.rain.
The Ten Basics ofThe Ten Basics ofSquare Foot GardeningSquare Foot Gardening
1.1. LayoutLayout
2.2. BoxesBoxes
3.3. AislesAisles
4.4. SoilSoil
5.5. GridGrid
6.6. CareCare
7.7. SelectSelect
8.8. PlantPlant
9.9. WaterWater
10.10.HarvestHarvest
The Ten Basics of SFGThe Ten Basics of SFG
1 - LAYOUT1 - LAYOUT
Think in Squares – Not in RowsThink in Squares – Not in Rows
Average garden sizeAverage garden size 20’ X 35’=700 square feet20’ X 35’=700 square feet To grow the same amount, a SFG To grow the same amount, a SFG
only needs 140 square feet to only needs 140 square feet to accomplish the sameaccomplish the same
The Ten Basics of SFGThe Ten Basics of SFG 2 – BOXES2 – BOXES
Build Square or Rectangular Boxes Build Square or Rectangular Boxes to Hold a New Soil Mix to Hold a New Soil Mix
AboveAbove Ground GroundWoodWoodBrick or BlocksBrick or BlocksVinylVinylStoneStoneBambooBamboo
HOW MANY BOXES?HOW MANY BOXES?
Start Small - One or Two BoxesStart Small - One or Two Boxes One 4 X 4 BoxOne 4 X 4 Box
Salad fixings for 1 person for the entire Salad fixings for 1 person for the entire growing seasongrowing season
Second 4 X 4 BoxSecond 4 X 4 Box Supply supper vegetables for 1-2 people for Supply supper vegetables for 1-2 people for
the entire growing seasonthe entire growing season Third 4 X 4 BoxThird 4 X 4 Box
Supply vegetables for 1 person for storing, Supply vegetables for 1 person for storing, preserving or giving awaypreserving or giving away
ALL THAT IN ONE 4X4 ALL THAT IN ONE 4X4 BOX?BOX?
1 head of cabbage1 head of cabbage 1 head of broccoli1 head of broccoli 1 head of cauliflower1 head of cauliflower 4 heads of romaine4 heads of romaine 4 heads of red 4 heads of red
lettucelettuce 4 heads of salad 4 heads of salad
lettucelettuce 5 pounds5 pounds sugar snap sugar snap
peaspeas
8 bunches of Swiss 8 bunches of Swiss chardchard
9 bunches of spinach9 bunches of spinach 16 small ball carrots16 small ball carrots 16 beets16 beets 4 bunches beet 4 bunches beet
greensgreens 16 long carrots16 long carrots 32 radishes32 radishes
BUILDING A BOXBUILDING A BOX Need to hold the soil Need to hold the soil
– only 6 inches deep– only 6 inches deep If deeper boxes If deeper boxes
desired, use desired, use sand as sand as a fillera filler with soil mix with soil mix in top 6 inchesin top 6 inches
Square or Square or rectangularrectangular
Ground, patio, Ground, patio, raisedraised
Stationary or Stationary or portableportable
WOOD BOX WOOD BOX CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION
PYRAMID BOXESPYRAMID BOXES
PYRAMID DESIGNSPYRAMID DESIGNS
ADD WEED BARRIERADD WEED BARRIER
Dig out Dig out sod/weedssod/weeds
Add weed Add weed barrier or barrier or landscape landscape clothcloth
CardboardCardboard Wet it downWet it down
The Ten Basics of SFGThe Ten Basics of SFG 4 - SOIL4 - SOIL
No need to worry No need to worry about existing about existing soil - it won’t be soil - it won’t be used!used!
Mel’s Mix:Mel’s Mix:
1/3 peat moss1/3 peat moss
1/3 coarse 1/3 coarse vermiculitevermiculite
1/3 compost1/3 compost
EXISTING SOIL –EXISTING SOIL –DOESN’T MATTERDOESN’T MATTER
Mel’s Mix – make Mel’s Mix – make one time onlyone time only
Boxes above Boxes above groundground
Loose and friableLoose and friable All needed All needed
nutrientsnutrients 6-inches deep 6-inches deep
enoughenough
MEL’S MIXMEL’S MIX
1/3 Peat Moss1/3 Peat Moss 1/3 Coarse Vermiculite1/3 Coarse Vermiculite 1/3 Compost1/3 Compost
Making Compost
The Ten Basics of SFGThe Ten Basics of SFG 5 - GRID5 - GRID
Square foot Square foot grid for the grid for the top of each top of each box.box.
Visualize Visualize planting planting spacesspaces
ProminentProminent Makes your Makes your
garden garden uniqueunique
A must!!A must!!
Grids of many materials
The Ten Basics of SFGThe Ten Basics of SFG 7 - SELECT CROPS7 - SELECT CROPS
Grow what you like to Grow what you like to eateat
Plant a different Plant a different flower, vegetable or flower, vegetable or herb crop in each herb crop in each square footsquare foot
Plant with the desired Plant with the desired harvest in mindharvest in mind
Stagger the harvestStagger the harvest Prevents over-planting Prevents over-planting
and wasteand waste
Spacing Per Square FootSpacing Per Square Foot
1, 4, 9, 16 1, 4, 9, 16
““Thin to” on Thin to” on seed packetsseed packets
Saves seedsSaves seeds
COMPOST INGREDIENTSCOMPOST INGREDIENTS Any part of a plant – roots, leaves, Any part of a plant – roots, leaves,
flowers, stemsflowers, stems Animal manure (no meat-eating Animal manure (no meat-eating
animals)animals) NewspaperNewspaper Rice, wheat or peanut hullsRice, wheat or peanut hulls Weeds Weeds (don’t include weeds in this area, they are too (don’t include weeds in this area, they are too
hardy and will spring up in your garden)hardy and will spring up in your garden)
Sawdust or wood shavingsSawdust or wood shavings HairHair FeathersFeathers
MORE COMPOST MORE COMPOST INGREDIENTSINGREDIENTS
Residue from fruit Residue from fruit and vegetable and vegetable processing plantsprocessing plants
Grass clippings Grass clippings (dry first), straw, (dry first), straw, hayhay
Egg shellsEgg shells Shredded Shredded
branches and barkbranches and bark LeavesLeaves Old sodOld sod
DO NOT ADDDO NOT ADD
Animal fat, bones, meat, skinAnimal fat, bones, meat, skin Dairy ProductsDairy Products Bread and baked goodsBread and baked goods Dog, cat or human manureDog, cat or human manure Large, woody stems or Large, woody stems or
branchesbranches
QUICK COMPOSTQUICK COMPOSTRemember the 4 M’sRemember the 4 M’s
MixMix MashMash MoistenMoisten MoveMove
FINISHED COMPOSTFINISHED COMPOST
No No recognizable recognizable ingredientsingredients
Smells “earthy” Smells “earthy” and richand rich
Dark brown and Dark brown and crumblycrumbly
COMPOST AMOUNTSCOMPOST AMOUNTS
The more variety of The more variety of ingredients – the more ingredients – the more nutrientsnutrients
No more than 20% of one No more than 20% of one ingredient in the pileingredient in the pile
Best compost made from Best compost made from many (& mini) ingredients many (& mini) ingredients
DON’T WANT TO MAKE DON’T WANT TO MAKE COMPOST?COMPOST?
Purchase bags of at least 4-5 different Purchase bags of at least 4-5 different types of compost and mix it together. types of compost and mix it together.
Read the ingredientsRead the ingredients
Perennials
MAKING A VERTICAL MAKING A VERTICAL FRAMEFRAME
Electrical conduitElectrical conduit Elbow CouplingElbow Coupling RebarRebar NettingNetting
PLACEMENT OF VERTICAL PLACEMENT OF VERTICAL FRAMEFRAME
North side of North side of garden or boxgarden or box
HIGH RISE GARDENINGHIGH RISE GARDENING
PotatoesPotatoes Long Long
carrotscarrots LeeksLeeks
Add a Add a high-rise high-rise box!box!
MAKE A FRAMEMAKE A FRAME
PROTECTION FROM PROTECTION FROM CRITTERSCRITTERS
Above Above ground ground protectionprotection
Cats, dogs, Cats, dogs, squirrels, squirrels, rabbits, etc.rabbits, etc.
Deer nettingDeer netting
ElderlyElderly
Physical LimitationsPhysical Limitations Fresh Air - ViewsFresh Air - Views Adds Interest – Outlook on LifeAdds Interest – Outlook on Life Social LifeSocial Life
SQUARE FOOTSQUARE FOOTGARDENING FOUNDATIONGARDENING FOUNDATION
FOR MORE INFORMATIONFOR MORE INFORMATION
www.squarefootgardening.com
oror
Carol KneppCarol Knepp
[email protected]@gmail.com