Last year, we tried our hand(s) at growing vegetables in containers in the back yard. We went with containers because we’re not allowed to dig up our yard without returning it to its pre-us state when we move, and also because the “soil” in this area is really clay. The containers worked decently and I evidently have a reputation in the neighborhood as having a green thumb now, even though when the summer got really hot it was impossible for us to keep our plants adequately watered and fertilized.
The soil just didn’t hold water, and since it all drained out so quickly, we had to fertilize every week or two to keep the plants alive. Meanwhile the sun was baking the plants and their roots and stunting their growth… and summer storms with heavy winds knocked our plants over, containers and all, about once a week.
NOT a good setup.
Enter the Man and his Circular Saw. And me and internet research which led me to Square Foot Gardening.
Basically you make a box… you have to use untreated lumber or the “treatment” will leech into your soil and into your veggies and be gross.
The “basic” square foot gardening box is 4 feet by 4 feet, but we decided to make 2 boxes that were 2 feet by 5 feet.
The idea is that you fill it with an ideal soil mixture so that you don’t have to deal with making a crappy soil better (like if you were to plant in the ground). So the whole thing is raised, and hardly needs much soil at all… the official website (I haven’t read the book) says you can make it 6-8 inches deep. I think we did 10 inches. Not positive though.
We made our boxes have feet and put a few drainage holes in the bottom just in case…
So here they are! Just the beginning though… Next, we fill with the ideal soil mixture (I’ll write that in the next post) and divide out your square feet with string. Each “section” of the garden is 1 square foot and each square foot gets a plant, or a few plants (depending on how close that particular plant can be planted). Can I say plant one more time? Plant. So like, a big tomato would just be one plant in the middle of the square, but with something like carrots (which we’re not growing by the way), could be planted 16-to-a-square. It’s quite efficient and organized, which appeals to me. If you saw my desk as I type that, you would burst out laughing.
More on the garden soon!
Hi! I'm Emily. I'm a Navy wife and brand new stay at home mom. I cook simple, delicious, grain-free recipes, do crafts, decorate on a budget, and keep a happy home. I breastfeed, babywear, cloth diaper, and co-sleep, but I'm not a hippie.
Those square foot garden boxes are awesome!! Sorry I haven’t checked in for a long time. I see you have been busy, that stinks you are moving again…a different state? Everything is looking nice and green around you. Here, too, but not quite warm enough for planting yet. Good luck with those boxes, I have heard they are very efficient and easy to maintain.
Oh – Love it!!
I’ve been intrigued by square foot gardening, so thanks for the extra motivation to check it out. My only spot that gets sun is bad dirt covered with gravel… not the idea gardening soil. But this, this could work!
very cool. My husband has a vinyl fencing business and he has started making garden planters similar to the one you have. They are a bit hit!
Can Topher teach Will how to build things??
(j/k Will if you’re reading this!)