Square Foot Gardening

ContentsIntroduction 9

SFG, New and Improved

27

Plan Your Garden

41

J Building Boxes and Structures

53

Mel's Mix, Essential for Square Foot Gardening Success . . . 87

How to Plant Your All New Square Foot Garden

107

Growing and Harvesting

131

Vertical Gardening

145

Extending the Seasons

165

Special Gardens & Gardeners

179

Appendix

188

iiIiiiIiiiIiiiIiiiIiiiIiiiIiiiIiiiIiiiIiiiIii^ W h y w r i t e a n u p d a t e d v e r s i o n o f the best selling g a r d e n i n g b o o k of all time? T h e o l d s a y i n g goes, " I f it ain't b r o k e , don't fix it." W e l l , Square F o o t G a r d e n isn't b r o k e n , b u t the all new m o d e l is s o superior, s o m u c h simpler, a n d s o i m p r o v e d that y o u c a n n o w forget all a b o u t the original b o o k a n d the original S q u a r e F o o t Gardening method! W h a t ' s so n e w a b o u t the All New Square Foot Gardeningbook? T h e original c a n b e c o n s i d e r e d the M o d e l T o f S q u a r e F o o t G a r d e n i n g . T h i s n e w o n e . . . like the latest Cadillac! T h e y are b o t h cars a n d they b o t h m o v e d o w n the road . . . b u t o h b o y w h a t a difference! In this e x p a n d e d a n d revised b o o k on Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g , y o u t o o can learn, as millions of others already have, h o w to b e c o m e a successful g a r d e n e r the s i m p l e a n d painless way. T h i s easy-tou n d e r s t a n d m e t h o d w i l l r e v o l u t i o n i z e the w a y y o u t h i n k a b o u t gardening; a n d the n e w ideas f o u n d in this revised edition will awe and inspire y o u as I share insights on h o w the Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g m e t h o d can, a n d is, c h a n g i n g the w o r l d .

For Experts OnlyA reporter o n c e asked me if I t h o u g h t I h a d i n v e n t e d " g a r d e n i n g for d u m m i e s , " referring, o f course, t o the p o p u l a r S q u a r e F o o t G a r d e n i n g m e t h o d I developed in 1 9 7 6 . " N o , " I answered. Actually, w h e n I i n v e n t e d the Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g ( S F G ) m e t h o d , I t h o u g h t it w o u l d be for expert gardeners. My m e t h o d was very precise a n d detailed, yet v e r y simple a n d easy to understand, and it p r o v i d e d all the c o n d i t i o n s necessary for successfully g r o w i n g a broad variety of plants in a v e r y different way. It also eliminated all of the wasteful, inefficient practices of traditional s i n g l e - r o w gardening. I t h o u g h t the experts w o u l d s h o u t " E u r e k a ! " a n d immediately bless all of the n e w ideas a n d advantages of this n e w h o m e gardening m e t h o d .

Beginners UnderstoodAs it turned o u t , the experts never u n d e r s t o o d this u n i q u e m e t h o d . A p p a r e n t l y it w a s t o o simple a n d easy. B u t the b e g i n n i n g gardener,

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ALL NEW SQUARE FOOT GARDENING

a n d those discouraged by previous failed attempts, u n d e r s t o o d it completely. T h e y immediately saw the simplicity o f S F G . T h e beginner's instant response was "I can do this!" while the experts c o n t i n u e d t o q u e s t i o n every aspect o f this revolutionary g a r d e n i n g m e t h o d . T h e y just couldn't a d m i t that h o m e g a r d e n i n g c o u l d b e that easy.

Two Hours or Two WeeksIn my lectures, I like to reassure audiences that if they are n e w at g a r d e n i n g , or perhaps afraid or o v e r w h e l m e d by the idea of starting a garden, t h e y will be able to learn this s i m p l e m e t h o d of gardening in just an h o u r or t w o . H o w e v e r , if t h e y are already "expert" gardeners, it will p r o b a b l y take t h e m a b o u t t w o weeks! After the laughter dies d o w n , I r e m i n d my a u d i e n c e that beginners readily accept the m i n i m a l a m o u n t o f technical i n f o r m a t i o n n e e d e d t o b e c o m e successful gardeners because t h e y w a n t t o k n o w h o w t o successfully garden. T h e "experts," on the other h a n d , are so entrenched w i t h the idea of s i n g l e - r o w g a r d e n i n g as u s e d in f a r m i n g , w i t h all of its wasteful m e t h o d s , that t h e y just can't see it a n y other way. Y o u m i g h t say, " T h e y are stuck in a rut." As a result, I've learned to leave the experts alone a n d c o n c e n t r a t e o n the beginner, o r the tried-but-failed, gardener, and even the afraid-to-start person. S F G appeals to other large groups of w o u l d - b e gardeners. Years ago, I read s o m e very interesting statistics (and I'm sure the percentages are similar today) a b o u t these gardeners.

75 Million vs. 10 MillionEvery year there are about 15 million people w h o : w o u l d like to begin gardening. tried the traditional single-row gardening m e t h o d , b u t failed. don't w a n t to begin gardening because they have heard of all the hard w o r k , time, and cost associated w i t h gardening. are d o i n g single-row gardening b u t are tired of the hard w o r k , time, a n d cost associated w i t h this impractical m e t h o d . are unable to c o n t i n u e caring for their b i g single-row gardens.

C o m b i n e d , that's an estimated 75 million p e o p l e ready for a g a r d e n i n g revolution c o m p a r e d t o a b o u t 1 0 million single-row gardeners w h o are c o n t e n t w i t h their m e t h o d a n d don't w a n t to change.

Twenty-Five Years and One Million Books LaterT h e first b o o k I w r o t e on S F G in 1 9 8 1 lasted twenty-five years and sold over one million copies, b e c o m i n g the best selling gardening

Introduction b o o k in A m e r i c a . H e r e is the story b e h i n d h o w I came to invent a better w a y to garden, a n d the ultimate success of S F G .

11

It Started in 1975It all started in 1 9 7 5 after my retirement f r o m my consulting engineering business in N e w Jersey. In celebration, I m o v e d my family to a waterfront h o m e on the N o r t h Shore of L o n g Island. After a year of rebuilding the house and another year of landscaping a n d i m p r o v i n g the grounds, I decided to take up gardening as a hobby. My first step was to attend a lecture on c o m p o s t i n g given by a local environmental group. It was a w a r m spring d a y in A p r i l a great time to be o u t in the garden. A small g r o u p milled a r o u n d at the advertised m e e t i n g point, b u t no instructor ever s h o w e d u p . So, rather than disband, I suggested to the g r o u p that we each share o u r k n o w l e d g e w i t h each other a n d tell w h a t little w e k n e w a b o u t c o m p o s t i n g . W e h a d a w o n d e r f u l time a n d actually learned a little bit from each other. As we prepared to leave, s o m e o n e asked m e , " C a n we do this again next w e e k ? " A n d I said, "Sure, w h y not?" T h u s began m y n e w career o f teaching gardening w h i l e I was still a novice myself.

Community GardenT h e n e x t step w a s o r g a n i z i n g a c o m m u n i t y garden for this same e n v i r o n m e n t a l g r o u p . I f o u n d s o m e land a n d c o n v i n c e d the t o w n to c u t d o w n all the w e e d s a n d fence it in. A local farmer delivered t w o t r u c k l o a d s o f well-rotted m a n u r e , a n d , after the g r o u n d w a s all fertilized a n d p l o w e d u p , w e laid o u t plots a n d aisles a n d o p e n e d for business. A l l of the spaces were q u i c k l y taken by p e o p l e in the c o m m u n i t y , a n d e v e r y o n e started w i t h great e n t h u s i a s m . S i n c e m o s t of the participants didn't have a garden at h o m e a n d were novices, t h e y w e r e enthusiastic a b o u t o b t a i n i n g i n s t r u c t i o n a n d insights o n g a r d e n i n g . So I initiated a S a t u r d a y m o r n i n g g a r d e n i n g w o r k s h o p a n d presented i n f o r m a t i o n on a different subject each w e e k w h i l e everyone sat around on bales of hay listening. I was teaching basic single-row gardening because that's all anyone k n e w back then. I was b u s y s t u d y i n g a n d l e a r n i n g g a r d e n i n g myself, t r y i n g t o k e e p a h e a d o f everyone's questions! T h e local c o u n t y agricultural a g e n t h e l p e d o u t and everything w e n t well until a b o u t m i d s u m m e r . It was a b o u t then that o u r once-enthusiastic gardeners stopped c o m i n g o u t to the garden. H o w e v e r , the weeds k e p t c o m i n g a n d growing! Pretty s o o n the place w a s o v e r g r o w n a n d l o o k e d a mess.

First Red FlagI was discouraged a n d t h o u g h t I had better do s o m e research to figure o u t w h y we h a d failed, so I visited m a n y backyard gardens.

12


W h a t I f o u n d was a b i g space w a y o u t in the farthest corner of the yard, a b o u t as close to the neighbor's property line as possible. In m o s t cases, these individual gardens were also filled w i t h overgrown weeds. T h e f i r s t red f l a g w e n t u p i n m y m i n d , indicating that there was s o m e t h i n g w r o n g w i t h traditional single-row gardening. I began to t h i n k a b o u t all the conventional gardening practices we'd been taught and began to question the efficiency of each.

Three-Foot AislesI questioned w h y fertilizer is spread over the entire garden area, b u t the plants are o n l y placed in long, s k i n n y rows w i t h 3-foot w i d e aisles on b o t h sides. I w o n d e r e d w h y y o u were supposed to till up all the soil in an entire garden area w h e n those 3-foot w i d e aisles c o n s u m e over 80 percent of a garden area, a l t h o u g h plants in rows require less t h a n 2 0 p e r c e n t o f the garden space. T h e n I w o n d e r e d w h y y o u w o u l d w a l k all over the rest of the garden area again, p a c k i n g d o w n all that newly tilled soil? A n d , w h y is an entire garden area watered w h e n plants are o n l y located in a 6-inch w i d e r o w in the center of a 6-foot w i d e strip?

Too Many, Too MuchAs I analyzed these traditional gardening m e t h o d s , I realized that there is o n l y o n e o u t c o m e y o u can expect w h e n y o u fertilize a n d water a 3-foot w i d e aisle w i t h n o t h i n g planted in itweeds! T h e following is a conversation I h a d w i t h a friend of m i n e w h o was an agricultural agent. " W h y a 3 - f o o t w i d e aisle o n b o t h sides o f the p l a n t e d r o w ? " I asked.

Introduction " S o y o u have r o o m t o get i n t o the g a r d e n t o h o e the w e e d s , " he replied. " B u t I don't w a n t to h o e the w e e d s , " I protested. " T h a t ' s t o o much work." " W e l l , " he said, "let's face it. G a r d e n i n g is a lot of hard w o r k . " T h i s triggered another red flag in my m i n d . G a r d e n i n g shouldn't be a lot of hard w o r k . G a r d e n i n g should be fun! There's s o m e t h i n g w r o n g here. T h i s led t o further questions. W h y d o the p l a n t i n g instructions o n p a c k a g e s o f seeds direct the gardener t o p o u r o u t a n entire p a c k e t a l o n g a r o w o n l y to have y o u later go b a c k a n d tear o u t 95 percent o f the seeds y o u p l a n t e d o n c e t h e y sprout? W h y use u p a n entire $ 1 . 8 9 p a c k e t o f seeds for every r o w y o u plant? Isn't that rather wasteful? W h y w o u l d t h e y instruct u s t o p l a n t that w a y ? W h o ' s in charge here, anyway?

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Thirty-Foot RowsT h e next question I asked was w h y plant an entire r o w of everything? Just because my garden is 30 feet long, for example, do I really w a n t o r n e e d a w h o l e r o w o f cabbages? T h a t w o u l d b e t h i r t y cabbages spaced 1 2 inches apart. T h i s brings m e t o a n o t h e r c o m m o n s e n s e revelation that no o n e seems to have t h o u g h t about. W h y w o u l d I w a n t thirty cabbages to ripen all at the same time? If everything is planted at o n e time, won't it also be ready to harvest all at once? It sounds like farming to m e , b u t that's too m u c h to enjoy at the same t i m e for a h o m e o w n e r . H o w m a n y p e o p l e g o t o the g r o c e r y store and b u y thirty heads of cabbage o n c e a year? Do you? So w h y g r o w it that way? T h e r e m u s t be a better w a y to stagger the harvest, a n d the obvious solution is to stagger the time of planting w h e n e v e r possible and to plant less.

Because That's the WayI soon realized that I h a d a lot of questions w i t h very few answers, so I traveled all over the c o u n t r y seeking o u t the best experts: agricultural college professors, c o u n t y agricultural agents, garden writers, radio a n d T V gardening personalities, gardening publishers, b o o k writers, garden c l u b s a l l those w h o were supposedly knowledgeable people in the field of gardening. I sought answers to all the gardening questions I h a d a n d , no m a t t e r w h e r e I traveled t h r o u g h o u t the c o u n t r y f r o m M a i n e to California, I kept receiving the same answer. C a n y o u i m a g i n e w h a t that answer was? I t s o o n b e c a m e a p p a r e n t that the o n l y reason traditional s i n g l e - r o w g a r d e n i n g m e t h o d s c o n t i n u e d to exist was, "Because that's the way we've always done it!" R i g h t then and there I said, "I'm g o i n g to invent a better w a y to garden."


FarmingPart of the p r o b l e m , I realized, w a s that s i n g l e - r o w g a r d e n i n g w a s n o t h i n g b u t a h a n d - m e - d o w n t e c h n i q u e f r o m large-field c r o p f a r m i n g . Single rows m a k e sense w h e n y o u d e p e n d u p o n a m u l e o r a tractor to p l o w up the soil a n d t e n d the crops because those b i g h o o v e s o r w h e e l s take u p a lot o f r o o m . B u t w h y h a d n o o n e ever realized that in a h o m e g a r d e n , there is no l o n g e r a n e e d for all that w a s t e d space. T h e r e o n l y needs t o b e r o o m for t w o f e e t y o u r s ! Yet, every single direction for h o m e g a r d e n i n g still instructs, " S p a c e rows 3 feet apart." Perhaps that's really the g a r d e n i n g m e t h o d for d u m m i e s !

EfficiencyT h e next step I t o o k was to list all of the ineffective, inefficient, and unnecessary steps that have been consistently taught for traditional single-row gardening and then find a better a n d m o r e efficient w a y to accomplish the same task. I should m e n t i o n here that besides b e i n g a civil engineer, I was also an efficiency expert. Before I sold my engineering c o m p a n y , my j o b was to travel to construction sites or m a n u f a c t u r i n g facilities to analyze current processes in order to identify a n d correct inefficiencies in facility operations. In other w o r d s , to find a better way. T h u s , the challenge of inventing a n e w w a y to garden was right up my alley. T h e sequence of questions I asked a n d simple solutions I developed was actually very easy and straightforward, b u t it involved a little out-of-the-box thinking. F o l l o w m e along now.

One Thousand SeedsI have fun w h e n teaching a class or seminar by asking, " H o w m a n y seeds do y o u t h i n k are in a packet of leaf lettuce?" S o m e guess fifty, o n e h u n d r e d , t w o h u n d r e d , a n d s o m e even venture a guess as h i g h as five h u n d r e d seeds. I t h e n a s t o u n d t h e m by s a y i n g that I o n c e o p e n e d a p a c k e t a n d c o u n t e d t h e m , a n d there w e r e w e l l over o n e t h o u s a n d seeds! W h y p l a n t h u n d r e d s o f seeds i n o n e l o n g row, a n d then turn a r o u n d w h e n they sprout a n d t h i n t h e m o u t t o o n e plant for every 6 inches? It doesn't m a k e sense, does it? It's a terrible waste o f seeds a n d t i m e a n d w o r k a l l useless, unnecessary w o r k . M y first s o l u t i o n w a s t o lay d o w n a y a r d s t i c k a n d p l a n t o n e seed every 6 inches. T h e n , I h a d n o t h i n g further to do a n d no w a s t e d seeds. T h e next t h o u g h t was, if you're g r o w i n g , for e x a m p l e , lettuce, a n d the seed packet says to thin plants to 6 inches apart in the row, h o w far a w a y does the next r o w really need to be? T h e answer, of course, is 6 i n c h e s n o t 3 feet!

Introduction

15

Single Row, Double Row, Triple RowEager to test my reasoning, I p l a n t e d t w o rows, 6 inches apart, to see h o w well the plants w o u l d d o . I t w o r k e d ! T h e plants g r e w just as well in t w o rows as they d i d in a single row, as l o n g as each p l a n t had 6 inches all around. N e x t I tried a triple r o w t h r e e rows where I placed all the plants 6 inches apart in all directions. A g a i n , it w o r k e d ! H o w w i d e c o u l d I m a k e this, I asked? T h e answer is, as w i d e as y o u can reach in to maintain y o u r garden; in other words, as l o n g as y o u r arms. But I still had a harvest too large to utilize.

Depending on the mature size of each plant, space a couple of seeds or transplants one, four, nine, or sixteen per square foot.

Shorten the RowsS o w h a t was the o b v i o u s solution? S h o r t e n the rows! A n d they k e p t getting shorter a n d shorter, until they were o n l y 12 inches l o n g and 12 inches w i d e a square foot planting area. H o w m a n y plants could y o u g r o w in that square f o o t if each p l a n t was 6 inches apart? T h e simple answer: four plants per square foot.

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Plant SpacingS o , i n s u m m a r y , i f plants s h o u l d b e t h i n n e d t o 1 2 inches apart, p l a n t o n e per square foot. If plants s h o u l d be t h i n n e d to 6 inches apart, p l a n t four per square foot. If plants s h o u l d be t h i n n e d to 4 inches apart t h e n y o u can g r o w n i n e w i t h i n the space of that o n e square foot. If plants are t h i n n e d to 3 inches apart, y o u can g r o w sixteen in that same square foot. D o e s n ' t it all m a k e sense a n d seem easy e n o u g h ?

Never Walk on Soil1 then w o n d e r e d just h o w far s o m e o n e c o u l d reach in to maintain a garden w i t h o u t c o m p a c t i n g the soil by w a l k i n g all over it. S o , I g o t a little old lady and a b i g h u s k y m a n and measured h o w far they c o u l d easily reach. I f o u n d that b o t h c o u l d c o m f o r t a b l y reach in 2 feet w i t h o u t l o s i n g balance. In order to reach in 2 feet a n d w a l k all the w a y around y o u r garden, y o u e n d up h a v i n g a 4 x 4 - f o o t area. N o w , the o n l y soil that needs t o b e d u g u p , i m p r o v e d , w a t e r e d , a n d fertilized is a 4 x 4 - f o o t g a r d e n area a n d n o t all the aisles. T h a t r e d u c e d the actual g r o w i n g area i n the g a r d e n b y 8 0 percent. A n d , an a d d e d benefit is the g r o w i n g soil in the 4 x 4 - f o o t area is never p a c k e d d o w n , so y o u don't have to h o e or d i g up the g r o u n d to keep loosening the planting soil.

Soil ImprovementT h e next step w a s h o w t o i m p r o v e the soil. A f t e r listening t o agricultural agents a n d reading b o o k s o n soil i m p r o v e m e n t a n d c o n d i t i o n i n g , the o n l y o p t i o n seemed to require a great deal of w o r k , time, a n d money. My research indicated that average soil conditions a r o u n d the c o u n t r y w e r e n o t w e l l - s u i t e d for g r o w i n g h e a l t h y v e g e tables a n d beautiful flowers. T h u s , in m o s t areas soils h a d to be greatly i m p r o v e d to obtain the best gardening results.

Horse ManureM o s t soils o n l y c o n t a i n a b o u t 3 or 4 p e r c e n t o r g a n i c material. T h u s , the traditional f i r s t step for i m p r o v i n g soil i n preparation for g a r d e n i n g w a s to d i g or till up the soil in the entire g a r d e n as d e e p as y o u c o u l d a n d t h e n a d d soil enhancers s u c h as c o m p o s t or w e l l - r o t t e d m a n u r e f o l l o w e d later b y c o m m e r c i a l fertilizers. T h i s initial step r a n g a bell w i t h me because, as a teenager, I w a s the o n e w h o h a d t o t u r n over m y mother's g a r d e n , d i g g i n g the w h o l e t h i n g u p every year. M y father h a d t o b r i n g h o m e b u s h e l baskets full o f horse m a n u r e i n his b r a n d n e w C h r y s l e r . A f t e r w e d u m p e d it into the garden area, I h a d to do all of the spreading, m i x i n g , a n d t u r n i n g . A s laborers i n M o m ' s g a r d e n every spring, m y d a d a n d I were n o t h a p p y campers, a l t h o u g h she w a s thrilled w i t h the results.

Introduction

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The Seven-Year ItchI o n c e c o n d u c t e d a survey, asking gardeners h o w l o n g it t o o k t h e m to i m p r o v e their soil until t h e y g o t it just the w a y t h e y w a n t e d it. T h e average answer was a b o u t seven y e a r s s e v e n years o f h a r d w o r k t o p r o p e r l y c o n d i t i o n the soil for g a r d e n i n g ! A n d d o y o u k n o w w h a t statistics say the average h o m e o w n e r does after seven years? T h e y m o v e ! A n d guess w h o b u y s that h o m e ? S o m e o n e w h o doesn't even garden! Y o u c a n p r o b a b l y i m a g i n e t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n b e t w e e n the n e w h o m e o w n e r s . " H e n r y , let's pave over that garden area; it w o u l d m a k e a great p l a c e to park the trailer." Seven years w o r t h of effort lost. There's s o m e t h i n g definitely w r o n g w i t h this scenario.

Start Right in a Single DayI started t h i n k i n g , " W h y n o t have great soil d u r i n g the first year of y o u r g a r d e n , a n d every year thereafter, n o m a t t e r w h e r e y o u live?" O f course, w i t h traditional b i g g a r d e n areas, h a v i n g the best soil conditions right a w a y m a y b e t o o costly a n d entail t o o m u c h time a n d effort. R e m e m b e r that after I d i d the m a t h , I f o u n d that by switching f r o m a traditional single-row garden to a 4 x 4 - f o o t layout w h i c h will p r o d u c e the same h a r v e s t 8 0 percent o f the garden area c o u l d be c o m p l e t e l y eliminated. T h i s means that y o u can g r o w 1 0 0 p e r c e n t o f the harvest i n o n l y 2 0 p e r c e n t o f the space. T h a t 80 percent of a single-row garden is wasted s p a c e s p a c e that doesn't need t o b e fertilized, w a t e r e d , o r i m p r o v e d , b u t i t d o e s have t o b e w e e d e d . T h i n k o f it. W i t h the S F G m e t h o d , seven years w o r t h o f w o r k can s u d d e n l y be c o n d e n s e d into as little as a single day w i t h o u t all the effort!

The 4x4-Foot GardenM y f i r s t b o o k s h o w e d h o w y o u c o u l d reduce the w o r k b y laying o u t a 4 x4-foot area, then d i g g i n g o u t 6 inches of existing soil a n d m i x i n g in 2 inches of p e a t m o s s , 2 inches of v e r m i c u l i t e , a n d 2 inches of c o m p o s t . T h e s e i n g r e d i e n t s are available a t a n y nursery. M a n y gardeners even m a k e their o w n c o m p o s t at h o m e f r o m kitchen scraps and other plant material. M i x i n g the ingredients together w i t h the soil that y o u r e m o v e d , y o u n o w h a v e 1 2 inches o f 5 0 p e r c e n t improved soil. M y t h i n k i n g w a s that 1 2 inches o f i m p r o v e d existing soil w o u l d be all that n e w plants w o u l d need to thrive w i t h the plant roots staying w i t h i n these 12 inches of i m p r o v e d soil. B u t the experts I consulted said that m o s t vegetable plant roots need to keep g r o w i n g d o w n w a r d , searching for water a n d nutrients many, m a n y feet b e l o w the surface of the soil. " B u t , " I t h o u g h t , " i f plants are p r o v i d e d a g o o d g r o w i n g soil c o m p o s e d o f m o r e than 1 5 percent organic matter, a n d if vermiculite a n d peat moss are m i x e d in, h e l p i n g to retain water

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in the soil, plant roots w o u l d no longer need to c o n t i n u e g r o w i n g d o w n w a r d in search of additional moisture a n d nutrients." Besides that, I w o n d e r e d if they were right a b o u t the roots n e e d i n g to g r o w deeper than 12 inches, h o w c o m e m o s t ro to tillers dig d o w n less than 6 inches? W e l l , it turned o u t they were w r o n g . O u r gardens thrived w i t h less t h a n 1 2 inches o f i m p r o v e d soil a n d that w a s just the beginning! W a i t until y o u read C h a p t e r 2, w h i c h describes the latest advances in this "out of the b o x " type of t h i n k i n g .

Stagger the HarvestI also realized that if each square f o o t c o u l d be p l a n t e d w i t h a different crop c o n t a i n i n g either one, four, nine, or sixteen plants, all properly spaced, it wouldn't be necessary to plant a w h o l e r o w of just o n e crop. So, w h y n o t stagger y o u r vegetable plantings, so that y o u r harvest is also staggered? M a k e s sense, doesn't it? Yet we've b e e n t a u g h t all o u r lives to p l a n t e v e r y t h i n g all at o n c e in l o n g r o w s another h a n d - m e - d o w n technique f r o m large-field crop farming. If you're farming for commercial purposes, y o u w a n t everything to ripen at o n c e so it can be harvested together and taken to market. B u t w i t h h o m e gardening, y o u w a n t to stagger y o u r p r o d u c e so y o u can use it t h r o u g h o u t the season for daily c o n s u m p t i o n . O f course, I'm n o t t a l k i n g a b o u t c a n n i n g , freezing, a n d o t h e r h o m e - s t o r a g e measures, a l t h o u g h S F G is a practical g a r d e n i n g m e t h o d for these purposes also. However, I've f o u n d that people are n o t storing h o m e g r o w n p r o d u c e to the extent they did in the past. R e m e m b e r , I grew up in the days of the "victory garden," a result of W o r l d W a r I I w h e n A m e r i c a n s were encouraged b y the g o v e r n m e n t a n d by society to h a v e a b i g g a r d e n that used the o l d single-row p l a n t i n g m e t h o d s . M o s t p e o p l e w h o g r e w u p d u r i n g those years hated gardening because of all the w e e d i n g and hard w o r k it entailed. T h a t carried over into a w h o l e generation of people w h o stayed a w a y f r o m gardening just because of the negative m e m o r i e s associated w i t h m a i n t a i n i n g a large traditional garden. A n d , I m i g h t add, also f r o m all the w o r k of c a n n i n g a n d freezing. So w h y does the g o v e r n m e n t still teach the same o l d system m o r e than 60 years later?

Stop Planting So MuchI m e e t m a n y mature couples where the h u s b a n d p r o u d l y states, "I have a b i g single-row garden, and I g r o w a lot of p r o d u c e . " A n d the w o m a n responds, " O h , b u t I w i s h he'd stop. H e g r o w s all this p r o d u c e that we really don't need a n y m o r e . T h e n I have to can a n d freeze it. I'm tired and don't w a n t to do it a n y m o r e . We don't need it b u t he just keeps g r o w i n g it!" W i t h S F G , y o u don't have to g r o w so m u c h at a time that it becomes o v e r w h e l m i n g .

Introduction

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LocationI began t o realize a n o t h e r great advantage o f S F G b y r e d u c i n g the garden size by 80 percent, it increases the n u m b e r of places w h e r e a garden w i l l fit. A g a r d e n no l o n g e r has to be w a y o u t b a c k , s n u g l y p u t u p against y o u r neighbor's p r o p e r t y line. A n d since y o u don't have to fertilize, water, a n d w e e d the aisles, it c a n n o w be l o c a t e d near the h o u s e .

Up Close and Personal"Closer is better" is o n e S F G m o t t o . W h e n a garden is closer to the front o r b a c k d o o r o f y o u r h o m e , y o u pass b y the garden m o r e often. T h i s m e a n s i t i s easier t o t a k e care o f a n d c a n b e m o r e r e a d i l y e n j o y e d , all of w h i c h results in a b e t t e r g a r d e n a n d a h a p p i e r gardener. T h e w h o l e package fits together nicely. T h e r e are so m a n y advantages to Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g , and the benefits and efficiencies of the c o n c e p t o n l y c o n t i n u e to increase.

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The Square Foot Gardening StoryCommunity GardenW e l l , we tried all these n e w ideas in the c o m m u n i t y garden the next year, a n d , guess w h a t ? T h e y w o r k e d ! E v e r y o n e u n d e r s t o o d a n d grasped the Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g concepts q u i c k l y a n d easily, a n d since m o s t o f the participants w e r e b e g i n n i n g gardeners w h o w e r e w e l l a c q u a i n t e d w i t h the disastrous experience f r o m the p r e v i o u s y e a r i n c l u d i n g the overgrown w e e d s a n d m o u n d s o f zucchini a n d r o w s o f c a b b a g e that r i p e n e d all a t o n c e t h e y w e r e v e r y w i l l i n g t o try a n o t h e r o p t i o n . T h a t next year, 1 9 7 6 , w e w e r e able t o e n j o y a v e r y attractive a n d w e l l - r u n c o m m u n i t y g a r d e n u s i n g the n e w l y developed Square F o o t m e t h o d . T h e Bicentennial year o f 1 9 7 6 was a h u g e celebration across the c o u n t r y a n d w e also celebrated m y y o u n g e s t son's July Fourth birthday. I decided to do three things: o n e for m y country, o n e for m y family, a n d o n e for myself. T h e official p r e s e n t a t i o n o f Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g w a s m a d e a t a h o m e t o w n e v e n t that i n c l u d e d a s c h o o l project that I h a d o r g a n i z e d . A l l t h e schools g r e w sunflowers, w h i c h were planted a l o n g M a i n Street as a b e a u t i f i c a t i o n project. W e h a d a n all-day c e l e b r a t i o n o f displays, talks, b o o t h s , a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o n t h e n e w S q u a r e F o o t G a r d e n i n g m e t h o d I h a d developed. I a n n o u n c e d this w a s my gift to the c o u n t r y a better w a y t o garden.

Sharing Ideas, 1978 to 1980Because of the o v e r w h e l m i n g success of the project and the u n i q u e S F G m e t h o d , m a n y people encouraged m e t o write a b o o k sharing

cc

You have forever changed gardening for me.Kanas from California

my ideas.

First, t h e local n e w s p a p e r asked me to w r i t e a g a r d e n

column. T h e n I began writing and producing pamphlets. Soon, magazine representatives started c o m i n g o u t t o p h o t o g r a p h m y h o m e garden a n d t o write stories a b o u t m y n e w ideas a n d the S F G m e t h o d . T h e m e d i a attention grew a n d grew, so I t h o u g h t , " W h y n o t write a b o o k ? " I drafted an outline a n d sent it to t w o publishers, w h i c h b o t h accepted the " h o w t o " b o o k o n successful gardening using the n e w S F G method.

Garden Consulting, 1981 to 1984At the same time, I also began d o i n g gardening consulting w o r k for several companies. Y o u can imagine h o w "retired" I was now. O n e was a fence c o m p a n y , and, using their products, I began to develop vertical gardening m e t h o d s , originally for tomatoes b u t later for all v i n e crops. A n o t h e r c o m p a n y w a n t e d t o start a g a r d e n i n g t o o l catalog. So my j o b was to search the w o r l d for u n i q u e a n d unusual tools, test a n d evaluate t h e m , m a k e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s , a n d then

Introduction arrange the w r i t i n g o f s a m p l e descriptions for the catalog. D u r i n g this t i m e , I w o n d e r e d w h y w e n e e d e d s o m u c h stuff just t o g a r d e n . A n d , as you'll learn, I discovered that y o u don't.

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PBS One Minute, 1981 to 1986M y publishers predictions for m y b o o k were very modest, s o they didn't p r o m o t e m y b o o k the w a y I h a d h o p e d o r even send m e o u t for talks a n d appearances. Fortunately, s o m e of the companies I w a s c o n s u l t i n g for d i d s e n d m e o n tours a n d a l l o w e d m e t o s h o w the b o o k and talk a b o u t Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g if I also explained and demonstrated their products. T h i s proved to be a very valuable and r e w a r d i n g p e r i o d , a n d it wasn't l o n g before a local P B S television station asked if they c o u l d send their camera crew o u t to my garden to shoot "A M i n u t e in Mel's G a r d e n " segment for the evening news. I was delighted t o have the o p p o r t u n i t y t o share the S F G m e t h o d . T h e response to that short segment was explosive. T h e television station received so m u c h mail a n d so m a n y telephone calls that they w a n t e d to tape a s h o w for broadcast every w e e k night. So, once a w e e k they came t o m y garden a n d taped f i v e different segments. T h a t again proved so p o p u l a r that later they asked if I w o u l d be interested in a thirty-minute national show. Y o u bet I was!

Thirty-Minute PBS TV Series, 1982 to 1986To m a k e a l o n g story short, my s h o w aired the following year on P B S and was p i c k e d up by e n o u g h stations along the East C o a s t to p a y for itself. T h e f o l l o w i n g year I started my o w n p r o d u c t i o n c o m p a n y a n d distributed the thirty-minute Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g s h o w t h r o u g h o u t the entire P B S s y s t e m . W i t h i n three years i t w a s p i c k e d u p b y every P B S station i n the c o u n t r y a n d received the h i g h e s t rating o f any g a r d e n show. T h i s i n v o l v e d a lot of travel, b u t it w a s all v e r y exciting. M y oldest s o n , Steve, b e c a m e the s h o w director, a n d w e traveled a r o u n d the c o u n t r y to different viewers' gardens that w e r e particularly w o r t h y o f sharing w i t h o u r a u d i e n c e . W e w e r e also invited to D i s n e y W o r l d to s h o o t d u r i n g the winter, an o p p o r t u n i t y we couldn't pass up. A l l of this excitement a n d activity m a d e it a very rewarding a n d exciting period o f m y life.

More Television OpportunitiesI n a d d i t i o n t o all the a b o v e activity a n d travel, m a n y o t h e r opportunities occurred w i t h T V networks like C N N o u t o f Atlanta, Georgia, C B N i n V i r g i n i a Beach, Virginia, and several appearances o n A B C , G o o d M o r n i n g B o s t o n , G o o d M o r n i n g Philly, a n d m a n y other TV spots all a r o u n d the country. A l l of that b r o u g h t in a t o n of mail (whoever h a d heard of e-mail b a c k then?) a n d activities w i t h companies interested i n d e v e l o p i n g S F G products i n c l u d i n g s o m e

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b i g companies such as R u b b e r m a i d . T h i s was exciting a n d eventful, y e t a t times stressful a n d e x h a u s t i n g . T h r o u g h all o f it, m y w i f e G i n n y courageously t o o k care o f everything a t h o m e and even p u t u p w i t h y e t never quite g o t used t o t h e f i l m crews c o m i n g o n c e a w e e k t o f i l m the P B S T V show. I t w a s b a d e n o u g h t o have the c o n s t a n t activity o u t s i d e i n the g a r d e n , b u t t h e y even i n v a d e d her k i t c h e n t o d o the c o o k i n g s e g m e n t . S i n c e s u c h a b i g part o f gardening is in the harvest and f o o d preparation, I c o n v i n c e d P B S to let us h a v e the first c o o k i n g s e g m e n t on a g a r d e n show. N o w , of course, they all do that.

TV Book TagI originally offered the p r o g r a m to P B S free of charge if they w o u l d give m e a o n e - m i n u t e b o o k tag a t the e n d o f each show. A t that t i m e , P B S was commercial-free a n d h a d n o corporate sponsors. B u t t h e y were f i n a l l y c o n v i n c e d that i t w o u l d b e w o r t h w h i l e , a l l o w i n g me to be the first p e r s o n to have a b o o k tag on a P B S show. As a result, a t r e m e n d o u s n u m b e r o f orders for the S F G b o o k w e r e received. We h a d to set up a toll-free n u m b e r a n d a fulfillment c o m p a n y to process these orders. A f t e r six years, the o p e r a t i o n b e c a m e fairly routine a n d the challenge o f creating s o m e t h i n g n e w was over. A t the same t i m e , s o m e P B S stations started talking like t h e y s h o u l d share in the profits of the b o o k sales, y e t t h e y still w a n t e d the s h o w free. R a t h e r t h a n c o m p r o m i s e the initial agreem e n t , I d e c i d e d to take the s h o w o f f the air a n d retire for the s e c o n d t i m e . T h i s t i m e , m y retirement w a s "for sure."

Discovery Network 1989 to 1991A few years later, an agent c a m e to me a n d said that he c o u l d get the TV s h o w back on the air. I didn't w a n t a n y t h i n g to do w i t h it; I w a s happily retired. B u t w h e n he offered to do all the w o r k and take care of all the details, I t h o u g h t , " W e l l , w h a t h a r m could there be?" ( W e never learn, do we?) I finally agreed, a n d he sold the s h o w to the D i s c o v e r y N e t w o r k where it ran for t w o years a n d then on T h e Learning C h a n n e l for another year. I again t o o k the s h o w off the air. I decided that that was i t I really was retiring for good! (Yeah, sure!)

California Schools, 1996Five years later, w h e n I was traveling in northern California, s o m e o n e invited me to c o m e see a school garden. "It's a Square F o o t G a r d e n , " they explained. I w e n t a n d t h o u g h t it was so impressive. T h e children were really enjoying the gardening experience, a n d the teachers loved it so m u c h that I b e g a n to t h i n k that perhaps I really shouldn't be r e t i r e d I should b e o u t teaching S F G t o school children. S o , again,

IntroductionOne of the truly great features of SFG is how easy it is for children (of all ages!) to participate.

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I came o u t of retirement (you k n o w the saying "fools rush in") a n d established a nonprofit f o u n d a t i o n to design a p r o g r a m for teachers e x p l a i n i n g h o w t o teach S q u a r e F o o t G a r d e n i n g t o s t u d e n t s . T h e foundation also built a n d distributed n u m e r o u s gardens t h r o u g h o u t the c o u n t r y . W e called the p r o g r a m " A S q u a r e Yard i n the S c h o o l Yard" since the children's gardens are sized at 3 x3 feet.

Utah Schools, 1998T h i s phase of my life also involved a lot of travel. As I developed n e w staff m e m b e r s , we w e n t f r o m school to school d o n a t i n g gardens all the w a y f r o m M a i n e t o Florida and o n t o the California coast. W h e n offering S q u a r e F o o t G a r d e n i n g t o schools i n U t a h , w e tried s o m e t h i n g new. R a t h e r t h a n g o i n g f r o m teacher t o teacher a n d s c h o o l t o s c h o o l , w e w e n t straight t o the state b o a r d o f e d u c a t i o n . T h e y liked o u r idea so m u c h that they said, " W e ' l l take a garden for every single g r a m m a r school in the state of U t a h . " We g u l p e d and said, " W e l l , let's see w h a t we can d o . "

Thanksgiving Point, 1999 to 2001O v e r the next t w o years, we were able to do just that. N e x t , the school board asked if I w o u l d write a lesson plan for U t a h teachers a n d students. I d i d , a n d it has n o w b e e n m o d i f i e d for h o m e schooling as well. We were then invited to p u t up a public display Square Foot G a r d e n at T h a n k s g i v i n g Point near Salt L a k e City. T h o u s a n d s visited the garden and, since Salt Lake C i t y is h o m e to the C h u r c h o f Jesus C h r i s t o f Latter-day Saints (the L D S c h u r c h o r M o r m o n s ) , S F G gained the attention o f m a n y L D S church leaders. T h e y invited the f o u n d a t i o n t o teach S F G a t the L D S Missionary

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Training C e n t e r i n Provo, U t a h . W e s h o w e d missionaries h o w t o instruct people living in T h i r d W o r l d countries to b e c o m e m o r e self-sufficient by g r o w i n g their o w n food using the Square Meter G a r d e n i n g m e t h o d , w h i c h w e had converted f r o m the Square Foot Gardening method.

Square Meter Gardening: SFG Humanitarian Efforts Go Global, 2001 to 2002O p p o r t u n i t i e s for the S F G f o u n d a t i o n just kept on g r o w i n g as we b e c a m e involved w i t h additional humanitarian organizations that sent aid overseas, m a n y of w h i c h began i n c l u d i n g the Square M e t e r G a r d e n i n g system in their programs. S M G was designed to appeal to families in T h i r d W o r l d countries a n d improve nutrition by a d d i n g fresh vegetables to their diets. It is s o m e t h i n g that c a n be readily d o n e , as the soil that is used in this p r o g r a m is pure c o m p o s t since peat moss and vermiculite is either unavailable or too expensive to obtain overseas. An a d d e d advantage is that m a k i n g c o m p o s t cleans up the e n v i r o n m e n t a n d gets all the family m e m b e r s involved.

SFG International Training Center in Homestead, FloridaS i n c e g a r d e n i n g in U t a h is at a standstill all winter, the logical d i r e c t i o n t o g o that t i m e o f year i s s o u t h . T h r o u g h o u r w o r k w i t h several i n t e r n a t i o n a l organizations h e a d q u a r t e r e d in W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . , the o p p o r t u n i t y c a m e to spend the winter in southern Florida w h e r e w e set u p a n S F G International T r a i n i n g C e n t e r i n H o m e stead. T h i s p r o v e d v e r y e d u c a t i o n a l for us because the weather, plants, a n d t e c h n i q u e s w e r e m u c h m o r e like C e n t r a l a n d S o u t h A m e r i c a . We p r o v i d e d a three-day t r a i n i n g s e m i n a r for the p e o p l e h e a d i n g to those countries as representatives of various humanitarian organizations. T h i s enabled Square M e t e r G a r d e n i n g to be taken to quite a variety of people and places.

OverseasW h e n w o r k i n g w i t h people overseas, the first step is to teach t h e m c o m p o s t i n g . Since m o s t T h i r d - W o r l d countries are l o c a t e d i n tropical regions of the w o r l d , it's very easy to find materials that can be used to generate c o m p o s t . O n e of the biggest successes in Square M e t e r G a r d e n i n g is a project developed in India. It illustrates h o w easy it is to offer m e a n i n g f u l foreign aid to countries w i t h o u t s p e n d i n g millions of dollars. It is also a successful w a y of e n c o u r a g i n g i n d e p e n d e n c e rather t h a n d e p e n d e n c e o n g o v e r n m e n t a l bureaucracies. T h i s success story b e g a n after a priest n a m e d Father A b r a h a m received the Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g b o o k . H e read i t a n d said, " W e c a n do this!" As a result, he n o w operates a sizeable, w e l l - o r g a n i z e d 6-acre training center w h e r e h u n d r e d s p e r h a p s

Introduction t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e h a v e c o m e t o learn the Square M e t e r G a r d e n i n g m e t h o d . T h e p e o p l e are learning t o successfully g r o w crops t h e y can n o t o n l y use a t h o m e b u t c a n take t o m a r k e t w h e r e they earn t w e n t y times m o r e t h a n t h e y d i d previously g r o w i n g crops the traditional single-row way.

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Single Rows Throughout the WorldBelieve it or n o t , m a n y people a r o u n d the w o r l d still garden a n d grow crops in single rows. W h e n I was in the m o u n t a i n s of N e p a l , I observed the farmers g r o w i n g corn one spindly stalk spaced 1 meter (approximately 3 feet) apart f r o m the next spindly stalk, w i t h the next row 1 meter away. T h r o u g h the interpreter I asked w h y they space and plant their crops this way. T h e answer, as y o u can probably guess, was "That's the w a y we've always d o n e it. M y father taught m e , a n d that's the w a y his father taught h i m . " Just t h i n k of all the g o o d that will be accomplished w h e n Square F o o t / M e t e r G a r d e n i n g is a d o p t e d all over the w o r l d . It w i l l a l l o w families to g r o w five times as m u c h for their o w n use, t h e r e b y i m p r o v i n g their h e a l t h t h r o u g h better n u t r i t i o n ; f a m i l y life w i l l i m p r o v e w i t h t h e n e w a b u n d a n c e . I t w i l l d r a w families closer together as they b e c o m e involved in a viable a n d productive project, and they can sell the excess at market. T h e w o m a n of the family is our p r i m a r y target for this project, as she is m o s t concerned w i t h the children's nutrition.

Your method has given me the confidence to try veggies again after a few feeble attempts."Anne from Florida

Certified SFG TeachersW e h o l d w o r k s h o p s t o train teachers a n d people w h o w a n t t o help others learn this s i m p l e , easy, i n e x p e n s i v e m e t h o d that a n y o n e , anywhere in the w o r l d can do. Just t h i n k w h a t if every w o m a n in the w o r l d started just o n e Square Foot/Meter Garden? T h o s e nine crops c o u l d i m p r o v e the nutrition of her children; m a n y c o u l d even expand by p l a n t i n g m o r e gardens for larger harvests a n d even to g r o w cash crops. O n e o f o u r trainees w h o t o o k o u r course for certification then w e n t on a mission to teach schoolchildren music at orphanages in an African country. At the same time, she started m a n y S F G projects; her stories of success were h e a r t w a r m i n g a n d inspiring.

Garden of EdenAfter enjoying three v e r y p r o d u c t i v e years w i t h o u r S F G D i s p l a y Gardens at T h a n k s g i v i n g Point, Utah, we had to make a decision because developers w e r e g o i n g t o b u i l d a n e w b u i l d i n g w h e r e o u r gardens w e r e located. R a t h e r t h a n m o v e the gardens t o a n o t h e r location, I decided it was t i m e to get a w a y for a sabbatical to do s o m e p l a n n i n g a n d w r i t i n g a n d discovered the beautiful, small m o u n t a i n c o m m u n i t y of E d e n , U t a h . I intended to o n l y stay and write for a

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few m o n t h s . K n o w i n g I w o u l d need s o m e clerical help, I placed an ad in the local n e w s p a p e r a n d received an o v e r w h e l m i n g response f r o m p e o p l e w a n t i n g t o h e l p w i t h S F G . T h o s e initial f e w m o n t h s stretched into years, and E d e n b e c a m e an appropriately n a m e d h o m e base for spreading S F G t h r o u g h o u t the w o r l d . T h r o u g h the developm e n t of the Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g website and e-mail contacts, the w o r l d has literally b e c o m e m y next-door neighbor.

The Story Goes On And OnRecently, a representative f r o m Guadalajara, M e x i c o , e-mailed asking for o n e of our representatives to visit and advise h i m in the developm e n t o f a large u r b a n S F G project that w o u l d teach a n d enable w o m e n to help their families. A really b i g and impressive project has b e e n started i n Sri L a n k a . O t h e r s h a v e recently w r i t t e n f r o m U k r a i n e , M o n g o l i a , E g y p t , Iraq, Jordan, a n d A f r i c a requesting training in the S F G m e t h o d because they see and k n o w w h a t a great difference it can m a k e in their respective countries. I receive reports f r o m successful S F G projects t h r o u g h o u t the w o r l d . S u c h a report c a m e f r o m o n e of o u r certified teachers, a professor f r o m Tennessee, a l o n g w i t h p h o t o s o f her international project in Ecuador. Letters c o m e f r o m people in Switzerland, France, G e r m a n y , Spain, Argentina, a n d C h i n a volunteering to help translate o u r website and b o o k into different languages. T h e v i e w e r c o m m e n t s sent t o o u r w e b s i t e a t www.squarefoot gardening.com are p h e n o m e n a l a n d the stories are n o t o n l y heartw a r m i n g , b u t s o m e are v e r y funny. O n e l a d y said the o n l y g o o d t h i n g she got i n her divorce was m y S F G b o o k ! A n o t h e r told o f the family b o n d that was forged as he sat w i t h his father ( n o w deceased) w a t c h i n g m y P B S T V s h o w i n the early '80s. H e still has his father's original b o o k . An entire S F G generation has passed by since I started. Boy, am I getting that old? A n d n o w in the electronic age, we have the website a n d e-mail t o replace the T V s h o w and snail mail. B a c k t h e n , we offered a free g a r d e n tips flyer a n d a p a c k e t of seeds ( m y favorite, marigolds) i f viewers sent i n a S A S E . D o y o u y o u n g e r gardeners k n o w w h a t that stands for? A s k y o u r parents. We received ten t h o u s a n d letters a n d sold o n e thousand b o o k s every w e e k . W h a t a hectic, exciting experience! B u t n o w that's all history, a n d it's time for an all new S F G book for a n e w generation of gardeners.

Why an All New Square Foot Gardening Book Now?T h e answer is s i m p l e I have made so m a n y n e w improvements to the original basic S F G m e t h o d . M o s t of these improvements are so major they m a k e the first S F G b o o k obsolete. Just look at the next page and see w h y All New Square Foot Gardening can help y o u w i t h your garden!

Ten Major N e w Improvements to the Original Square Foot Garden Method1. New LocationClose to the House 2. New DirectionUp, 3. New SoilMel's Not Down

Mix

4. New DepthOnly 6 Inches Deep 5. No FertilizerYou Don't Need It 6. New BoxesAbove the Ground 7. New AislesComfortable 8. New Width

GridsProminent and Permanent

9. New IdeaDon't Waste Seeds 1 0 . New OpportunitiesTabletop Gardens

All New Square Foot Gardening offers ten n e w m a j o r i m p r o v e ments t o the original S F G m e t h o d . N o w , w i t h these i m p r o v e m e n t s , anyone c a n be a successful gardener. Yes, it's true; this i m p r o v e d gardening m e t h o d makes gardening even easier than before. You're going to love every o n e of these improvements. Y o u will n o w be able to reduce the size of y o u r S F G so m u c h that y o u can locate it close to y o u r house for better care a n d m o r e enjoym e n t . You'll never h a v e to d i g up y o u r existing soil a n y m o r e as y o u n o w b u i l d y o u r n e w garden o n t o p o f it. N o m o r e hard w o r k o r heavy-duty tools needed. A l l you'll need is 6 inches of a perfect soil m i x from three c o m m o n ingredients available everywhere. T h i s m i x never needs c h a n g i n g a n d no fertilizer is ever n e e d e d u s i n g this natural, organic m e t h o d . You'll use b o t t o m l e s s boxes m a d e f r o m c o m m o n l u m b e r , h a v e aisles that are w i d e e n o u g h to c o m f o r t a b l y m o v e a b o u t in, a n d each b o x will h a v e a p e r m a n e n t g r i d for that u n i q u e S F G l o o k a n d use. You'll use a m i n i m u m of seeds, so y o u won't have to b u y n e w packets every year. Best of all, s o m e of y o u r boxes can have b o t t o m s so y o u can m o v e t h e m or place t h e m at tabletop or railing heights for easier care and u n i q u e locations.

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1

N e w Location-Close to the House

Single-Row Gardens Are Too BigO n e of the biggest problems of single-row and b e d gardens is their size. They're big! T h e y take up so m u c h r o o m that they are usually l o c a t e d w a y o u t back. T h a t usually m e a n t i t w a s o u t o f sight, resulting in out of m i n d . It became less and less tended as the year w e n t o n . But, guess w h a t still grew? Weeds! A n d these pesky plants c a n q u i c k l y i n u n d a t e a n d c h o k e o u t y o u r crops. W i t h o u t y o u r attention they'll take over the garden.

No MoreA l l that has been changed for the better. S F G takes o n l y 20 percent of the space of a s i n g l e - r o w garden. T h a t m e a n s it can be located m u c h closer to the h o u s e w h e r e it will get m o r e a t t e n t i o n a n d care, resulting in a b e t t e r - l o o k i n g garden a n d a m o r e usable harvest.

Split It Up for Best LocationIn a d d i t i o n , y o u r garden doesn't have to be all in o n e place. Y o u no l o n g e r have to rototill or w a t e r o n e b i g g a r d e n area all at o n c e . Y o u can split up y o u r S F G so that a b o x or t w o are located next to the kitchen door, while more boxes can be located elsewhere in the yard. Small, i n d i v i d u a l garden boxes a l l o w y o u m u c h m o r e f l e x i b i l i t y i n d e t e r m i n i n g l o c a t i o n . N o w y o u r garden can b e located near w h e r e y o u w a l k a n d sit, or w h e r e y o u can v i e w it f r o m the house. It c a n even be located in a patio or p o o l setting, where y o u relax. Your S F G becomes a c o m p a n i o n rather than a burden.

The key to success of the All New Square Foot Gardening method is to avoid the poor qualities of local soil by building up rather than ' down.


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2 N e w DirectionUp, Not Down!Build Up, Don't Dig DownT h e s e c o n d i m p r o v e m e n t involves l o c a t i n g y o u r g a r d e n o n top o f y o u r existing soil rather t h a n d i g g i n g down. M o s t o f o u r readers c o m p l a i n a b o u t the terrible soil in their areas. In fact, as I lecture a r o u n d the c o u n t r y a n d the w o r l d , the q u e s t i o n I hear m o s t is, " W h a t c a n w e d o a b o u t o u r local soil? I t i s s o hard t o w o r k a n d garden in." T h e original Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g b o o k explained h o w to dig d o w n 6 inches a n d i m p r o v e y o u r existing soil by a d d i n g equal amounts o f really g o o d ingredients. Even t h o u g h y o u had t o d o that o n l y the first year a n d it p r o d u c e d a fairly g o o d soil, p e o p l e c o m p l a i n e d that it was still a lot of w o r k involving heavy tools and a great deal of effort. Everyone w a n t s a simple, easy w a y to garden. So, back to the d r a w i n g board. T h i s g o t me to t h i n k i n g . C o u l d I find a better w a y ? S o , I asked myself, w h y d o w e really n e e d t o i m p r o v e o u r existing soil i f it's s o bad? C o u l d n ' t we just start w i t h a perfect soil m i x a b o v e g r o u n d a n d eliminate the n e e d t o ever d i g u p o r i m p r o v e o u r existing b a c k y a r d soil? Y o u p r o b a b l y c o u l d if y o u r g a r d e n wasn't so b i g . . . b u t hey, S F G isn't b i g . In fact, it's one-fifth the size of c o n v e n t i o n a l gardens. S o , i f w e c o u l d f i n d a perfect soil m i x , there w o u l d b e n o m o r e d i g g i n g a n d no m o r e tilling. D o e s n ' t that m a k e a l o t of sense? It became possible w i t h A l l N e w Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g to have a v e r y condensed n o - w o r k gardening m e t h o d a n d never have to be c o n cerned again a b o u t w h a t k i n d o f soil y o u have i n y o u r yard. W o w !

No SweatJust t h i n k o f t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s i f y o u forget a b o u t t r y i n g t o i m p r o v e y o u r existing soil. I t n o l o n g e r matters w h a t k i n d o f soil y o u have! U s e the t i m e y o u save to start a c o m p o s t pile instead. If y o u start w i t h a perfect soil m i x , it w i l l save a lot of t i m e a n d m o n e y . Y o u don't have t o h a v e y o u r soil a n a l y z e d a n y m o r e , a n d y o u don't h a v e to have a pH test m a d e . . . y o u don't even have to k n o w w h a t p H is! Y o u don't h a v e t o b u y a n y h e a v y tools o r g o t o the expense o f h a v i n g s o m e o n e rototill y o u r g a r d e n every single year. Y o u don't have t o b u y special ingredients t o l o o s e n y o u r clay soil o r solidify y o u r s a n d y soil. A n d m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y , y o u n o l o n g e r h a v e t o d o a n y hard w o r k . You'll h a v e t o find a n o t h e r w a y t o get s o m e exerciseso go m o w the lawn. T h i s major advance in h o m e g a r d e n i n g c h a n g e s all o f the rules o f g a r d e n i n g a n d eliminates all o f the hard w o r k a n d undesirable parts o f s i n g l e - r o w gardens. Hey, gardening can be fun now!

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So, if y o u are n o t g o i n g to use y o u r existing soil but instead use a perfect soil mix, w h a t is it a n d h o w a n d where do y o u get it?

So, if y o u are n o t g o i n g to use y o u r existing soil but instead use a perfect soil mix, w h a t is it a n d h o w a n d where do y o u get it?

3

N e w S o i l - M e l ' s Mix

What's In It?T h e r e are three characteristics of a perfect g r o w i n g m i x . First of all, it's lightweight, so it is easy to w o r k w i t h a n d easy for plants to g r o w in. N e x t , it is n u t r i e n t - r i c h a n d has all the minerals a n d trace elements that plants need w i t h o u t a d d i n g fertilizers. Finally, it holds moisture, yet drains well. After m a n y experiments, I f o u n d that three of my favorite ingredients m a d e the perfect m i x w h e n c o m b i n e d in equal portions: h Peat MossAvailable at any garden center or supermarket.l

V3 VermiculiteBuy the coarse grade in large 4-cubic-foot bags at a n y garden center or h o m e i m p r o v e m e n t store. P h o n e ahead to be sure it's available in that size.

l

h Blended C o m p o s t I f y o u don't have y o u r o w n c o m p o s t

operation, then b u y bags of c o m p o s t at the garden center to get started. T h e n , start y o u r o w n c o m p o s t pile as soon as possible. I'll explain some simple steps for f o o l p r o o f c o m p o s t i n g later in the b o o k . However, o n e w o r d of caution here: Y o u must have a blended c o m p o s t , so don't b u y all the same kind. P i c k o u t o n e b a g o f this and o n e b a g o f that. But, m o r e a b o u t that i n C h a p t e r 5.

What Do These Ingredients Do?A l l three of these ingredients are n a t u r a l n o t manufactured. T h e y all drain well, so there are no puddles to w a t e r l o g the plant roots; b u t they also h o l d large a m o u n t s of moisture so the plants will g r o w well. T h i s m i x is a pleasure to w o r k w i t h , has a light fluffy texture, a n d smells g o o d . T h e first t w o ingredients have n o nutrients, b u t the l a s t c o m p o s t - i s l o a d e d w i t h all the nutrients a n d minerals that y o u could imagine. C o m p o s t i s the m o s t i m p o r t a n t i n g r e d i e n t o f the three, a n d m a k i n g y o u r o w n i s g o o d for b o t h the e n v i r o n m e n t a n d the g a r d e n . T h i s is a b o u t as o r g a n i c as y o u c a n get. If y o u don't t h i n k this perfect soil m i x will w o r k in the garden, ask yourself, " W h a t do professional greenhouse growers use for g r o w i n g crops o n their benches? D o t h e y g o o u t a n d d i g u p the fields for soil?" O f course n o t . Professional growers m i x u p a perfect p o t t i n g soil f r o m several o t h e r ingredients a n d never use local o u t s i d e soil.

SFG, New and Improved W h e n y o u b u y a w i n d o w b o x a t the store, w h a t d o y o u f i l l i t w i t h y o u r yard soil? O f course not. Y o u b u y a b a g o f perfect p o t t i n g soil. S o w h y can't w e d o the s a m e for o u r v e g e t a b l e garden? W e l l , there are t w o reasons: One, n o o n e ever t h o u g h t o f i t a n d two, i t w o u l d b e prohibitively expensive for the typical single-row garden that everyone has been using all of these years. S o , h o w c a n w e d o i t n o w ? Because S F G reduces the g a r d e n size d o w n to o n l y 20 p e r c e n t (that's one-fifth as large), so it is n o w possible to c o n s i d e r u s i n g a perfect soil f r o m the v e r y start. An additional reason is f o u n d in the next major i m p r o v e m e n t to Square Foot G a r d e n i n g .

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"Go deep," they said. "Don't bother," I said.For years, experts said y o u r garden soil had to be improved at least 12 inches deep; s o m e even said 18 inches. B u t my experiments were proving otherwise, especially w h e n I used g o o d h o m e m a d e c o m p o s t as one-third of the m i x . I asked myself, " I f six inches of perfect soil is g o o d e n o u g h for w i n d o w b o x e s a n d c o m m e r c i a l greenhouse benches, w h y n o t i n backyard gardens?" A n d w h y dilute i t b y a d d i n g the m i x to p o o r existing soil? W h y n o t use this perfect soil m i x in y o u r garden and forget all a b o u t the soil underneath? W e l l , the experts still p o o h p o o h e d the idea. B u t guess w h a t ? I t works! O f course, e v e r y o n e realizes that y o u couldn't do that in a h u g e , old-fashioned, single-row garden or even in raised b e d gardening, b u t it can easily be d o n e in a small-space Square F o o t G a r d e n ! C a n y o u really g r o w vegetables a n d flowers in o n l y 6 inches of soil regardless of h o w g o o d it is? I've been d o i n g it for the last ten years i n m y display a n d h o m e garden, a n d i t really w o r k s . O f course in my lectures w h e n I m e n t i o n the 6 inches, I can see the audience squirming in their seats, heads shaking and hands rising w i t h the usual question, " H o w can y o u g r o w l o n g carrots or potatoes in just 6 inches of soil?" It's a g o o d q u e s t i o n , so we d e v e l o p e d a special feature of S F G w h e r e y o u b u i l d a 1-foot x 1-foot b o x one foot tall for l o n g root crops. W h y o n l y 6 inches deep? W h y n o t b e safer a n d g o 1 2 inches deep? T h e m a i n reason is there is no need to do so. In addition, it is m u c h cheaper, easier, a n d less w o r k . Just t h i n k i t is one-half of the cost and one-half of the w o r k , so w h y d o u b l e the depth? B u t if you're still skeptical go ahead a n d use y o u r time a n d m o n e y to go 12 inches deep, b u t it's really n o t necessary.a

We owe much of our love of gardening to the simplicity of SFG."Manjajrom Oregon

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T h e next question is, " H o w c o m e all of the experts have been so w r o n g for so long?" It is n o t that they were w r o n g , it is just everyone in the garden industry h a d trouble t h i n k i n g outside the b o x or even questioning all the traditional m e t h o d s . Stuck in a rut they were a n d in a single-row rut at that! Here's a n o t h e r startling revelation I am g o i n g to m a k e . It is g o i n g t o s h o c k a n d d i s m a y the g a r d e n i n g w o r l d , b u t y o u are g o i n g to love it.

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No FertilizerYou Don't Need It

S q u a r e F o o t G a r d e n i n g needs n o fertilizer ever! H o w c a n that be? A f t e r all, the g a r d e n i n g i n d u s t r y i s b u i l t o n u s i n g fertilizer. T h e original S F G b o o k e x p l a i n e d all a b o u t f e r t i l i z e r o r g a n i c a n d c h e m i c a l t y p e s h o w t o measure a n d rate it; all a b o u t N P K a n d w h a t that m e a n s ; a n d the list goes o n a n d o n . T h a t w a s necessary because a t that t i m e w e w e r e just i m p r o v i n g o u r existing soils, a n d t h e y still n e e d e d fertilizer. A l l the experts agreed. B u t m y o w n e x p e r i m e n t s a n d t h o u g h t s a b o u t an all new out-of-the-box idea o f n o t i m p r o v i n g y o u r existing soil b u t rather o f starting w i t h a perfect soil m i x w a s w o r k i n g so w e l l that I b e g a n to consider a n o t h e r n e w i d e a t h a t y o u don't n e e d t o a d d fertilizer. T h e c o m p o s t w a s p r o v i d i n g all o f the nutrients a n d trace e l e m e n t s the plants n e e d e d . Besides, c o m p o s t w a s all-natural a n d couldn't b u r n o r h a r m the plants. T h e p r o o f o f the p u d d i n g w a s t o just l o o k a t my g a r d e n . It w a s o n e of the best gardens I h a v e ever h a d a n d has r e m a i n e d so ever since. T h i s was w h e n I was able to simplify my original book's formula for the perfect soil m i x t o o n l y three ingredients: / 3 each o f peat]

moss, vermiculite, a n d blended c o m p o s t , a n d c o m p l e t e l y eliminate the use and expense of fertilizer. So m u c h simpler than the original one-page formula and w h a t a savings! W e l l , again, all the experts p o o h - p o o h e d t h e idea a n d still d o , b u t guess w h a t ? It works! I haven't used a n y k i n d of fertilizer in m y h o m e , display, o r d e m o n s t r a t i o n gardens for m o r e t h a n ten years. If y o u go to o u r w e b s i t e at www.squarefootgardening.com, y o u ' l l see h o w b o u n t i f u l a n d beautiful the gardens l o o k . A n d this is n o t just g a r d e n i n g the first year b u t year after year after year. Just t h i n k n o more tilling, no more digging, and no more fertilizer! T h e o n l y t h i n g we ever a d d to o u r soil is a little m o r e c o m p o s t . Is this great or what? N o w all w e need i s s o m e w a y t o h o l d o r contain o u r a b o v e g r o u n d 6 inches of perfect soil mix. So, h o w a b o u t a box?


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6 New B o x e s - A b o v e the GroundI t h i n k h a v i n g y o u r g a r d e n c o n t a i n e d in a b o x adds u n i f o r m i t y and structure, n o t o n l y t o y o u r garden b u t t o y o u r life. O n c e limits are p l a c e d on a l m o s t a n y t h i n g , y o u will find it m u c h easier t o take care o f a n d therefore y o u will b e m o r e c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h i t and enjoy it m o r e . T h e basic 4 x 4 - f o o t bottomless boxes are easy to build o u t of c o m m o n lumber, bricks, blocks, or even stone. T h e s e small boxes, filled w i t h the perfect soil mix, will g r o w five times as m u c h as the same space in a single-row garden. So, y o u don't need m a n y of the boxes. T h e r e are no weeds to hoe. No existing soil to till. W h y , o n c e your boxes are built and y o u r perfect soil is added, there is virtually no w o r k at all. I f y o u place the b o x o n t o p o f the existing g r o u n d , y o u eliminate all o f the usual g a r d e n i n g concerns a n d w o r k o f i m p r o v i n g y o u r existing soil. It also eliminates the great deal of g a r d e n i n g k n o w ledge that y o u w o u l d need i f y o u were g o i n g t o b e c o n c e r n e d w i t h using y o u r existing soil. You'll see as we go a l o n g that there are so m a n y advantages o f n o t using y o u r existing soil. You'll w o n d e r w h y no one ever t h o u g h t of it before. T h e 4 x 4 - f o o t boxes have been chosen because it's a size y o u can w a l k a r o u n d a n d easily reach into to tend y o u r plants; this eliminates the need for s t e p p i n g on the g r o w i n g soil a n d p a c k i n g it d o w n , w h i c h then eliminates the needOnce you build the basic 4v.4 SFG box with rotated corners, add six inches of Mel's Mix, and add the square foot grid. Now, you're ready to plant.

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to d i g or loosen it. See h o w e v e r y t h i n g in S F G is interrelated a n d w o r k s so w e l l together? For bigger gardens, y o u can always p u t s o m e of the boxes e n d to e n d to create a 4 x 8-foot or a 4 x 12-foot garden b o x that y o u will still be able to w a l k around, yet reach in. If y o u r b o x is located next to a wall, fence, or building, keep the boxes o n l y t w o feet w i d e so y o u can reach all the w a y to the back. T h e y can be a n y length. Boxes can be m a d e f r o m a n y type of w o o d . T h e best is free w o o d that is f o u n d at a construction site. Just ask the foreman of the project if y o u can have the scrap 2 x 6 - i n c h boards. I f y o u are g o i n g t o b u y y o u r l u m b e r , boxes c a n be m a d e f r o m p i n e or fir for the least cost, or cedar or r e d w o o d for l o n g e r lasting use. I f y o u d e c i d e t o treat o r p a i n t the w o o d , be careful n o t to paint inside the boxes w h e r e the Mel's M i x c o m e s into contact w i t h the w o o d ; y o u don't w a n t a n y t h i n g harmful to leach into the soil. I do n o t r e c o m m e n d using pretreated w o o d for the same reason.

7

New Aisles-Comfortable Width

T h e w i d t h o f y o u r aisles i s a n o t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t I h a v e m a d e for the A l l N e w Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g m e t h o d . T h i s i s m o r e i m p o r t a n t for c o m f o r t , safety, a n d looks, than for efficiency. If y o u notice the garden on the cover of the original Square Foot Gardeningbook, there were no boxes and the aisles were 1 x 1 2 - i n c h boards separating the 4 x 4 - f o o t areas. I designed it that w a y to be the m o s t space-efficient b u t , a s s o m e o n e o n c e said, " T h i s i s o n e t i m e w h e n M e l w a s t o o efficient!" B u t the w o o d was free, so hey, can y o u b l a m e me?

Straight and NarrowT h e 1 2 - i n c h w i d e board was difficult t o maneuver o n , and y o u h a d to k e e p a p r e t t y g o o d b a l a n c e to stay u p r i g h t . I f o u n d that the average gardener needs t o h a v e m o r e r o o m t o m o v e a b o u t o n t h a n those 12 inches. In addition, y o u couldn't get close to each 4 x 4 - f o o t p l a n t i n g area if y o u w a n t e d to use a w h e e l b a r r o w , g a r d e n cart, or harvest basket. C a n y o u just p i c t u r e t w o p e o p l e w o r k i n g i n that garden w i t h 1 2 - i n c h w i d e paths, and one says to the other, "Excuse m e , I need to get t h r o u g h . " C a n y o u imagine the answer to that?

The Ideal WidthSo w h a t is the ideal aisle w i d t h ? T w o feet is still a little t i g h t , so I r e c o m m e n d a m i n i m u m of three feet between y o u r boxes. It turned o u t that for accessibility, kneeling, w o r k i n g , and harvesting, the ideal distance w a s 3 or even 4 feet b e t w e e n boxes. In fact, if y o u r g a r d e n has several b o x e s , y o u c a n v a r y the aisles. Play a r o u n d w i t h s o m e ideas on p a p e r t h e n , o n c e y o u r boxes are built (and before y o u fill

SFG, New and Improved them w i t h soil, I should add), y o u can m o v e t h e m a b o u t until y o u get t h e m just right. T h i n k of it as arranging furniture in y o u r yard.

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Dress It UpT h e aisle space b e t w e e n y o u r boxes can be left in grass or covered w i t h any type o f g r o u n d cover. I n o u r T V show, w e tried all sorts o f things to create s o m e v e r y interesting l o o k i n g aisles. At other times, we just removed any weeds or grass, then laid d o w n w e e d cloth a n d covered it w i t h materials that were comfortable for w a l k i n g on such as crushed stone, c o m p o s t , or g r o u n d bark.

Forget what the experts have been telling us for years, fill youi boxes with just 6 inches of Mel's Mix, add a grid, and start planting! You won't be sorry; in fact, you'll be amazed at the results.

8 N e w Grids

Prominent and Permanent

W h e n I w r o t e the first b o o k on Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g m o r e than twenty-five years ago, I advocated laying o u t a 12 x 12-inch grid for the garden. T h e n , in my travels a r o u n d the country, I heard a lot of people say, " O h , I do Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g , " or "I have a Square Foot G a r d e n . " B u t w h e n I w e n t to see t h e m , the size was right b u t they had no grid! In our introductory film, we s h o w the people in o u r class h o w a 4 x4-foot garden looks w i t h o u t a grid a n d ask t h e m , " H o w m a n y plants could y o u plant there? H o w m a n y different crops?" T h e y draw a blank because it looks like a small area that isn't g o i n g to contain very m u c h . As s o o n as we lay d o w n the grid, they suddenly light up and say, "Aha! I see! Sixteen spaces, so it'll take sixteen different crops! Later, as s o o n as o n e square is harvested, I can a d d a trowel full of c o m p o s t and replant that square foot w i t h a different crop w i t h o u t disturbing a n y t h i n g else a r o u n d it." Bingo!They see the light.

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T h e r e are many, m a n y interrelated reasons for the "different crop in every Square Foot" rule, and y o u will see and understand these as we go along. T h e y deal w i t h nutrients used, limiting over-ambitious p l a n t i n g , staggered harvests, w e e d a n d pest c o n t r o l , b e a u t y o f the garden, c o m p a n i o n planting, simplification of crop rotation, cutting p l a n t i n g t i m e in half, a n d m a n y m o r e factors that result in a v e r y unusual and innovative gardening system. W h e n y o u have no grid, y o u r garden has no character. If you're having visitors over, they m a y n o t even notice y o u r garden if it's laid out in plain beds. But if it's a Square Foot G a r d e n w i t h very p r o m i n e n t and visible grids, they will say, "Hey, what's that in y o u r yard? It looks great!"

Grid MaterialsIn the past, whenever I used string or twine as a grid, it eventually got dirty, rotted, and finally broke. In addition, y o u had to drive in nails to tie the string to, and it just never looked g o o d . I talked w i t h m a n y others w h o had the same bad experience so I experimented w i t h all k i n d s of different materials for m a k i n g grids. If I c o u l d c o n d e n s e thirty years of experience into my current advice, it w o u l d b e d o n ' t use string or any other floppy material. A firm, rigid, p r o m i n e n t , and visual grid permanently laid on every one of y o u r boxes will m a k e all the difference in the w o r l d as others see it but mostly in h o w y o u use and enjoy y o u r garden. W i t h a very visible grid, y o u r garden takes on a u n i q u e character. It will n o t only look spectacular, but you'll be able to immediately visualize y o u r planting squares. Without a grid, your garden is not a Square Foot Garden.


9 New Idea

Don't Waste Seeds

New Seed Planting IdeaW h e n I first started gardening, I f o u n d the traditional m e t h o d of p o u r i n g o u t an entire p a c k e t of seeds a l o n g a single r o w w a s so wasteful that I couldn't believe that's the w a y we've always d o n e it. Didn't the pioneers have to carry their o w n seeds all the w a y across the country? T h e y couldn't order a n e w batch over the Internet from a seed c o m p a n y every year, could they? Didn't they teach everyone to be frugal a n d n o t wasteful? W h y w o u l d a n y o n e tell us to waste a w h o l e p a c k e t of seeds a l o n g a l o n g , lonely, single row, especially k n o w i n g that we w o u l d have to go back and thin o u t 95 percent of the sprouted plants in order to leave only o n e plant every few inches. D i d no one ever think, "Let's just plant a few seeds every 3, 4, or 6 inches?" I guess it t o o k s o m e o n e outside of the garden industry to think of it.When your seeds sprout from the pinch of seeds you planted in your squares, snip out all but one of them.

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In the first S F G b o o k , I a d v o c a t e d single seed p l a n t i n g at the proper s p a c i n g for that particular plant, b u t m a n y p e o p l e f o u n d it tedious a n d even difficult, especially w i t h small, u n u s u a l l y shaped seeds. Besides, as s o m e o n e once teased me and said, " I f a packet of leaf lettuce contains one thousand seeds and I o n l y plant four in each square f o o t , h o w o l d will I be before it is t i m e to b u y a n o t h e r packet?" She'll have to leave her seeds in her will! So back to the d r a w i n g board I w e n t . H o w a b o u t just a few seeds in each h o l e j u s t a pinch of seeds? After testing this idea w i t h m a n y p e o p l e a n d c h e c k i n g their dexterity a n d ability to p i c k up just a p i n c h (two or three seeds), this seemed to be the answer.

A Snip, Not a TugB u t I was against t h i n n i n g t h a t ' s w h e n y o u pull out all the seedlings except the one plant y o u w a n t to g r o w to maturity. T h i n n i n g is a lot

The best feature of the All New Square Foot Gardening method is that it makes gardening accessible to everyone.

SFG, New and Improved o f w o r k a n d also seems t o d i s t u r b the roots o f the r e m a i n i n g plant, a n d that's n o t g o o d . B u t t h e n I t h o u g h t o f a n absolutely perfect solution. I f y o u p l a n t just a f e w s e e d s a p i n c h - i n e a c h h o l e a n d t w o o r three seedlings c o m e u p , y o u j u s t take a pair o f scissors a n d snip off all b u t the strongest one. T h a t eliminates any disturbance of the plant y o u w a n t to keep, a n d you're n o t t e m p t e d to replant the others. T h e o n l y t h i n g y o u need to do is just muster the courage to make that initial snip a n d it's all over. S o n o w w e ' v e b e e n able t o i m p r o v e the single-seed p l a n t i n g and, at the same time, end up w i t h o n e strong plant in each l o c a t i o n , w h i c h i s j u s t w h a t w e w a n t e d . A t t h e s a m e t i m e we're n o t w a s t i n g a l o t o f seeds. A f t e r p l a n t i n g that square f o o t , p u t the packet in safe storage, a n d if stored p r o p e r l y that p a c k e t w i l l be g o o d next year, a n d the year after, a n d the year after. M a n y seeds last u p t o f i v e years i f stored properly. (So, h o w c o m e n o o n e ever told us that before?)

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10. New Opportunities Tabletop GardensMake Them PortableN o w that w e n o l o n g e r n e e d t o i m p r o v e o u r existing s o i l a n d S F G takes u p o n l y 2 0 p e r c e n t o f the space for 1 0 0 p e r c e n t o f the h a r v e s t a n d w e n e e d o n l y 6 inches o f l i g h t w e i g h t soil m i x , w e can b u i l d a 4 x 4 - f o o t b o x , a n d a d d a p l y w o o d b o t t o m drilled w i t h drainage holes. T h i s means y o u can carry it to a n y location y o u w a n t , even m o v i n g it to suit weather, climate, an event, a situation, or even a person's needs, abilities, or disabilities. If the size or w e i g h t seems too m u c h for y o u to handle, t h i n k a b o u t using a 3 x 3-foot, a 2 x 2foot, or even a 2 x 4-foot b o x for ease in m o v i n g .

James, Bring Out the Good BoxesSmaller sized S F G boxes c a n b e c o m e w o n d e r f u l patio boxes, and it's even possible to p l a n t several so there is always o n e or t w o w i t h flowers in full b l o o m or salad crops ready for harvest. T h e rest can be k e p t s o m e w h e r e less visible. W i t h a system of rotation, there will always be a f e w garden boxes ready to b r i n g o u t to s h o w off. There's n o t h i n g like the visual i m p a c t of a beautifully p l a n t e d b o x filled w i t h vegetables, flowers, and/or herbs. If you're g i v i n g a talk or d o i n g a p r e s e n t a t i o n on g a r d e n i n g , t h e " s e e i n g is b e l i e v i n g " t e c h n i q u e w i l l c i n c h y o u r talk. A n d j u s t t h i n k , y o u w o n ' t h a v e t o a n s w e r the usual q u e s t i o n a b o u t S F G , like " H o w o n earth c a n y o u g r o w a g a r d e n i n o n l y 6 i n c h e s o f soil?" O r , " H o w c a n y o u g r o w w i t h o u t fertilizer?" N o w , y o u j u s t p o i n t a n d smile!

-K)


R E A S O N S TO M O V E YOOR PORTABLE SFG BOXWEATHER-To protect it from: EVENTS-Move it to:

Frost Thundershowers Hurricanes Hail Snow Wind Heavy rain Intense sun

Enhance or decorate for a poolside party or barbeque Behind the garage for a start-up nursery

SITUATIONS-Place the box:

On a tabletop for a sit-down gardener In the garage if you're expecting extreme weather On the deck to clear the yard for a football g a m e

PERSONS-You can:

CLIMATE-Move your SFG box for:

Take it to Grandma's for a birthday gift Take it to school for show-and-tell Take it to class for teaching SFG Take it to school for the science fair

More shade for a spring crop as the weather gets hotter More sun in early spring More shade in summertime in desert areas

Best of AllS o there y o u have i t t h e ten n e w major i m p r o v e m e n t s t o the Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g m e t h o d . Each o n e makes the entire system m o r e productive, the w o r k m u c h easier, and the cost of gardening lower. At the same time, the beginner finds gardening m u c h easier to understand. I t h i n k Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g ' s best feature is that it n o w m a k e s g a r d e n i n g available to just a b o u t a n y o n e y o u can t h i n k of, regardless of their age, circumstance, location, ability, or d i s a b i l i t y anyone, anywhere, can now garden u s i n g the A l l N e w Square Foot Gardening method.

Plan Your GardenThis chapter is g o i n g to talk about three basic c o m p o n e n t s o f Square Foot G a r d e n i n g . Size Location Design

SizeY o u r g a r d e n w i l l b e laid o u t i n square o r rectangular b o x e s separated b y w a l k i n g aisles. B u i l d y o u r b o x e s f r o m materials like w o o d , bricks, o r b l o c k s . I f y o u d o n ' t like the idea o f c o m m o n w o o d , w h i c h w i l l e v e n t u a l l y rot o r be eaten by t e r m i t e s , use a m o r e e x p e n s i v e w o o d like c e d a r o r r e d w o o d . Y o u c a n e v e n use s o m e o f the m a n m a d e c o m p o s i t e " w o o d " o r recycled plastic o r v i n y l . T h e w o o d I like best is free w o o d . Y o u c a n u s u a l l y get it f r o m any c o n s t r u c t i o n site, b u t a l w a y s ask the foreman first. I f y o u d e c i d e t o use l u m b e r , you'll b e h a p p y t o k n o w the advantage of 4 x 4 gardens is that all l u m b e r comes in 8-foot lengths. M o s t h o m e i m p r o v e m e n t centers will cut it in half for y o u at little or 1 0 cost. Your boxes can b e m a d e f r o m just a b o u t any material except treated w o o d because the chemicals used to treat the w o o d are n o t something y o u w a n t leaching into y o u r garden.

How Much Is Enough?If you're figuring a S F G for an adult, r e m e m b e r that: 1 . O n e 4 x 4 Square Foot G a r d e n b o x (equal t o 1 6 square feet) will supply e n o u g h p r o d u c e to m a k e a salad for one person every day of the g r o w i n g season. 2 . O n e m o r e 4 x 4 b o x will supply the daily supper vegetables for that person.

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3 . Just one m o r e 4 x 4 b o x will supply that person w i t h extra o f everything for preserving, special crops, s h o w i n g off, or giving away. S o , each adult needs o n e , t w o , o r three large boxes o f 4 x 4 , d e p e n d i n g o n h o w m u c h t h e y w a n t . I n square feet, that i s 1 6 , 3 2 , o r 4 8 square feet.

If you're figuring a S F G for a child, r e m e m b e r that: 1 . O n e 3 x 3 Square Foot G a r d e n box (equal t o 9 square feet) will supply e n o u g h produce to m a k e a salad for o n e child every day of the g r o w i n g season. 2 . O n e m o r e 3 x 3 b o x will supply supper vegetables for that child every day. 3 . Just o n e m o r e 3 x 3 b o x will s u p p l y the child w i t h extra o f e v e r y t h i n g for s h o w - a n d - t e l l or science projects at s c h o o l , special crops, s h o w i n g off, or g i v i n g away. S o , each c h i l d needs o n e , t w o , o r three small boxes o f 3 x 3 , d e p e n d i n g o n h o w m u c h they will eat. I n square feet, that's 9 , 1 8 , o r 2 7 square feet. Suggestion: Since the kids will g r o w into teenagers, y o u m a y just w a n t t o m a k e everyone's box a 4 x 4 . O n the other hand, different sizes m a k e the garden l o o k interesting and m o r e personable. T h e 3 x 3 can later on be stacked on top of a 4 x 4 to start a p y r a m i d g a r d e n b u t m o r e about designing y o u r garden later.

Your Family-Your GardenA c c o r d i n g to surveys of h o m e o w n e r s , the average conventional single-row garden measures 20 feet w i d e by 35 feet long, w h i c h equals 7 0 0 square feet. To g r o w the same a m o u n t , a Square Foot G a r d e n will need o n l y 20 percent or one-fifth of that g r o w i n g space to equal 1 4 0 square feet. That's quite a difference isn't it?

Plan Your Garden

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YOUR FAMILYNumber of Boxes or Square Feet Mom Dad Grandpa or Grandma Brother Sister Pets* Other Salad

YOUR GARDENSupper Extra Total

*Well, some dogs eat veggies and cats love catnip.

You can enter the number of boxes-big for adults, small for kids or square feet.

Down to SizeW h e n e v e r I'm g i v i n g a lecture I like to illustrate the difference between a c o n v e n t i o n a l garden a n d a Square F o o t G a r d e n . I'll w a l k d o w n the m i d d l e of whatever r o o m we're in and, standing in the center, stretch o u t my arms sideways, as I say, " I f this w h o l e r o o m were o u r garden, w h e n y o u switch t o Square F o o t G a r d e n i n g , you'll n o longer need everything o n this side." T h a t cuts the r o o m in half. T h e n I turn to the side that remains, cut it in half w i t h my arms again, and say, " E v e r y t h i n g on that side we don't n e e d . " T h a t cuts that half in half again. A n d t h e n I a d d , " T h a t ' s still t o o m u c h r o o m . W e c a n still c u t d o w n this r e m a i n i n g corner even m o r e s o w e e n d u p w i t h o n l y 2 0 percent o f the total r o o m . W e can g r o w a s m u c h in this size of a Square F o o t G a r d e n as we previously c o u l d in this entire r o o m . " Try it in the r o o m you're in right n o w and see if y o u aren't impressed. Y o u suddenly begin to think of the reduced a m o u n t of w o r k , equipment, supplies, a n d fencing. T h e n y o u begin to see m a n y of the advantages of being able to locate the garden where y o u wish and all the possibilities in y o u r yard. Visualizing the great difference of space needed for a Square Foot G a r d e n is really the first step in learning a n d appreciating the entire system. T h e n y o u can b e g i n t o take advantage o f all the o t h e r attributes y o u will discover w i t h S F G .

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All That in One BoxH o w m u c h salad c o u l d y o u pick every day from this little garden? More than you can imagine. So as an illustration, I've listed below examples o f w h a t y o u can harvest from just o n e 4 x 4 b o x i n o n e spring season:

Start SmallO n c e y o u decide on the final size and layout of y o u r garden, keep in m i n d y o u don't have to build the entire garden right at the start. T r y a three-phase plan instead. I f y o u b u i l d a n d p l a n t just o n e - t h i r d o f y o u r u l t i m a t e garden boxes a n d g r o w for o n e s e a s o n f o r e x a m p l e , the spring s e a s o n y o u can then see h o w m u c h you'll harvest and see if you've correctly j u d g e d the a m o u n t y o u really need. T h e n y o u can go into phase t w o , or the s u m m e r crop, and build more boxes according to y o u r layout o r master plan. A t the e n d o f the s u m m e r c r o p , m o v e o n t o phase three, b u i l d i n g m o r e boxes if y o u still need t h e m , to prepare for p l a n t i n g a fall c r o p .

Plan Your Garden Yes, it's o k a y to lay o u t the w h o l e area and to design it for the ultimate, d e p e n d i n g o n h o w b i g y o u r family i s a n d h o w m u c h y o u think y o u w a n t to harvest. Just don't do everything the first season. I've seen so m a n y people start o u t t o o ambitiously, and they b e c o m e o v e r w h e l m e

Square Foot Gardening

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