Square Foot Gardening - I don't understand the "pro's"...

[Rob]

Hi All,

I'm just curious about square foot gardening.

I have been checking out the www.squarefootgardening.com website, as i'm interested in improving the efficiency of my current gardens, which this method seems to do.

I'm not sure, however, that i understand how it really works all that differently to regular gardning. A few of my thoughts below:

1. I understand that the "Mel's Mix" is a great soil substitute, so can understand how that would be beneficial (drainage, nutrition, lack of impurities etc).
2. Planning everything by the square foot is great, and i agree that planting in rows is inefficient for many plants. But if you still space at the recommended spacings, i don't see any difference. Personally i look at the space i have to plant, and try to cram as much in there anyway... so maybe i do a "visualised grid" already. I also interplant many of my veggies such as beans & sweet corn. I'll plant the sweet corn at it's minimum recommended spacing (15cm or so), then plant climbing beans in between them, and sometimes cucumbers etc. I know that these are not uncommon companions, but in this way, i use the space of only corn, to grow various veggies.

I also "vertical garden" in many ways. For instance, i have lattice trellises installed vertically anywhere melons, cucumbers, beans etc grow. The trellis is 2.4x1.2m, so i effectively increase my garden space by over 5.5m2 anytime i install one (2.88m2 x both sides, since it's installed vertically).

So please understand, this is not an attack on the method. Indeed, i have the perfect space to install a 4x4 and a 2x4 bed, so i'm going to try it soon. Just trying to understand if i've drastically underestimated the benefits.

I am slowly moving my current veggie beds over to raised systems however, to assist with more drainage (it's already a massive raised bed, but individually).

So basically, i'm trying to generate discussion here on the topic - and input/suggestions/experiences welcome.

THanks,

Rob

[GaryD]

Hi Rob,

I'm not sure, however, that i understand how it really works all that differently to regular gardning.

The advantages (as I recall them) include:

1. The soil mix that Bartholomew proposes holds moisture very well.
2. Plants are watered by hand - minimal water use.
3. Plants are watered at their base - minimises fungal diseases.
4. Planting in squares is a much more efficient use of space than planting in rows.
5. Ready availability of nutrients.
6. Good drainage.

I've found that the planting density that he proposes are a bit tight for some of the seedlings that I've used. Obviously, it comes to particular varieties.

I also "vertical garden" in many ways. For instance, i have lattice trellises installed vertically anywhere melons, cucumbers, beans etc grow. The trellis is 2.4x1.2m, so i effectively increase my garden space by over 5.5m2 anytime i install one (2.88m2 x both sides, since it's installed vertically).

Trellising applies to square foot gardening, too.

The optimum gardening system (for me) is a combination.....a raised, wicking square foot garden.....watered from an aquaponics system.

Gary

[Rob]

Hi Rob,



The advantages (as I recall them) include:

1. The soil mix that Bartholomew proposes holds moisture very well.
2. Plants are watered by hand - minimal water use.
3. Plants are watered at their base - minimises fungal diseases.
4. Planting in squares is a much more efficient use of space than planting in rows.
5. Ready availability of nutrients.
6. Good drainage.

I've found that the planting density that he proposes are a bit tight for some of the seedlings that I've used. Obviously, it comes to particular varieties.


Trellising applies to square foot gardening, too.

The optimum gardening system (for me) is a combination.....a raised, wicking square foot garden.....watered from an aquaponics system.

Gary

Thanks Gary.

So yeah it feels as though i've grasped the basics, and it offers a few minor benefits, but nothing that other systems cannot offer at the same time.

As mentioned, i already water by hand, water at the base (using a water gun on the end of a long pole so i can do it standing up too), plant in groups rather than rows, and arguably provide good drainage and nutritional content of soil, so i don't think i'd see DRASTIC differences.

One thing i haven't been able to find though... do you know what soil depth they recommend for an elevated bed? I would assume maybe a 400mm (100mm "sump", 300mm grow depth) as in wicking beds?

I feel that i'm going to try the system as you describe - the square foot inspired setup that is actually wicking beds (possibly worm beds).

As mentioned, i already have alot of traditional veggie garden, but i have a few spots i'm trialling new things (including aquaponics).

I'm a "try everything, take what works" sort of guy, so i'll definately give it all a go!


Thanks

Rob

[GaryD]

Hi Rob,

I'm a "try everything, take what works" sort of guy, so i'll definately give it all a go!

Me too. Good luck with it......and keep us posted.

Gary

[fishfood]

Hi Rod i to try every thing i am a real fan of aquaponics [fishfoods system] and wicking beds [do a forum search or google it ] i have found that aquaponics is not successful with every thing so worm wicking beds take up the slack
With wicking beds [i now have 7 built ] i have found that 300 mm with 100 mm water reservoir will do all you need
I have trialed beds with soil mix beds with coco coi straight [onions love it ] and one with a vermiculite soil mix

[Rob]

Hi Rod i to try every thing i am a real fan of aquaponics [fishfoods system] and wicking beds [do a forum search or google it ] i have found that aquaponics is not successful with every thing so worm wicking beds take up the slack
With wicking beds [i now have 7 built ] i have found that 300 mm with 100 mm water reservoir will do all you need
I have trialed beds with soil mix beds with coco coi straight [onions love it ] and one with a vermiculite soil mix

Thanks Fishfood.

Thanks, i've done quite an amount of research on the wicking beds now, and everyone seems to agree somewhere around that height.

I'll definately have to try the coco coir - i've not had much success with onions in our regular gardens (which is a small thing considering everything else goes NUTS!) so it would be nice to have a way to grow onions well also!

I think the wicking/wicking worm beds are a great way to do it - but i'm definately going to try "soil-less" gardening with mix such as the SFG mix, as we all find different things work for different crops...

Thanks,

Rob

[wolgie]

I have been using raised beds for the last couple of years, all organic, and the growth rate is quite staggering (however probably not near what I am about to experience with AP) I beleive one of the big benefits of sq. ft. gardening is when you mix up the variety of plants it aids in confusing the insects, and repelling, and each plant uses different elements from the soil at different rates. Some put nitrogen into the soil, others use it, so it stands to reason that you would want to plant these two next to each other. I would highly recommend checking out thesurvivalpodcast.com and look at his past shows, he has a ton of great info on organic raised bed gardening. It's free and he is very knowledgable about these methods.

Wolgie

[GaryD]

Hi Wolgie,

I have been using raised beds for the last couple of years, all organic, and the growth rate is quite staggering (however probably not near what I am about to experience with AP)

I wouldn't be too quick to assume that everything will grow better or faster with aquaponics. Some things will, but there's still plenty of space for other growing systems like raised beds, square foot gardens and wicking beds.

The biggest advantage that these other systems have over aquaponics is cost. You can put a good sized wicking bed together for a fraction of the price of a grow bed of a similar size.

In my mind, these various systems compliment each other.

Gary

[Pseudoreality]

I wouldn't be too quick to assume that everything will grow better or faster with aquaponics. Some things will, but there's still plenty of space for other growing systems like raised beds, square foot gardens and wicking beds.

Gary,

In your opinion, what plants would say are better suited for a square foot garden system over an aquaponics system? I am planning my outdoor garden for this year and am going to have a mix of aquaponics, square foot garden, and traditional in-ground dirt garden. Some plants are going to be in all three just to see how they compare. I’m going to start another thread about my plans shortly.

[GaryD]

Hi PR,

Aquaponics is best for salad greens, Asian greens, soft herbs, Swiss chard, spinach and salad vegetables - usually the most expensive food plants (by weight)........which is just as well because it's the most expensive growing real estate, too.

Root crops and tubers.......and big plants like zucchini, melons and most brasicas.....are better grown in water-wise soil-based options like square foot gardens or wicking beds.

Gary