SQUARE FOOTGARDENING FOUNDATION

Presented byCarol Knepp

March 24, 2010

FOR MORE INFORMATIONwww.squarefootgardening.com

orCarol Knepp

kneppster@gmail.com

LOCATION• Pick an area that gets 6-9 hours of sunshine

daily.• Stay clear of trees/shrubs where

roots/shade may interfere.• Have it close to the house for convenience

and protection.• Existing soil is not really important. You

won’t be using it.• Area must not puddle after a heavy rain.

The Ten Basics ofSquare Foot Gardening

1. Layout2. Boxes3. Aisles4. Soil5. Grid

6. Care7. Select8. Plant9. Water10.Harvest

The Ten Basics of SFG1 - LAYOUT

Think in Squares – Not in RowsAverage garden size

– 20’ X 35’=700 square feet– To grow the same amount, a SFG only

needs 140 square feet to accomplish the same

The Ten Basics of SFG 2 – BOXES

Build Square or Rectangular Boxes to Hold a New Soil Mix Above Ground

»Wood»Brick or Blocks»Vinyl»Stone»Bamboo

HOW MANY BOXES?• Start Small - One or Two Boxes• One 4 X 4 Box

– Salad fixings for 1 person for the entire growing season

• Second 4 X 4 Box– Supply supper vegetables for 1-2 people for the

entire growing season• Third 4 X 4 Box

– Supply vegetables for 1 person for storing, preserving or giving away

ALL THAT IN ONE 4X4 BOX?

• 1 head of cabbage• 1 head of broccoli• 1 head of cauliflower• 4 heads of romaine• 4 heads of red lettuce• 4 heads of salad lettuce• 5 pounds sugar snap

peas

• 8 bunches of Swiss chard• 9 bunches of spinach• 16 small ball carrots• 16 beets• 4 bunches beet greens• 16 long carrots• 32 radishes

BUILDING A BOX• Need to hold the soil

– only 6 inches deep• If deeper boxes

desired, use sand as a filler with soil mix in top 6 inches

• Square or rectangular• Ground, patio, raised• Stationary or

portable

WOOD BOX CONSTRUCTION

PYRAMID BOXES

PYRAMID DESIGNS

ADD WEED BARRIER• Dig out

sod/weeds• Add weed

barrier or landscape cloth

• Cardboard• Wet it down

The Ten Basics of SFG4 - SOIL

No need to worry about existing soil -it won’t be used!

Mel’s Mix:1/3 peat moss1/3 coarse

vermiculite1/3 compost

EXISTING SOIL –DOESN’T MATTER

• Mel’s Mix – make one time only

• Boxes above ground• Loose and friable• All needed

nutrients• 6-inches deep

enough

MEL’S MIX

• 1/3 Peat Moss• 1/3 Coarse Vermiculite• 1/3 Compost

Making Compost

The Ten Basics of SFG5 - GRID

Square foot grid for the top of each box.

• Visualize planting spaces

• Prominent• Makes your

garden unique

• A must!!

Grids of many materials

The Ten Basics of SFG7 - SELECT CROPS

• Grow what you like to eat• Plant a different flower,

vegetable or herb crop in each square foot

• Plant with the desired harvest in mind

• Stagger the harvest• Prevents over-planting

and waste

Spacing Per Square Foot

• 1, 4, 9, 16

• “Thin to” on seed packets

• Saves seeds

COMPOST INGREDIENTS• Any part of a plant – roots, leaves, flowers,

stems• Animal manure (no meat-eating animals)• Newspaper• Rice, wheat or peanut hulls• Weeds (don’t include weeds in this area, they are too hardy and

will spring up in your garden)

• Sawdust or wood shavings• Hair• Feathers

MORE COMPOST INGREDIENTS• Residue from fruit

and vegetable processing plants

• Grass clippings (dry first), straw, hay

• Egg shells• Shredded branches

and bark• Leaves• Old sod

DO NOT ADD

• Animal fat, bones, meat, skin• Dairy Products• Bread and baked goods• Dog, cat or human manure• Large, woody stems or branches

QUICK COMPOSTRemember the 4 M’s

• Mix• Mash• Moisten• Move

FINISHED COMPOST

• No recognizable ingredients

• Smells “earthy” and rich

• Dark brown and crumbly

COMPOST AMOUNTS• The more variety of ingredients

– the more nutrients• No more than 20% of one

ingredient in the pile• Best compost made from many

(& mini) ingredients

DON’T WANT TO MAKE COMPOST?

• Purchase bags of at least 4-5 different types of compost and mix it together.

• Read the ingredients

Perennials

MAKING A VERTICAL FRAME

• Electrical conduit• Elbow Coupling• Rebar• Netting

PLACEMENT OF VERTICAL FRAME

• North side of garden or box

HIGH RISE GARDENING

• Potatoes• Long

carrots• Leeks

• Add a high-rise box!

MAKE A FRAME

PROTECTION FROM CRITTERS

• Above ground protection

• Cats, dogs, squirrels, rabbits, etc.

• Deer netting

Elderly

• Physical Limitations• Fresh Air - Views• Adds Interest – Outlook on Life• Social Life

SQUARE FOOTGARDENING FOUNDATION

FOR MORE INFORMATIONwww.squarefootgardening.com

orCarol Knepp

kneppster@gmail.com